Windows 7: Compatibility settings for 64 bit applications

Hello,
Is there any way to "Disable desktop composition" for 64 bit application using compatibility settings? All 64 bit exe files in my system have grayed out options in compatibility settings tab.

Some details:
I play World of Warcraft. I used to play 32 bit version and have "Disable desktop composition" ticked in compatibility settings tab. Now I'm switching to 64 bit version, but this option is not active, just unclickable for 64 bit exe. People on WoW forums say that it works for them, so I guess there must be something wrong with my system.

I'm using Windows 7 Professional x64 (fully updated).



I managed to change that setting with regedit, but it does not work anyway.

Thanks for help!

Hello a0x, and welcome to Seven Forums.

I'm not sure how this will work with a 64-bit app, but you could double check using OPTION THREE in the tutorial below for the registry to see if it was set the same way.

Compatibility Mode

Hope this helps,
Shawn

I already tried option three, without success. I can see that "Disable desktop composition" is selected under grayness when I use regedit to change it, but it won't get disabled when I start the application.

That's what I was afraid of. Normally 64-bit apps cannot have their compatibility modes changed. I think the WoW forum may have mistaken what you said and thought 32-bit app in 64-bit OS instead.


Other than using the 32-bit version, have you tried manually disabling desktop composition using either option below before playing the 64-bit version to see how that works?

• Turn off in Visual Effects.
• Disable "Desktop Window Manager Session Manager" service, and enable when finished with game.
• Switch to the "Windows Classic" theme

Yep, there was even a note in tutorial you linked for me saying it won't work. But they (WoW forum) seem to be so sure that it works, someone even pasted a screenshot (http://oi48.tinypic.com/2mhhmq1.jpg) so I kept on thinking about it.

Anyway, to be 100% sure I tried also on Windows 7 Starter and on fresh Win 7 Ultimate trial install on VM and it's always grayed out.

That's odd it works for them. It's always been grayed out for me for 64-bit apps.

Ok, that's what I needed. Thanks for help Brink :-)

You're welcome.

It has worked for me with Win 7 64 bit for other games (Aion, Rift, GW2), but I can't get it to work for WoW (greyed out options like OP).

Ok, after a bit more fiddling around, I realised that if I selected properties, advanced in the launcher exe it does work. This can be found in users/public/games/worldofwarcraft, World of Warcraft launcher is what you want. Good luck.