QUESTION
Will this game work in Windows Vista?
ANSWER
If you're having problems running a game and you think they're related to compatibility issues with
Windows Vista, you can try to get the game to work by running it in
Compatibility Mode. You can also check the
Windows Vista Compatibility Center here.
Make sure you have downloaded all of the necessary updates to Windows Vista, including Service Pack 1.
Note: This setup should only be used for games that have been developed
before Windows Vista. Please consult the Minimum System Requirements for your game to see if
Windows Vista is listed before attempting to run your game in
Compatibility Mode.
To run your game in
Compatibility Mode:
- Right-click the game's desktop shortcut icon and choose Properties.
- In the Properties Panel, click the Compatibility tab.
- Place a check in the Compatibility Mode checkbox.
- Select Windows XP (Service Pack 2/3) in the mode box.
- Click Apply to save your changes.
If you did not opt to have a desktop icon installed:
- Find the game icon listed in your Games directory.
- Right-click on the game and click on Customize. This will bring up the Customize menu.
- Select Play.
- Select Edit.
- This will bring up the Properties screen. Click on the Compatibility tab.
- Check Run in Compatibility Mode and then choose Windows XP (or whatever operating system the game was designed for).
- Press Apply, and then press OK. You will be back at the customize menu.
- Close the customize screen.
- The game should now be configured to run in Compatibility Mode.
If you're playing multiple games, you will have to configure each game to run in
Compatibility Mode separately.
You might also want to try running the software as an administrator by following the steps below:
- Right-click the game's desktop shortcut icon and choose Properties.
- In the Properties Panel, click the Compatibility tab.
- In the Privilege Level section, place a check in the Run this Program as an Administrator checkbox.
- Click Apply to save your changes.
- Try the software again.
The
Windows Vista Firewall is also more active than the
Windows XP Firewall. This can cause problems playing online and running games that were designed before
Vista. Turning off the
Windows Vista firewall will not stop the firewall from blocking programs. To ensure that the game is running at peak performance, you need to add the game program and any related programs (for example, Punkbuster for some online titles) to the
Firewall Exceptions list.
If the game continues to fail, you may need to edit the run features of the game to override
User Account Control features in
Windows Vista.
Note: You will be altering operating system security and parental controls when performing the steps below. Please be aware that if you follow these steps, you will need to contact Microsoft for further support.
Windows Vista User Account Control Step-by-Step Guide