Program Compatibility Assistant - Enable or Disable

How to Enable or Disable Program Compatibility Assistant in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8​

   Information

The Program Compatibility Assistant (PCA) runs in the background and monitors user initiated programs for known compatibility issues at run time. Whenever a potential issue with an application is detected, the PCA will prompt the user with pointers to recommended solutions.

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable Program Compatibility Assistant (PCA) for all or specific users in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8.

Turning off PCA is useful for system administrators who require faster performance and are aware of the compatibility of the applications they are using.

   Note

With the PCA turned off, users will not be presented with solutions to known compatibility issues when running applications.

   Warning

The Diagnostic Policy Service (DPS) and Program Compatibility Assistant Service must be set to Started and Automatic in Services for the PCA to be able to be enabled and to execute.

EXAMPLE: Program Compatibility Assistant Warnings
NOTE: These are some examples of the warnings that PCA may give you if it detects a compatibility issue with a program. You can read more about these here: Application Compatibility: Program Compatibility Assistant (PCA)

OPTION ONE

To Enable or Disable Program Compatibility Assistant using a REG File

1. Do step 2 or 3 below for what you would like to do.

2. To Enable Program Compatibility Assistant for All Users
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Enable_Program_Compatibility_Assistant.reg

Download


3. To Disable Program Compatibility Assistant for All Users
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Disable_Program_Compatibility_Assistant.reg


Download


4. Save the .reg file to your desktop.

5. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

6. If prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC Windows 7/8) or Continue (UAC Vista), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

7. Restart the computer to fully apply.

8. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.

OPTION TWO

To Enable or Disable Program Compatibility Assistant in Group Policy

1. Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied.

2. In the left pane, click on to expand User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, and Application Compatibility. (see screenshot below)

3. In the right pane, double click on Turn off Program Compatibility Assistant to edit it, and go to step 4 or 5 below for what you would like to do. (see screenshot above)

4. To Enable Program Compatibility Assistant
A) Select (dot) either Not Configured or Disabled, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below step 6)
NOTE: Not Configured is the default setting.
5. To Disable Program Compatibility Assistant
A) Select (dot) Enabled, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below step 6)
6. Click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

7. Close the Local Group Policy Editor window.
That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Create a Program Compatibility Troubleshooter Shortcut in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Run a Program in Compatibility Mode in Windows 7
• How to Add or Remove "Troubleshoot compatibility" from the Context Menu in Windows 7
• How to Enable or Disable Error Reporting in Windows 7

 

[helenp]

Hi,

I took your reg key and made a VB script for Win7:

Dim WshShell
Set WshShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
WshShell.RegWrite "HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\AppCompat\DisablePCA",00000001,"REG_DWORD"


I also added to my script the program compat Flag, in my case Visual studio 2005:

WshShell.RegWrite "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\{5f66dbae-cad3-468a-83d0-77ace8abc1f6}",00000004,"REG_DWORD"

as described here How to disable program fixes and Program Compatibility Assistant warnings in Windows Vista

This stopped Program Compatibility Assistant warning when installing Visual studio 2005 .

You must run the script and program as admin

 

[Woundman]

Going to assume the registry method is the alternative for people who don't have Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate, and Enterpise?

 

[helenp]

I needed this script so that i could deploy windows 7 and Visual studio 2005 using MS system center.

I couldn't use group policy because the visual studio installer runs as part on a task sequence to install windows 7- group policy don't apply until after this has completed.

So the script could be used as part of windows 7 & software deployment.


Windows 7 enterprise

 

[Brink]

Going to assume the registry method is the alternative for people who don't have Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate, and Enterpise?

Hello Woundman, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Yes, that would be correct, but either option can be used in the Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate, and Enterpise editions as well.

 

[janmejaya]

is it same as disabling "Diagnostic Policy Service"
Because i think this service is responsible for these including network problem diagnostic also.

 

[Brink]

Hello Janmejaya,

Almost. While both will stop the Program Compatibility Assistant Warnings, disabling the "Diagnostic Policy Service" may cause unknown issues though since it is not disabled or stopped after applying any of the methods in the tutorial. I would recommend using one of the methods in the tutorial instead.

 

[pacinitaly]

folder missing in my registry


2nd pic is after .reg file merged

 

[Brink]

Hello Carmine,

Were you wanting to enable or disable this?

If enable, then that would be correct since the REG file removes the entry.

If disable, then refresh the Registry Editor window to see if that may be all that it is.

 

[pacinitaly]

thanks Shawn,

I'm on the vista rig now

but the 1st pic was B4 merging .reg and pic2 was after ( to enable )

 

[Brink]

Yeah, but I need to know which REG file you used. Enable or Disable?

 

[pacinitaly]

enable

 

[Brink]

Ah, ok. The enable option removes the DisablePCA registry entry since the registry entry and data value will disable it. The AppCompat key is not there by default and is only added when you use the disable REG file.

 

[pacinitaly]

thanks Shawn, still playing with my vista laptop

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Carmine.

 

[peterh10]

Program compatibility assistant in windows 7 home premium 64 bit

Is any way to do the same thing with W 7 home premium? I want to install xp in a dell inspiron n5010 with W7 home premium. I have the slipstream cd with xp but now every time I want to install it the Program compatibility assistant pops up and not allow me to run the installation. Any advice?

ps. I already try to script and did not work.

 

[Brink]

Hello Peter, and welcome to Seven Forums.

If you are trying to install XP from within Windows 7, then this is the problem. It needs to be installed from boot instead. The tutorial below may be able to help you some with this for now. Since this seems like a OS installation issue, you might consider posting this issue in the Installation & Setup forum area instead to get more specific help on it.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/8057-dual-boot-installation-windows-7-xp.html

Hope this helps for now,
Shawn

 

[too]

Thanks Brink!

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome too.

 

[0pTicaL]

Can I disable Program Compatibility Assistant from services.msc? Which method is better? Downloading the .reg or disabling from Services?