Windows 2000 FAQ
We solve 20 of the most vexing problems with Windows 2000.
Gregg Keizer, special to PCWorld.com
How Can I Run an Older Windows Program?
Q: One of my favorite applications won't run now that I've installed Windows 2000. Whenever I try, I get the message "This program requires Windows 98 to run." Anything I can do before I go looking for a replacement?
A: Run the tiny (14KB) Application Compatibility utility, which can fool a program into thinking it's running on Windows 95, 98, or NT instead of 2000. Application Compatibility doesn't modify the software, but only reports to the program that it's "seeing" a different OS than is really the case. This works for some software that balks at running on Windows 2000, but certainly not all.
You can run apcompat.exe from the Windows 2000 installation CD Support folder, or better yet, install the Windows 2000 Support Tools (head to Support/Tools on the CD and double-click Setup) so that you also have Application Compatibility's Help file.
First, close any running applications. Browse the Support folder on the Windows 2000 Setup CD until you locate apcompat.exe, then run it and select the operating system that you want the fidgety program to think is active. Click OK, then launch the problematic application. You may need to fiddle with the OS choice, as well as with the options near the bottom of the Application Compatibility display. Once you've nailed down settings so that the application works, check the "Make the above check box settings permanent" box and click OK. This solidifies the fakery so that you don't have to launch Application Compatibility each time you want to run this program.
