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SOLUTIONS FOR VISTA OPERATING SYSTEM PROBLEMS
VISTA PROBLEMS
Home > Main Support Page > Vista Problems
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If you don't see an answer to
your question here, we'd be
happy to respond to your
query. The best way to help
us understand your question
and problem solve is to use
the Support Form. That will
provide us with relevant info
about your systems and
hardware so we can respond
more accurately. Click below
to view the form.
If you don't see an answer to
your question here, we'd be
happy to respond to your
query. The best way to help
us understand your question
and problem solve is to use
the Support Form. That will
provide us with relevant info
about your systems and
hardware so we can respond
more accurately. Click below
to view the form.
Q: I have a new PC and none of my XP games work on Vista.
A: Games that were not designed for Windows Vista, but designed for Windows XP (or
lower) can be set to work in Windows Vista Compatibility Mode.
Follow these simple steps to change the compatibility settings. NOTE: You must be logged
on as System Administrator to make these changes.
Find the executable file for the game:
This is the actual EXE that is launched to run the game, not the shortcut. This should be
located in the folder in which you installed the game. In the case of On Hand Software
games, the EXE is located in the program folder located at C:\Program Files\On Hand
Software\*gamename * (your specific file will be the name of your game .exe for example if
it is Brain Games Mahjongg, it would be C:\Program Files\On Hand Software\Brain Games
Mahjongg)
To find the executable game file, follow these easy steps.
Change the compatibility settings:
We also suggest the following:
STEP ONE:
Be sure you are running the most recent version of DirectX from Microsoft. Go to http:
//www.microsoft.com/windows/directx - click on "Games for Windows" and it will take you
to the page to download the latest version of DirectX..
STEP TWO:
Update your video/display drivers through your PC manufacturer (ie Dell, HP, etc). Updates
are released fairly often and could decrease the trouble you experience in gaming.
STEP THREE:
Since we use accelerated graphics in our games, we recommend you alter your hardware
acceleration slider.
A: Games that were not designed for Windows Vista, but designed for Windows XP (or
lower) can be set to work in Windows Vista Compatibility Mode.
Follow these simple steps to change the compatibility settings. NOTE: You must be logged
on as System Administrator to make these changes.
Find the executable file for the game:
This is the actual EXE that is launched to run the game, not the shortcut. This should be
located in the folder in which you installed the game. In the case of On Hand Software
games, the EXE is located in the program folder located at C:\Program Files\On Hand
Software\*gamename * (your specific file will be the name of your game .exe for example if
it is Brain Games Mahjongg, it would be C:\Program Files\On Hand Software\Brain Games
Mahjongg)
To find the executable game file, follow these easy steps.
- Click START in the lower left corner of your screen.
- Click on COMPUTER
- Open your C:\ (drive) by double-clicking on it (or by right-clicking and choosing
‘Explore’) - Open the PROGRAM FILES folder by double-clicking on it (or by right-clicking and
choosing ‘Explore’) - Open the ON HAND SOFTWARE folder by double-clicking on it (or by right-clicking and
choosing ‘Explore’) - Open the folder for the game you want to find, example Brain Games Mahjongg.
- Inside this folder, you will find the executable file for the game.
Change the compatibility settings:
- Right-click on the executable file for the game. More than likely it will be named the
‘gamename.exe’ - Select PROPERTIES from the pop-up menu and click the COMPATIBILITY tab.
- In the top third of the window, in the section marked “Compatibility Mode”, you will
see a check box marked "Run this program in compatibility mode for..." Check that
box. This will activate a dropdown list. Select the Operating System you wish Vista
to attempt to emulate when running this program. The best choice - from this would be Windows XP (Service Pack 2).
- Click "OK" to close the window and then launch the game normally.
We also suggest the following:
STEP ONE:
Be sure you are running the most recent version of DirectX from Microsoft. Go to http:
//www.microsoft.com/windows/directx - click on "Games for Windows" and it will take you
to the page to download the latest version of DirectX..
STEP TWO:
Update your video/display drivers through your PC manufacturer (ie Dell, HP, etc). Updates
are released fairly often and could decrease the trouble you experience in gaming.
STEP THREE:
Since we use accelerated graphics in our games, we recommend you alter your hardware
acceleration slider.
- Go to START.
- Select CONTROL PANEL.
- Select DISPLAY.
- Click on the tab for SETTINGS.
- Click on ADVANCED button.
- Click on TROUBLESHOOT tab.
Here you will see a slider to adjust the
hardware acceleration in Windows.
What this does is adjust the control
Windows has over your video card. The
video card's built-in instructions and
features may cause a conflict with the
game. The lower the setting, the fewer
features the video card will have to use.
The higher settings will allow the video
card to use more of its features. Games
with high 3D requirements will usually
work best with this setting on Full.
While older games may not work
correctly until you lower this setting to
None or Basic.
We suggest setting your slider towards
FULL.
Click APPLY, then OK to exit out of this
area.
hardware acceleration in Windows.
What this does is adjust the control
Windows has over your video card. The
video card's built-in instructions and
features may cause a conflict with the
game. The lower the setting, the fewer
features the video card will have to use.
The higher settings will allow the video
card to use more of its features. Games
with high 3D requirements will usually
work best with this setting on Full.
While older games may not work
correctly until you lower this setting to
None or Basic.
We suggest setting your slider towards
FULL.
Click APPLY, then OK to exit out of this
area.