Summary
Windows XP supports a broad base of applications. For those applications that may not run correctly on this new operating system, Microsoft has provided a variety of application compatibility technologies and the tools to use and extend these technologies.
The Windows XP application compatibility technologies depend on database files to identify and fix applications that may not otherwise run on Windows XP. The database files that are used in upgrading from Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows Millennium on the one hand, or Windows NT and Windows 2000 on the other, are MigDB.inf and NTCompat.inf, respectively. The database files used for application compatibility after Windows XP is installed are SysMain.sdb, which contains the matching information and compatibility fixes; and AppHelp.sdb, which contains the Help messages that alert users to application compatibility problems that have no current fix.
Windows XP includes the Program Compatibility Wizard to assist users in applying compatibility fixes to their own applications through the Help and Support Center. Experienced users can modify the properties of an executable file using the Compatibility tab in the application’s Properties dialog box to apply compatibility fixes. Network administrators and IT support staff can use the QFixApp and CompatAdmin tools to apply custom compatibility fixes to applications, and then distribute those bundles of compatibility fixes to the users on the network.
Related Links
Windows XP Application Compatibility Toolkit http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/nhp/Default.asp?contentid=28000911
Designed for Windows XP Application Specification http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/partners/dfwspec.asp
For the latest information on Windows XP, check out our Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp.
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