计算机(Computer)硬件变化很快。知道应该在 PC 上升级什么(what you should upgrade on your PC )取决于您如何使用它。游戏经常需要可用的最新部件(the most up to date parts)，但旧软件有时会有所不同。
没有什么比更新您的操作系统(updating your operating system)却发现您最喜欢的程序不再工作更糟糕的感觉了。Windows 10 兼容模式可以帮助您让您的软件重新焕发生机。
为什么旧软件会崩溃？
在研究如何复活旧软件之前，有必要了解一下为什么它们可能无法与Windows 10一起使用。虽然旧软件存在大量潜在问题，但大多数都存在类似问题：
- 过时的依赖项——依赖于旧程序和库的软件在(Out of date dependencies )Windows 10中不再可用
- 16 位程序(16-bit programs )– Windows 10 是 64 位的，不支持 16 位程序 *32 位的工作正常）
- DOS –为 MSDOS 设计的(games designed for MSDOS)旧程序和游戏不能在Windows中运行，因为它只模拟终端(Terminal)窗口的DOS系统的一小部分
- 安全(Security)性——程序的漏洞利用和后门不断变化，旧的更新软件可能会被视为安全风险而被拒绝
这些问题以及更多问题可能会阻止旧软件运行。让旧软件保持活力是许多人热衷的话题，并且有一些在线社区致力于将产品扩展到其官方生命周期(official end of life)之外。
如何使用 Windows 10(Run Software Using Windows 10) 兼容模式运行软件(Compatibility Mode)
如果您设法安装了一个较旧的软件却发现它拒绝运行，那么您有多种选择。首先是使用自动兼容性检查器来匹配具有不同模式的软件，以使它们启动并运行。
- 右键单击.EXE文件并选择属性(Properties)
- 在兼容性(Compatibility )选项卡下，单击运行兼容性疑难解答(Run compatibility troubleshooter)
- 等待(Wait)Windows扫描程序(Windows)
- 选择尝试推荐的设置(Try recommended settings)
这将设置程序以使用 Windows 10 认为最好的任何设置。如果它仍然没有启动，请重复该过程，这次在最后一步选择疑难解答程序(Troubleshoot program)以启动交互式向导。
程序兼容性疑难解答(Program Compatibility Troubleshooter)最适用于更新的软件。但是，如果您确切知道程序要在什么软件上运行，则最好使用手动模式。
如何手动选择 Windows 10(Manually Select Windows 10) 兼容模式(Compatibility Modes)
如果您已经尝试了前面的步骤并且它们不起作用，那么在放弃之前还有其他选择可以尝试。您可以手动选择要在Windows兼容模式下使用的系统：
- 右键单击.EXE文件并选择属性(Properties)
- 在兼容性(Compatibility )选项卡下，单击以兼容模式运行此程序：(Run this program in compatibility mode for:)复选框
- 选择程序编写的Windows版本(Windows)
- 点击确定(OK)
现在，只要打开该程序，Windows 10 就会尝试通过shim运行它，这是一种特殊软件，旨在弥合新旧操作系统之间的差距。
当 Windows 兼容模式不起作用时该怎么办
Windows 10兼容(Compatibility)模式可以很好地运行许多旧软件，但有时它会遇到太旧或过时而无法运行的软件。在这些情况下没有简单的解决方法，但这并不意味着它是不可能的。
运行旧程序还有其他几种选择，但它们更具冒险精神。
(Run Older Versions)在虚拟机中运行旧版本的Windows
虚拟机(virtual machine)是在您计算机上的沙盒程序中运行的整个操作系统。这是试用其他操作系统(try out other operating systems)和Linux 发行版(Linux distributions)的好方法。
虚拟机的好处是它可以完美地模拟旧硬件。这样，您可以在虚拟机中本地运行 Windows XP ，而不是试图让(run Windows XP natively in a virtual machine.)Windows 10运行旧操作系统的程序。
这有几个优点，但也许最重要的是现代系统和旧软件之间的分离，消除了软件可能导致的任何可能的安全问题。
在Windows之前，所有软件都运行在DOS下（俗称MSDOS）。现代版本的Windows(Windows)和DOS之间没有兼容性，但有通过模拟器运行程序的选项。
您可以在虚拟机中安装该软件，但DOSBox是一个更容易的选择。它是完全免费和开源的，旨在支持各种平台上的各种旧游戏和软件，包括Windows 和 macOS(Windows and macOS)。
用旧硬件构建计算机
对于终极硬核方法，您可以构建一台专用计算机来运行您选择的操作系统。这听起来很极端，但这正是YouTuber MattKC所做的。
正如视频所示，这种方法充满了错误，不适合胆小的人。但是，如果您准备好迎接挑战，那么构建旧 PC 背后的想法是可靠的。毕竟，至今仍有相当多的政府、医疗和军事软件在旧机器上运行。
但是，您是否认为这是一件好事是主观的。
旧软件，现代硬件
让旧软件保持活力可能是一种激情，或者您的业务(for your business)可能需要它。无论哪种方式，Windows 10都有多个选项可以让旧程序保持活力。
如果您运行 Windows 7，出于同样的原因，您可能会发现XP 模式(XP mode)很有用，并且 Windows 8 用户会发现他们的操作系统中内置了类似的 Windows 兼容模式。
Use Windows 10 Compatibility Mode To Run Old Programs
Computer hardware changes quickly. Knowing what you should upgrade on your PC depends on how you use it. Games frequently require the most up to date parts available, but older software sometimes works differently.
There are few worse feelings than updating your operating system only to find that your favorite programs no longer work. Windows 10 compatibility mode can help you bring your software back to life.
Why Does Old Software Break?
Before looking at how to resurrect old software, it’s worth learning about why they might not work with Windows 10. While there are a large number of potential problems for older software, most suffer from similar issues:
- Out of date dependencies – software depending on old programs and libraries no longer available in Windows 10
- 16-bit programs – Windows 10 is 64-bit, and doesn’t support 16-bit programs *32 bit works just fine though)
- DOS – Older programs and games designed for MSDOS don’t run in Windows, as it only emulates a small part of the DOS system for the Terminal window
- Security – Exploits and backdoors for programs are continually changing, and old updated software can be rejected as a security risk
These issues, and many more, can stop older software from running. Keeping old software alive is a topic that many people are passionate about, and there are online communities devoted to extending products beyond their official end of life.
How To Run Software Using Windows 10 Compatibility Mode
If you’ve managed to install an older piece of software only to find it refuses to run, you have several options. The first is to use the automatic compatibility checker to match software with different modes to get them up and running.
- Right-click on the .EXE file and select Properties
- Under the Compatibility tab, click Run compatibility troubleshooter
- Wait while Windows scans the program
- Select Try recommended settings
This will set up the program to work with whatever settings Windows 10 thinks is best. If it still doesn’t launch, repeat the process, this time selecting Troubleshoot program at the last step to launch an interactive wizard.
The Program Compatibility Troubleshooter works best on more recent software. But if you know exactly what software a program is meant to run on, you might be better off using manual mode.
How To Manually Select Windows 10 Compatibility Modes
If you’ve tried the previous steps and they didn’t work, there are still other options to try before giving up. You can manually select which system to use with Windows compatibility mode:
- Right-click on the .EXE file and select Properties
- Under the Compatibility tab, click the Run this program in compatibility mode for: checkbox
- Select the Windows version the program was written for
- Click OK
Now, whenever that program is opened, Windows 10 will attempt to run it via a shim, special software designed to bridge the gap between old and new operating systems.
What To Do When Windows Compatibility Mode Doesn’t Work
Windows 10 Compatibility mode does a good job of running many pieces of older software, but sometimes it comes up against a piece of software too old or outdated to run. There’s no easy fix in these cases, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t possible.
There are several other options for running old programs, but they’re a little more adventurous.
Run Older Versions Of Windows In a Virtual Machine
A virtual machine is an entire operating system running in a sandbox program on your computer. It’s a great way to try out other operating systems and Linux distributions.
The benefit of a VM is that it can emulate old hardware perfectly. This way, rather than trying to get Windows 10 to run programs for an older operating system, you can run Windows XP natively in a virtual machine.
This comes with several advantages, though perhaps the most important is the separation between your modern system and the older software, cutting out any possible security issues the software might cause.
Before Windows, all software ran in DOS (commonly known as MSDOS). There’s no compatibility between modern versions of Windows and DOS, but there are options for running programs via an emulator.
You could install the software in a virtual machine, but DOSBox is a much easier option. It is entirely free and open-source and designed to support a wide range of old games and software on various platforms, including Windows and macOS.
Build a Computer With Old Hardware
For the ultimate hardcore approach, you can build a dedicated computer to run the operating system of your choice. It sounds extreme, but it’s exactly what YouTuber MattKC did.
As the video shows, this approach is full of bugs and not for the faint-hearted. If you are up for the challenge, though, the thinking behind building an old PC is solid. After all, a considerable amount of government, medical, and military software still runs on old machines to this day.
Whether you think that is a good thing or not, however, is subjective.
Old Software, Modern Hardware
Keeping old software alive might be a passion, or maybe you need it for your business. Either way, Windows 10 has several options for keeping old programs alive.
If you run Windows 7, you might find XP mode useful for the same reasons, and Windows 8 users will find a similar Windows compatibility mode built into their operating system.
