Windows 7 - Windows Vista compatibility layer software?

Question

I've bought a dictionary which came with a software version of the dictionary. Unfortunately, while this installs on both my Windows Vista and Windows 7 PCs, it will crash when I run it on Windows 7 (but not on Vista).

Is it possible to install some Windows Vista compatibility DLLs which will make it possible to run the dictionary software EXE on Windows 7 without having to install a Windows Vista instance inside VirtualBox?

(as an aside, the software runs on a stock version of Windows 7 in virtualbox without my Sony Vaio added customizations. is there then perhaps some other way to solve the problem without using virtualbox (whose disk images are occupying too much space on my small hard drive)?

!SESSION 2014-09-21 11:11:54.458 
eclipse.buildId=unknown
java.version=1.7.0_11
java.vendor=Oracle Corporation
BootLoader constants: OS=win32, ARCH=x86, WS=win32, NL=en_EN
Command-line arguments:  -os win32 -ws win32 -arch x86
!ENTRY org.eclipse.osgi 2014-09-21 11:11:55.677 
!MESSAGE Application error 
!STACK 1 java.lang.UnsatisfiedLinkError:
C:\Users\Neil\.edpan\hoepli\picchi\org.eclipse.osgi\bundles\39\1\.cp\swt-win32-3139.dll:
Can't load IA 32-bit .dll on a AMD 64-bit platform  
  at java.lang.ClassLoader$NativeLibrary.load(Native Method)    
  at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadLibrary1(ClassLoader.java:1939)
  at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadLibrary0(ClassLoader.java:1864)  
  at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadLibrary(ClassLoader.java:1838)   
  at java.lang.Runtime.loadLibrary0(Runtime.java:845)   
  at java.lang.System.loadLibrary(System.java:1084)     
  at org.eclipse.swt.internal.Library.loadLibrary(Library.java:123)     
  at org.eclipse.swt.internal.win32.OS.<clinit>(OS.java:18)     
  at org.eclipse.swt.widgets.Display.<clinit>(Display.java:125)     
  at org.eclipse.ui.internal.Workbench.createDisplay(Workbench.java:381)
  at org.eclipse.ui.PlatformUI.createDisplay(PlatformUI.java:155)   
  at edPan.ui.application.Application.run(Application.java:18)
  at org.eclipse.core.internal.runtime.PlatformActivator$1.run(PlatformActivator.java:226)  
  at org.eclipse.core.runtime.adaptor.EclipseStarter.run(EclipseStarter.java:376)
  at org.eclipse.core.runtime.adaptor.EclipseStarter.run(EclipseStarter.java:163)
  at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke0(Native Method)    
  at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(NativeMethodAccessorImpl.java:57)
  at sun.reflect.DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.java:43)
  at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:601)
  at org.eclipse.core.launcher.Main.invokeFramework(Main.java:334)
  at org.eclipse.core.launcher.Main.basicRun(Main.java:278)
  at org.eclipse.core.launcher.Main.run(Main.java:973)
  at org.eclipse.core.launcher.Main.main(Main.java:948)
  at org.eclipse.core.launcher.Main2.main(Main2.java:46)

Answer 1

It will crash when I run it on Windows 7 (but not on Vista).

You need to run your software in compatability mode.

To change compatibility settings manually for a program, right-click the program icon, click "Properties", and then click the "Compatibility" tab.

You will see a dialog similar to the following:

• Compatibility mode - Runs the program using settings from a previous version of Windows. Try this setting if you know the program is designed for (or worked in) a specific previous version of Windows.

Select Windows Vista for this option.

• Run in 256 colors - Uses a limited set of colors in the program. Some older programs are designed to use fewer colors.

• Run in 640 × 480 screen resolution - Runs the program in a smaller-sized window. Try this setting if the graphical user interface appears jagged or is rendered improperly.

• Disable visual themes - Disables themes on the program. Try this setting if you notice problems with the menus or buttons on the title bar of the program.

• Disable desktop composition - Turns off transparency and other advanced display features. Choose this setting if window movement appears erratic or you notice other display problems.

• Disable display scaling on high DPI settings - Turns off automatic resizing of programs if large-scale font size is in use. Try this setting if large-scale fonts are interfering with the appearance of the program. For more information, see Make the text on your screen larger or smaller.

• Privilege level - Runs the program as an administrator. Some programs require administrator privileges to run properly. If you are not currently logged on as an administrator, this option is not available.

• Change settings for all users - Lets you choose settings that will apply to all users on this computer.

Source Make older programs run in this version of Windows