A new feature in the Windows 7 operating system is the Program Compatibility Assistant which has been designed to detect compatibility issues in older programs. The service displays a compatibility warning window if compatibility issues have been detected during installation or program starts. The computer user usually does have a choice to continue but programs are sometimes blocked from running as well.
Most Windows 7 users will probably notice the compatibility messages after installing programs and running portable applications. Windows offers the option to inform the compatibility assistant that the program installed correctly (even if there was not an installation) which usually gets rid of the compatibility message.
Selecting the option to reinstall using recommended settings will make changes to the program’s compatibility settings but not the program itself. This can mean changes to the User Account Control in Windows or running the program installation in compatibility mode.
Users who regularly install new software usually see the compatibility window regularly. The messages are powered by the Windows service PcaSVC which is the Program Compatibility Assistant Service. Stopping the service from running and changing the startup type to disabled will solve the issues. Changing the settings of the service is only recommended to experienced users.
Open the Windows services configuration by typing services.msc in the start menu run box. Locate the Program Compatibility Assistant Service in the window and double-click it to open its properties. A click on the Stop button will stop the service in the current session. Changing the startup type from manual to disabled will prevent that the service is started after system restarts.
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Let me tell you that this is **** for someone with OCD. ‘may have’…
I’ve seen this window in Vista too, so it’s not really a “new feature”
Joseph thanks for the information. I usually write from an XP user’s point of view.
I wonder if there is any other functionality one looses if one disables “Program Compatibility Assistant Service”? I truly hate the notification above, but that single prompt can’t be all that the “Program Compatibility Assistant Service” does?
Everyone thinks Vista features are brand new in windows 7 lol
a lot of good this message fucking does. MAY NOT HAVE….. hmmm ok thats very informative. i got this after installing WoW burning crusade. didnt get it for the non expansion. so what am i supposed to go back and uninstall the non expansion too? fun. my question is why in the FUCK didnt they give me the option to ‘install using recommended settings’ in the first fucking place?