XP: Remove OS compatibility warnings and loging

Contributed by William_Wilson March 4, 2006  
Tagged: Windows

Stop the annoying warnings when running 16-bit and supposed incompatable aplications

This method uses the Group Policy Method as opposed to Registry.

We’ve all gotten the annoying little window informing us that a program or software is not designed for XP, this is a result of the compatibility engine flagging the program.
If you are confident in the software you will be running, or intend to apply patches to such programs, here’s how to remove the little window, and comparability test from ever running.

*NOTE when group edit refers to a legacy program, it is encompasing all programs which deal directly with explorer.exe such as antivirus, or programs which will be installed for an extended period of time and will go through updates and other system modifications.

Open Group Policy:
-go to start\run and type ‘gpedit.msc‘
-navigate to the path: local computer policy\computer configuration\administrative components\windows components\application compatibility

*Here we will modify most of the options to the right:
-double click the icon to the right called Turn Off Application Compatibility Engine
-and select enable from the radio buttons
*NOTE if you are not careful, certain controlling programs such as anti-virus can cause the dreaded blue screen of death if not compatible, as we have turned off this safety feature.
-The performance benefit outways this problem in many cases

-double click the icon to the right called Turn Off Program Compatibilty Wizard
-and select enable from the radio buttons
*NOTE this feature disables the wizard that appears upon the help option of an incompatible installation
*Also disables the start screen in help and support under the start menu

-double click the icon to the right called Turn On Program Application Help Log Events
-and select disable from the radio buttons
*This will stop the logging of compatibility errors, which result in the wizard above.

-double click the icon to the right called Prevent Access to 16-bit Applications
-and select enable from the radio buttons
*NOTE this one is not necessary, i’m sure we all have the odd 16-bit program lying around, but if you wish to deny such a program from running, this will do it.

Questions/Comments: william_a_wilson@hotmail.com
-William. § (marvin_gohan)