Binary compatible windows

Similarly, you can't install an older Redistributable when a newer version is already installed. The installer reports an error if you try. You'll see an error like this if you install the or Redistributable on a machine that already has the version:.

This error is by design. We recommend you keep the newest version installed. Make sure your installer can recover from this error silently. The last redistributable to support Windows XP is version If your Windows XP apps are deployed with or updated to a later version of the redistributable, the apps won't run.

For more information, and how to get a version of the redistributable that supports Windows XP, see Configuring programs for Windows XP. Skip to main content. This browser is no longer supported. Download Microsoft Edge More info.

Contents Exit focus mode. Is this page helpful? Please rate your experience Yes No. Programs that depend on bit binaries or bit drivers can't run on the bit versions of Windows unless the program manufacturer provides an update for the program.

There may be considerations that affect a program's compatibility or performance. You can determine whether a program will have compatibility or performance issues by testing the program on one of the bit versions of Windows. This article describes some of the compatibility considerations for running bit programs on the bit versions of Windows.

This article doesn't compare the bit and bit versions of Windows, or different bit operating systems. This article assumes that you understand the difference between bit binaries and bit binaries. The xbased versions of Microsoft Windows are optimized to run native bit programs. Additionally, the xbased versions of Windows use the WOW64 subsystem to run bit programs.

The WOW64 subsystem enables bit programs to run without modification on the xbased versions of Windows. The WOW64 subsystem does this by creating a bit environment on the xbased versions of Windows.

To view this document, visit the following Microsoft Web site: Running bit Applications. The WOW64 subsystem creates a bit environment on the xbased versions of Windows. Some bit programs may run slower on these operating systems than they would on bit versions of Windows. Alternatively, some bit programs that require lots of memories may exhibit increased performance on the xbased versions of Windows. This performance increase occurs because the xbased versions of Windows supports more physical memory than the bit versions of Windows.

For more information about the differences in memory management between the bit and bit versions of Windows, see the "Virtual Address Space" topic in the About Memory Management section of the Microsoft Platform SDK documentation.

The xbased versions of Windows doesn't support bit programs or bit program components. The software emulation that is required to run bit programs on the xbased version of Windows would significantly decrease the performance of those programs. A bit installer is frequently used to install and configure a bit program. Additionally, some bit programs require bit components to run correctly.

Although bit programs that require bit components might run correctly after they're installed, you can't use the bit installer to install a bit program. Programs that require bit components can't run on xbased versions of Windows. If a bit program that requires bit components tries to run a bit file or component, the bit program will log an error message in the System log. The operating system will then let the bit program handle the error.

To determine whether a program requires a bit component, install and run the program. If the program generates an error message, contact the manufacturer of the program for an update that is compatible with the xbased versions of Windows.

The xbased versions of Windows doesn't support bit drivers. One final thought: Binary compatibility also implies interoperability with all the original's bugs and quirks—that all the shortcuts and work-arounds that people have been creating for years to accommodate those bugs will run correctly on the compatible machine.

Kay is a contributing writer and consultant in Worcester, Mass. You can reach him at russkay charter. See additional Computerworld QuickStudies. Here are the latest Insider stories. More Insider Sign Out. Sign In Register. Sign Out Sign In Register. Latest Insider. Check out the latest Insider stories here. More from the IDG Network. Big-Iron Unix Arrives. Future of the notebook. The Next Chapter.