Solved Compatibility issue with program created for Windows XP

QuicktellPro said:

I'm running v5.02. If you want a copy, send me a PM and I will put it on my server for you. You should know that, just as with v5.01, it is just a load of files which you paste into the installation folder. Quite frankly, I really have no idea what the difference is. Perhaps you could mail Ian for more info about that?

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Thanks for the offer. Although Ian sent me the KirbyAlarmUpdateVersion502.zip the version installed is 5.01 and not 5.02 . Please verify if you really have 5.02 (On Kirby - Help > about)

Megahertz said:

Thanks for the offer. Although Ian sent me the KirbyAlarmUpdateVersion502.zip the version installed is 5.01 and not 5.02 . Please verify if you really have 5.02 (On Kirby - Help > about)

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Indeed, it shows v5.01, even though I copied all the files from Ian's 5.02 zip archive into the folder.

Today, KAP just will not work. It launches but freezes every time. Any attempt to use our workaround results in this:



I'm at my wit's end because the program is critical to the running of my companies.

Your chance to keep using old applications like this is to install it on a virtual machine running a compatible version of Windows. If you don't want to use Hyper-V, you can download VMware Player or VirtualBox, install Windows 7 or 10 and install the application there. VirtualBox also supports Seamless mode which runs the application in a window rather than showing the whole guest OS. VMware had Unity, but this feature is removed in latest versions. You have to download an older version to use Unity.

However, I would try to set Windows 7 in Compatibility mode or other version of earlier Windows the application can load successfully. I would also make sure it always runs as Administrator, just in case. To make sure these settings are always enabled, I would set them for all users, not only mine.

PS: Out of curiosity, I downloaded Kirby Alarm Pro 4.45 and installed it by right-clicking on the file and Run as Administrator. I also created a test alarm. It seems to work fine without touching any compatibility settings. I run Windows 11 Pro 24H2 build 26100.4484 Maybe you have to use Revo Uninstaller to remove all traces of it, restart and reinstall.

What does Hyper-V do?
I think that running a separate O/S would not be a solution because I need that app running all the time whilst I am using Windows 11. There are several reasons for this. You see, it is not just an electronic agenda. It runs tasks that you have programmed automatically. For example, it will backup certain folders to an external drive, send mails to colleagues, and launch a specified program at a certain time.

The good news is that I changed the compatibility setting to Windows 7 and, for now, it appears to have stopped crashing. It still needs the workaround that Megahertz and I have been using to get rid of the blank screen, but maybe a future Win 11 update will solve that... I'm not holding my breath on that one though.

QuicktellPro said:

What does Hyper-V do?
I think that running a separate O/S would not be a solution because I need that app running all the time whilst I am using Windows 11. There are several reasons for this. You see, it is not just an electronic agenda. It runs tasks that you have programmed automatically. For example, it will backup certain folders to an external drive, send mails to colleagues, and launch a specified program at a certain time.

The good news is that I changed the compatibility setting to Windows 7 and, for now, it appears to have stopped crashing. It still needs the workaround that Megahertz and I have been using to get rid of the blank screen, but maybe a future Win 11 update will solve that... I'm not holding my breath on that one though.

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I had once Adobe Acrobat Pro XI (the version before DC) and every time I loaded it there was some conflict and the default PDF viewer was reset to Microsoft Edge! Very annoying! I set the compatibility to Windows 7 and it never did that again!

I had Win 11 24h2 upgraded from Win 10. I was having some other issues than just with Kirby so I decided to do a Win 11 23h2 clean install and everything is now working good. Let's see what happens with 25h2 next November.

QuicktellPro​

if you really need KAP running smooth , you should install Win 11 23h2

Megahertz said:

if you really need KAP running smooth , you should install Win 11 23h2

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The problem with doing a clean install is that I would need to reinstall all my programs and then customize Windows as I want it. It's just too much of a task because it would present a couple of days downtime and up to a couple of weeks to get it running as needed.

If I wait for 25H2, is it possible it will fix all the bugs in 24H2 or will that need a clean install too?

Upgrading from 23H2 directly to 25H2 requires to download the ISO and run Setup. Upgrading from 24H2 to 25H2 will be available with a simple update called 25H2 Enablement Package. This is because 24H2 and 25H2 share the same system files with the 25H2 features disabled. Since it will be basically the same version of system files as 24H2, most likely any existing bugs will remain until a newer update fixes them. So chances are Kirby will still have this bug in 25H2 unless the system files responsible are updated as well.

Ok. Well, for now, I think I will stick with the workaround to make KAP work.
To be honest, this program was first released in 1998. Since then, I have only seen one company attempt to make a competing product. Theirs had a much nicer interface but was extremely lacking in functionality so it vanished within a couple of years. Given how this program is so indispensable to anyone that has used it, I cannot understand why nobody else has come forward with a more up to date version to include new functionality.

Unfortunately once the original developer stops updating an application, rarely any other does. I am using some software from 2003 for my video editing because there is no newer version and haven't found a modern equivalent with the same functionality.

spapakons said:

I am using some software from 2003 for my video editing because there is no newer version and haven't found a modern equivalent with the same functionality.

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May I ask what that is, please? I am looking for a video editing solution that has similar functions to those offered by Wondershare Filmora but without having to pay an annual subscription.

for basic video editing i use Movie Maker from Windows Live Essentials.
i just install Movie Maker and Photo gallery.

if you decide to try it at the end of the install it gives a failure notice
ignore the notice and close the installer both Movie Maker and Photo gallery have been installed.

best of luck, Steve ..

The old Movie Maker is limited to WMV format. I use VirtualDub 2 which, after installing the relevant codecs (K-Lite codec pack), can open almost everything. The output is an AVI file, but you can use Handbrake or other tool to convert to MKV or MP4. You can even start frame server and import the video directly to Handbrake for output to MKV or MP4 without creating an AVI file first. Since Handbrake cannot open the VDR file directly (VirtualDub frame server signpost), I have to create an AviSynth script to open it. Then I use avfs utility from VapourSynth to open the AVS file (AviSynth script) and convert it to virtual AVI that Handbrake can open. Yes, it sounds complicated, but once familiar you do these steps fast. This is the only way to edit in VirtualDub with frame accuracy, use its filters and create an MKV file without creating an AVI first and then recompessing and further reducing quality. The avfs tool also produces a virtual WAV file for the audio stream which I can open with Adobe Audition and equalize since VirtualDub doesn't have this feature. If I am editing standard definition video and want to produce a DVD disc, I use AVStoDVD which can open an AviSynth script and convert it to DVD with exactly the bitrate I set in order to fit as close as possible a blank DVD disc. Other converters don't obey the bitrate and the video is either much smaller (losing quality) or larger (doesn't fit on the disc). To calculate the bitrate I use Mark's Bitrate Calculator. If I am editing HD video I can set VirtualDub to x264vfw video and AC3 audio to make it Blu Ray or AVCHD compliant. I use AVCHD Calculator to calculate the bitrate so it fits as close as possible to an empty BD-R or DVD disc. I use MultiAVCHD to create the Blu Ray or AVCHD files without recompessing and Nero Burning ROM to burn the disc. Or I can just keep the AVCHD or VIDEO_TS (standard DVD) folders in my Videos disk and watch them with MPC-HC. If I want to watch the HD video on my smart TV I use AviDemux to open the AVCHD stream and output to MKV without processing, so quality is unaffected.

I have a similar issue. A program I've been using for years would work in Windows 10 and 23H2 but not in 24H2. It installs in 24H2 but doesn't display or work (and have not been unable to fully uninstall it either!). It's Panda usb vaccine. I don't like being without it as sometimes get used pc's and it reassures me that the usb sticks ,inf file is disabled from running. I tried installing in Windows 8 compatibility mode but it still didn't work. To be honest it's the one thing that is making me want to stop using 24H2!

Isn't Windows Defender or third-party antivirus enough to intercept malicious code from USB before running?

spapakons said:

Isn't Windows Defender or third-party antivirus enough to intercept malicious code from USB before running?

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I don't know but I just don't want it running!

Rather than hijack this thread though, I've started a new one

spapakons said:

The old Movie Maker is limited to WMV format.

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Too complicated for me. I make videos of customized cars using my phone. The result is an mp4 file which I was always able to import into Filmora and then edit to make a reasonably watchable video. I don't understand bitrates and conversions. I need something very simple to operate.

CapCut was recommended but, although it is still free, you have to agree that Bytedance (TikTok) sell your face, voice, and likeness in ads, AI training, or even sell that footage to others. No thanks!

If you care only about the format and not for specific bitrates and sizes, you can use OBS Studio to capture from any camera or video input of your computer. You can even capture to AVS or HEVC directly using hardware acceleration such as NVEnc HEVC codec (nVidia). There are equivalent for Intel and AMD, but I don't remember how they are called. Then use any editor that can handle MKV or MP4 files (OpenShot seems good, or Nero Video if you have Nero Suite) to edit out the ads and any unwanted scenes. To convert from one format to the other use Handbrake. You can define a section of the video using frames or time, but you have to find these boundaries using another application. Handbrake unfortunately doesn't support watching the video to select specific points.

Filmora allows you to handle both audio and video using drag and drop and predefined transitions. It is by no means a professional solution but it does the job reasonably well and with absolute ease for beginners like myself. I would have stayed with it if it wasn't for the SaaS model they have inflicted on users.

I will take a look at OpenShot.

A Windows XP Virtual machine system runs really fast and consumes so little resources on any reasonable hardware using any of these VM systems - HYPER-V, VBOX, VMware workstation or from Linux KVM/QEMU that it seems IMHO a waste of time trying to fix so it runs on W10/W11, plus you can run it concurrently with your running OS.

Just note though you need SMB1 on the W11 system if you want XP to share disk files with it.

Also on these VM systems add the "VMware tools, Vbox additions or in the case of Linux hosts the virtio Windows drivers" TO THE VM - so decent display, mouse, keyboard etc available. 4K UHD wasn't around at XP time. 2260p doesn't look great on 640 X 480 VGA !!!!!! which was quite OK for XP and the screens at that time.

Cheers
jimbo