Is software made for Windows 2000 compatible with Windows Me?

Is software made for Windows 2000 compatible with Windows XP?

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Request for Question Clarification by joseleon-ga on 15 Jan 2003 01:23 PST

Hello:
  What do you mean by "compatible"? You can design software for
windows 2000 which is not "fully" compatible with Windows Me or
Windows XP. What do you mean exactly?

Regards.

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Clarification of Question by esarkissian-ga on 15 Jan 2003 08:51 PST

Hi,

I have Windows Me and want to try a DVD-creating software that's for
Windows 2000.  If it doesn't work, what if I upgrade my pc to XP?

thanks.

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Request for Question Clarification by joseleon-ga on 15 Jan 2003 09:09 PST

Hello:
   The only way to determine if certain software runs on a Operating
System is by looking at the product specifications. If you don't have
them, or even your OS is not listed, the final way is to try it. It
sounds weird, but it's the way to do it. If you want, I can look for
software which will check if another software is compatible by looking
the binaries, but I highly doubt such programs exists and even are
100% accurate.

Regards.

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Clarification of Question by esarkissian-ga on 15 Jan 2003 09:16 PST

My OS isn't listed, but I've heard you can really screw up your PC if
you try and install Win 2000 software.  Is this true?

I'm unsure if the program will work on 98, since it's been quite some
time now since I've played with a computer with 98 on it, but it's
likely that it will work on XP. Win XP is based on the same core as
Win 2k, while 98 is completely different. As a rule of thumb, most
Win2k programs will run on XP without trouble, but there's always ones
that won't. As joseleon-ga noted above, the only real way to find out
is to try it out for yourself. A bit of a bonus is XP's compatibility
feature which you can use to run a program Win95, 98, NT, or 2k
compatibility mode. If at first an older program won't work in XP, you
can try and use ones of the compatibility modes to get it to.

Generally, if the program only list Windows 2000, then it will run in
2K and probably in XP. If the program lists 95 or 98 as well, then it
will probably work in ME.

Probably doesn't mean always though.

There are two paths for software compatibility. Most times, but not
always, software will run in a newer operating system then it was
designed for. Some times, but not always, software will run in an
operating system older then it was designed for.

The two paths are as follows:

Home path:

1) DOD-based (all versions)
2) Windows 3, 3.1, and 3.11
3) Windows 95
4) Windows 95B and C (AKA OSR2)
5) Windows 98
6) Windows 98SE
7) Windows ME
8) Windows XP home and pro (same core in both)

The business side is:

1) DOS-based programs (all versions)
2) Windows for workgroups 3.11 (and some 3 and 3.1 programs)
3) Windows NT 3.5, 3.51
4) Windows NT 4
5) Windows 2000 Professional
6) Windows XP home and pro

As you can see, there isn't really a direct path from 98/ME to NT/2K.
Some software works, some doesn't.


My overall suggestion:

If your computer is already running ME,
is faster the 450 Mhz,
and has 256MB of RAM or more,
upgrade to XP Home. The computer will run faster and mroe stable, and
un more software then ME.

-sparky4ca