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Windows Compatibility for all games
By Black Blade
These guide is made to show any one that do not know yet how to run games in Compatibility mode from with in Steam

I made it as i had problems with my Windows 8.1 crashing on some games and i seen Compatibility mode helps some times... but some games do not have a .exe file and these helps to move them as well to Compatibility mode
   
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Created by
Black Blade
Online
Category: Game Modes, Secrets, Walkthroughs
Languages: English
Posted
Updated
18 Dec, 2013 @ 7:46am
26 Sep, 2020 @ 4:30pm
2,502 Unique Visitors
51 Current Favorites
Guide Index
Overview
How to set launch options for a game 
Set game to Compatibility mode 
Link to the source: 
More possible sittings (under works) 
Comments
How to set launch options for a game
Ok so first thing you want to do is go to your library in Steam and then go to the game you want to active Compatibility mode on right click the game and select proprieties from the drop down menu:


Then in the proportions windows that will open select Set launch options:


Then these window need to open:
Set game to Compatibility mode
Open Set launch options for the game you want to set

Then type in
set __COMPAT_LAYER=
and after that add the mode you want to set: Example for windows 7 you want to do as so:
set __COMPAT_LAYER=WIN7RTM

After you set it click ok:
After that click on the Ok:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/5d4m5uh4455cdb0/click%20ok%20on%20set%20comptiblty%20mode.png

And you are done

The Compatibility mode codes:
Windows 8
WIN8RTM
Windows 7
WIN7RTM
Windows Vista (Service Pack 2)
VISTASP2
Windows Vista (Service Pack 1)
VISTASP1
Windows Vista
VISTARTM
Windows XP (Service Pack 3)
WINXPSP3
Windows XP (Service Pack 2)
WINXPSP2
Windows 2000
WIN2000
Windows NT 4.0 (Service Pack 5)
NT4SP5
Windows 98 / Windows Me
WIN98
Windows 95
WIN95
More possible sittings (under works)
Under works

If you like to use these with the Compatibility mode, make sure to add them in these order:
Run as admin, Sittings, Compatibility.

So for example if i want to run a game in Compatibility mode Window 8, As admin, and at 640 x 480 screen resolution that will be:
RUNASADMIN

Run as admin
Run this program as an Administrator
RUNASADMIN

Sittings
Disable display scaling on high DPI settings
HIGHDPIWARE
Reduce color mode (8-bit 256)
256COLOR
Reduce color mode (16-bit 65536)
16BITCOLOR
Run in 640 x 480 screen resolution
640X480
Enable this program to work on SkyDrive files
PLACEHOLDERFILES
26 Comments
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PlutoFalcon 3 Jul, 2023 @ 5:59pm 
how do i set this for windows 11?
NiedobrySadysta 8 Feb, 2023 @ 7:57am 
Do you know how to disable Fullscreen optimization with that?
Black Blade  [author] 26 Sep, 2020 @ 4:24pm 
Sure thing (sorry if you get notified :D: just replying to close it so you not get next time)
Ringoo 18 Mar, 2019 @ 9:05am 
Haha! Thanks man!
Black Blade  [author] 18 Mar, 2019 @ 4:35am 
I am not done yet mate, I am just going to look at it when I can
I am hoping can get it working on Windows 10
The VM is only the last case scenario :D:
Ringoo 17 Mar, 2019 @ 6:12pm 
Oh damn ok, well thank you for all your help my guy! Some heroes really don't wear capes! i guess ill have to dig around for better parts for a really old pc with Windows XP on it, but thank you so much dude! really really appreciate the help!
Black Blade  [author] 17 Mar, 2019 @ 1:33pm 
So first I recommend you try to find a crack and run it with that, see if that helps to run the game, its possible my issues is something else, my PC is piled up with stuff that can make a crash happen, as I use it some what as a development enviremnt :D: and what ever the case that will likely be the first step to get it running
I also tryed to use it in a Virual Machine of Windows 7 and it just did not run, possible becouse the Virtual GPU is not supported, so may need to find a fix that way if cant find a way to make it really work on Windows 10, that sadly will be the first game like that so far for me

O that matter, making a Virtual Machine is basiclly download an ISO, select the ISO in the virtual Machien software, install the OS and you should be set to go
Ringoo 13 Mar, 2019 @ 10:37am 
Wow! thank you so much, you probably got more results in 2 hours then i did in like 6 months haha!
Black Blade  [author] 13 Mar, 2019 @ 10:11am 
Ok so far found there is an issue with Windows 10 with the DRM of the game
As it uses a driver that dose not exsist anymore (removed as of secirty issues)
So fourced to use a crack to by pass it ( :( ) the game started no intro movie how ever
But then it crash when try to start campine
Looking into it
Black Blade  [author] 13 Mar, 2019 @ 7:58am 
If how ever this will be the first, il help you get the VM up, its not that hard over all to do this days