Compatibility Mode Question

This may be a dumb question, but, I'm good at it.

Does it do anything if you change the Compatibility Mode setting on the EXE that launches a program?
Or is it necessary to reinstall that program in that Compatibility Mode?

I ask because I'm having a problem with an old version of AutoCAD LT that started after a Windows Update.
This version of the program (2010) is not supported for Windows 10, but it was running fine until just recently.
AutoDesk forums says a reset or reinstall is the solution.
The kicker is that AutoDesk does not issue any activation codes anymore for any perpetual license product (since 9/1/19) , so re-installation is going to be an even bigger chore - on top of the 6 hours I need to configure it normally.

TV2 said:

This may be a dumb question, but, I'm good at it.
Does it do anything if you change the Compatibility Mode setting on the EXE that launches a program?
Or is it necessary to reinstall that program in that Compatibility Mode?

Try using the Compatibility troubleshooter first to determine the best OS fix (strongly recommended), or in file properties of the exe, select Compatibility tab, then click run this program in Compatibility mode and select best OS. Then click apply and OK. The next time you launch the exe it will automatically launch using Compatibility mode.


Type Compatibility into the search bar and select open.





Select Advanced, click apply repairs automatically, and next.








Select program and next.





Select troubleshoot program.





Select "The program worked in an earlier version of Windows..." and next.





Select OS to use with compatibility test and next.





And finally, "Test the program".





If you are successful in choosing a suitable compatibility mode for this program, click next and "Yes, save these settings..." or "No, try again..."





If you prefer to make changes without testing first (not recommended), then change the settings in the Properties for the exe using the compatibility tab. Click "Run this program in Compatibility mode for", select an OS and click apply and OK.

My first problem:
Running Compatibility Troubleshooter:

And when I run the troubleshooter, I get Access Denied. Program has been blocked by an administrator.
That's me. I certainly did not restrict access.
Sounds like a permissions problem. Do you think these were set by the program upon installation?

Results here: dism.log

I just ran a test. I have Autocad Lt installed on a Windows 10 Home 1909 machine (the problem machine is Pro 1909) and the problem does not occur, using the same files, on that machine. And I can run the Compatibility Troubleshooter on Home OK. Access is still denied on Home. All permissions are the same on both machines.

This may indicate that the problem is not between Windows versions, but something native to the problem PC, possibly something between Home and Pro editions.

Well it was interesting. Dism ran and finished without any summary report in CMD. The log was all I got.

No, haven't tried the other troubleshooter method. I'll do that today.

Re-running DISM and SFC results in No integrity violations. The key is it does not solve my problem.
I'm leaving Windows alone and focusing on AutoCAD LT 2010.

Due to the fact that AutoDesk is not going to honor their perpetual licenses anymore, and the cost of upgrading the program to a subscription service, I think my best option at this point is to focus on replacing the software with something similar that is more reasonably priced.

I may work on the crash issue some more sometime soon, but for now I need to work on moving-on to avoid any business disruption. I am one hardware or OS failure away from having no CAD software to use.