Hello Marion, WSRO could try the following (taken from Windows Help). "Getting older programs to run on Windows XP Most programs run properly on Windows XP. The exceptions are some older games and other programs that were written specifically for an earlier version of Windows. To run your program on Windows XP, try the following: Run the Program Compatibility Wizard. The Program Compatibility Wizard This wizard prompts you to test your program in different modes (environments) and with various settings. For example, if the program was originally designed to run on Windows 95, set the compatibility mode to Windows 95 and try running your program again. If successful, the program will start in that mode each time. The wizard also allows you to try different settings, such as switching the display to 256 colors and the screen resolution to 640 x 480 pixels. If compatibility problems prevent you from installing a program on Windows XP, run the Program Compatibility Wizard on the setup file for the program. The file might be called Setup.exe or something similar, and is probably located on the Installation disc for the program. To run the Program Compatibility Wizard Start the Program Compatibility Wizard. Follow the instructions in the wizard. Note To start the Program Compatibility Wizard, click Start, click Help and Support, click Find compatible hardware and software for Windows XP, and then, under See Also in the navigation pane, click Program Compatibility Wizard. Set the compatibility properties manually As an alternative to running the Program Compatibility Wizard, you can set the compatibility properties for a program manually. The settings are the same as the options in the Program Compatibility Wizard. To set the compatibility properties for a program manually Right-click the program icon on your desktop or the shortcut on the Start menu for the program you want to run, and then click Properties. Click the Compatibility tab, and change the compatibility settings for your program. Notes The Compatibility tab is only available for programs installed on your hard drive. Although you can run the Program Compatibility Wizard on programs or setup files on a CD-ROM or floppy disk, your changes will not remain in effect after you close the program. For more information about an option on the Compatibility tab, right-click the option and then click What's This." Steve Steere Orpington, Kent.

Hello Steve, Thanks for the instructions re Windows XP. Part of the problem is that we are dealing with a need to run very old programs indeed and I have been advised that Win 98SE is the better bet because it is possible to run MS DOS alongside it and then run the program straight from DOS via a desktop shortcut. I have been experimenting with a very old MS DOS word processing program that I have and Windows XP just doesn't want to know, so I have opted for the Win98 SE route and that loads the program quite happily. However, its very interesting to learn that there might be a Windows XP route for those programs which are not quite so old, so thanks very much indeed for your advice. Best wishes Marion Woolgar Bognor Regis, West Sussex SFHG NO: 3323