Windows is one of the most popular operating systems out there with more than a billion users. All of this success comes due to the numerous features that have been made part of the operating system over the years. The latest and the greatest version of Windows is the "Windows 10" operating system that Microsoft has been pushing its users to upgrade to.

"This version of this file is not compatible with the version of Windows you're running" Error Message

However, the upgrade does come with some problems, most users are hesitant to upgrade because there have been reports of the "This version of this file is not compatible with the version of Windows you're running" Error with certain applications and installers after upgrading from an older version of Windows. In this article, we will discuss the reason due to which this error is triggered and also provide you with a viable solution to eradicate it completely.

What Causes the "This version of this file is not compatible with the version of Windows you're running" Error?

After receiving numerous reports from multiple users, we decided to investigate the issue and devised a solution to eradicate it completely. Also, we looked into the reason due to which it is triggered and listed it as follows.

Lack of Backwards Compatibility:The Error arises from a difference in the architecture of the application that you are trying to run and the architecture of Windows. It can either be caused if the program is too old or too recent for the version of Windows that you are trying to run it on. The problem can be solved if the issue is with backward compatibility, as all Microsoft operating systems do have backward compatibility integrated into them but it has to be manually triggered.

Now that you have a basic understanding of the nature of the problem, we will move on towards the solution. Make sure to follow the steps carefully and accurately to avoid conflict.

Solution: Changing Compatibility Settings

If the software isn't compatible with the version of Windows that you are using this error is triggered. Therefore, in this step, we will be changing certain compatibility settings. For that:

  1. Open the installation directory of the program that you are trying to run.
  2. Right-click on the main ".exe" for the program.
  3. Select "Properties" and click on the "Compatibility" tab.
  4. Click on the "Run Compatibility Troubleshooter" for Windows 10/8 and "Help me Choose the Settings" for Windows 7.
  5. Click on the "Try Recommended Settings" option and click on the "Test" option.
  6. If the program works, click on the "Yes Save these Settings" option and if it doesn't select the "No Try Different Settings".
  7. Follow the onscreen instructions and repeat the process until the program works.
    Running Compatibility Troubleshooter

Note:If you are using a "32-bit" operating system and are trying to install a 64-bit software it is recommended to either upgrade the operating system to a 64-bit one or search for a 32-bit version of the software. Also, if the problem is with Nvidia Graphics installer refer to this article.

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Kevin is a dynamic and self-motivated information technology professional, with a Thorough knowledge of all facets pertaining to network infrastructure design, implementation and administration. Superior record of delivering simultaneous large-scale mission critical projects on time and under budget.