First Vista Problem

Ok, my husband ran into a problem with Vista today, but we can't say we weren't warned.  He is a bit of a minor gamer, and Vista won't run some of his older games like Civilization 4.  There doesn't seem to be a work-around solution either.  Apparently Vista has heavy anti-piracy protection or something and older games register as illegal.  Although we have the disk and obviously bought it...

He hasn't loaded Elements on there for me yet and I am nervous.  I use it for a lot of things, it has dvd-making software that's quick to use.  I also use it to create my website's galleries..  Cross your fingers for me.

Charlie said he tried the right click on properties.  He has been online trying to figure it out.
I told him to pretend the new computer is like a game console that's not backwards compatible and I told him he can buy a new game.  He seemed to like that.  I don't know if there are any other gamers on this forum, but we are doing a count down to when Spore is released, I am super excited for it.  I don't game a lot, nor do I have the time, but once in awhile a game comes along that I just fall in love with.  When Roller Coaster Tycoon came out my husband and I called in sick to work for a like three days.  Wow, that sound pathetic.

install the program "as administrator" Its a right click function on the program's setup program.

Install it NOT in program files. Create a folder c:\oldPrograms (no spaces) and install the program there.

Vista won't allow anyone but an admin to write to c:\ and "watches" program files very closely but considers a folder some silly human created (i.e. c:\oldPrograms) to be just data and tends to ignore it.

works on some of the stuff I've helped people "fix"

Oh thanks guys.  I'll have Charlie try that when he is home.

if the other fix doesn't work, tell him to read this forum

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=185623

I have Civ I-IV and most of the expansion packs. It's my crack for a few months everytime a new verion comes out.

Blastphemony.  (I know the spelling is wrong, I'm to lazy to look it up and don't have one of those cool new browsers that will spellcheck for me.)

My husband is a Civ addict too.  It is a lot like risk, which I don't find boring so much as annoying.  My husband is very strategical and very military in his thinking during those games (don't suppose being in the military has anything to do with that, lol).  It ceases to be a game and becomes "world domination."  No thanks, I'll go scrapbook or do something more entertaining. 

Also it is possible to have 2 different operating systems on your computer, or at least on older ones I know.  I have friends that use Linux for most of their work stuff, but have windows on there so they can play their games like Civ.  I don't know if that's an option with Vista, but hopefully you can figure it out before he starts going through withdrawl, lol!