Installing old program on Windows 8.1 - Program requires Win NT Service Pack

Terry Betts · Mar 18, 2014

I am trying to install MGI Photosuite II on a Windows 8 computer. It pops up a message saying it needs Windows NT Service Pack 3 or better before it can install. I thought a service pack was just an update to a OS? What do I need to do to install this program? Thanks!

corroded · Mar 18, 2014

try compatability on the installer... set it to XP SP3

Terry Betts · Mar 18, 2014

corroded :

I tried that and it still says it needs the service pack. I tried all compatibility options.

corroded · Mar 18, 2014

you may be SOL... sometimes you just cannot trick them into running.

What version of Win8 do you have? If Pro, you can activate Hyper-V and run a virtual copy of XP on it. If not Pro, try Oracle's Virtual Box, it is free.

USAFRet · Mar 18, 2014

MGI Photosuite II is not merely 'old', it is ancient.

It is looking for specific references and technologies related to much earlier versions of Windows. Not finding those, it pops up that message.

Solutions? Get something much newer that does similar.

GIMP (potentially large learning curve with this one)
Paint.net

Both free.

corroded · Mar 18, 2014

GIMP is also FREE (like a full version of PhotShop, only FREE)

Terry Betts · Mar 18, 2014

corroded :

I have 8.1. Is Oracle Virtual Box a emulator? That would make it very hard to use the program wouldn't it? All my photos would be non-accessible to the virtual machine.

Terry Betts · Mar 18, 2014

USAFRet :

Thanks, but Photosuite has special features I'm used to and I'd rather not learn a whole program. Isn't there some way to replace those files or trick the program?

corroded · Mar 18, 2014

no... you can set "shares" like from computer to computer thru the VM system to access them.

Wndows 8.1 or 8.1 Pro?

Terry Betts · Mar 18, 2014

corroded :

I believe it is just the regular version. Would I need a copy of on older OS to use your method? I tried something like that once and it was a nightmare. I appreciate your help but this is for my father and I don't think he would understand all the complications.

USAFRet · Mar 18, 2014

Terry Betts :

VirtualBox is a virtual machine application. It allows you to simulate a whole physical PC, but in software.
Yes, you can run XP, or Win2000, or whatever in it. But if you've never done it, it can be a bit of a PITA to get set up.

But I'd really, really suggest just moving up to a different graphics application. Not only will it actually work with Win8, but it will almost certainly come with vastly better functions.

The above mentioned paint.net or GIMP are far more capable than your MGI Photosuite II. Seriously.

corroded · Mar 18, 2014

lol...ok... yes, the virtual machine needs its own installation, so, IF you can find a copy of Windows NT and a license key to run it, you can install it.

Once installed it will "see" the CD drive and you can install the program. You can run the Virtual Machine in full screen for your dad, then "save" it (like hibernation) when done and go back to Win8 for your stuff.

Terry Betts · Mar 18, 2014

USAFRet :

Terry Betts :

VirtualBox is a virtual machine application. It allows you to simulate a whole physical PC, but in software.
Yes, you can run XP, or Win2000, or whatever in it. But if you've never done it, it can be a bit of a PITA to get set up.

But I'd really, really suggest just moving up to a different graphics application. Not only will it actually work with Win8, but it will almost certainly come with vastly better functions.

The above mentioned paint.net or GIMP are far more capable than your MGI Photosuite II. Seriously.

Thanks, but as I said I am installing this for my father and he won't want to learn a new program. There must be a way to install this.

USAFRet · Mar 18, 2014

Terry Betts :

I understand you may be used to it, but time marches on.

To actually run MGI Photosuite II? You need a PC capable of running Win 98 or Win 2000.
Neither of which I would run natively connected to the internet.

So....either try to run that old OS in a Virtual Machine. And learn how to manage that.
Or
Learn a new graphics application.

Terry Betts · Mar 18, 2014

corroded :

I don't think he could do all that and he needs to be able to do this on his own. Again, thanks, but I find it hard to believe with so many programs people want to use from older generations that there isn't some way make it work.

USAFRet · Mar 18, 2014

Terry Betts :

USAFRet :

Thanks, but as I said I am installing this for my father and he won't want to learn a new program. There must be a way to install this.

If you can't do it in Compatibility Mode in Win 8, then no...either a VM, or some other application.

Terry Betts · Mar 18, 2014

USAFRet :

There isn't some program that will load an application in a container and allow you to use it normally while emulating on older OS in the background? Something that doesn't require a whole virtual machine or whatever?

Spectre694 · Mar 18, 2014

Terry Betts :

USAFRet :

There isn't some program that will load an application in a container and allow you to use it normally while emulating on older OS in the background? Something that doesn't require a whole virtual machine or whatever?

There is wine but that's even more complicated than a VM and linux only. No guarantee that it will even do the particular system calls you need.

USAFRet · Mar 18, 2014

with so many programs people want to use from older generations

No, actually there aren't. The hardware and software have moved on. 16bit, 32bit, 64bit. There is only so much you can make work natively.

And new, free, applications can be (usually are) far more capable than what was included with with MGI Photosuite II.
I'm pretty sure I used a version of that long, long ago. And would not consider for a second using it again.

Terry Betts · Mar 18, 2014

Spectre694 :

Terry Betts :

There is wine but that's even more complicated than a VM and linux only. No guarantee that it will even do the particular system calls you need.

How does that work? Is it complicated to setup or complicated to use?

USAFRet · Mar 18, 2014

Terry Betts :

Aside from Compatibility Mode in Windows, not really, no.
The application requires an OS. The OS lives in the VM.

corroded · Mar 18, 2014

WINE is an emulator... unless someone has built it for your program.... SOL...

Terry Betts · Mar 18, 2014

USAFRet :

Is there a way to install whatever files this program needs? Let's just pretend for a moment that this was a newer program. I can't download what it needs off the internet instead of using some form of emulation?

USAFRet · Mar 18, 2014

Terry Betts :

WINE is a Linux application that can run a lot of Windows applications. On a Linux machine.

Far, far more complex to set up than just installing a new graphics application such as paint.net.

USAFRet · Mar 18, 2014

Terry Betts :

Nope. It is looking for specific Windows subsystems that do not exist in anything more current than XP. Maybe not even that.

It's not a newer program. We can't make it so, without rewriting the whole thing. Which will not happen.

Compatibility Mode
or
Virtual Machine
or
New graphics application.

Installing old program on Windows 8.1 - Program requires Win NT Service Pack

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