Since the update on 15th February I have been unable to run Nova Development Greeting Card Factory. I know I have an old version but until that date it has run perfectly. I have tried all compatible versions of Windows but no luck. It is there on my hard drive (from the cd). The files show up on my hard drive but when I click on the installation file nothing happens although it shows a size of 8322kb. Any ideas how to overcome this would be welcome Thanks
Well, you didn't say what version, only that yours is old. I see by the website, they are up to version Deluxe 11. Sadly, if you have tried all the compatibility versions in Windows, and if the program maker refuses to issue an update for your version, there is little you can do but pay to upgrade the program. Sometimes it seems easy to blame Windows and Microsoft, but it really is up the software developers to keep their legacy programs current and compatible - not the OS makers. And since there is no financial incentive for Nova to expend resources on their old products when there will be no returns on that investment, we consumers are stuck with paying for the newer versions. The nicer companies offer discounts for owners of previous versions. It doesn't look like Nova is one of those. The only thing I can suggest you try is uninstalling your current version and installing it again. But I would not hold my breath (and for sure, I would first backup any cards you made but don't want to lose). Sorry.
I was afraid someone would say something like that. I put the blame on Windows update as I had been using the program only a couple of days before and it was working fine. Yes it is old - version 7 so I guess I've been living on borrowed time. I have uninstalled and re-installed a number of times but of course no luck. I have saved all my cards but unless I purchase a later edition I will not be able to open them. This too is the case with Publisher which I use a lot, every time they bring out a new edition access to previous work is lost. That really annoys me. Ah well I'll think about it and look around to see if there is a better program and also one which provides updates when necessary.. Thanks for your advice.
Windows Update was just the messenger. As Windows continues to evolve, more and more legacy software and hardware will no longer be compatible. This is not Microsoft doing it intentionally. They want you to be happy with your computer. But there is just no way they can ensure compatibility with 100s of 1000s of programs, and probably near that many pieces of hardware while keeping Windows current with the latest software, networking and hardware technologies. It is important to remember providing legacy software and hardware support is part of what got Microsoft in trouble with XP security so many years ago. They gave in the corporate (their biggest clients) pressure to maintain such compatibility so the big companies would not have to reprogram and retool - yet again - when migrating to XP. But this allowed the badguys to exploit vulnerabilities that might otherwise have been written anew and corrected with new code. For the next 10+ years, Microsoft got bashed relentlessly when it was the bad guys perpetrating the crimes, not MS. So Microsoft - and rightfully so - started putting security first, starting in earnest with W7 and now even more so with W10. And it has paid off. W10 is by far the most secure OS yet - to the point where many of the bad guys have decided to focus on network software and socially engineered methods of malware distribution (tricking users with legit-looking pages into clicking on something which opens the door and lets the bad guy in). That is, they are not writing code that exploits vulnerabilities. They are just pulling very clever cons to trick users into giving them access to their computers. Pretty hard to stop a bad guy from hurting you when you open the door, invite them in, and tell them to make themselves at home. And it is important to note the hardware industry does not sit around waiting on Microsoft either. They are all competing with each other and pushing their own envelopes and states-of-the-art which forces Microsoft to keep up to support the new updated standards that keep coming and coming. Me too. But like I said, HP would rather you buy a new printer instead of them spending $$$ on drivers for a 15 year old laser. I've been using TurboTax to do my own taxes for the last 20 plus years. Do I get a loyal customer discount or rebate? Nope.
