PHOTOfunSTUDIO 9.3PE won't start in Windows 8. It works only in XP compatibility mode. How can I fix this problem, and am I losing any features in XP mode?

If you want to use a computer to read the internal memory or the SD card in the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS5, you will need the correct USB cable, which is an 8-pin micro USB (M) to USB A cable, . (One example: https://www.amazon.com/dCables-Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS5-Cable/dp/B00448MAWK ) Then ensure that the camera is fully charged or is getting additional power (AC adapter or DC coupler). After connecting the camera to the computer, you should be able to transfer files from File Explorer (Windows) or the Desktop (Mac). This may depend on your OS, see page 140 of the Advanced Features Manual for the supported OS versions. (Check Windows compatibility for later Windows version compatibility.)

With Windows XP, Vista or 7, you can also use the PhotoFunStudio that came on the CD with the camera. There is an update to the software here: http://av.jpn.support.panasonic.com/support/global/cs/soft/download/pfs50.html . See the manual for using the PhotoFunStudio software.

The direct link to the Advanced Feature manual is ftp://ftp.panasonic.com/camera/om/dmc-zs7_adv_en_om.pdf .

I hope this helps.

Cindy Wells

The PhotoSuite 4 program is very old and won't work under Windows 7. http://sonic.net/mnitepub/pccafe/reviews/photosuite4/photosuite4.html says that the version 4 Platinum edition ran under Win95-Win2000 versions of the Windows OS. Thus even the compatibility mode probably won't help under Windows 7 32-bit. You can try it though by right clicking on the installer and then selecting Properties. In the Compatibility Mode tab, select Always Run this program in the compatibility mode and an older version of Windows. Then right click again and choose Run as Administrator. (You may have to do this again on the program itself.) Since Win7 64-bit requires signed drivers or programs, it is not as likely to work. (Check your version of Windows 7 by clicking Start > Control Panel > System and Security > System. If the title of your OS ends with x64, you have the 64-bit OS. Otherwise, you have the 32-bit OS.)

If you have Windows 7 Pro or Ultimate (or upgrade to one of those versions), you can run a virtual version of XP for free. Download and install Microsoft's Virtual PC and then XP mode (in order). This works best if your CPU supports virtualization and you enable the feature in your computer's BIOS. (There are work-arounds for computers without virtualization. See the MS support pages.) Install your PhotoSuite inside the virtual XP program in that case.This old software may run in that case. (However, I've had some Win2K software that ran under XP with the compatibility mode but didn't run under the virtual XP. Note: virtual computers do have some additional limitations. They do not talk to the host hard drive and other hardware directly. (You can install a printer on the host machine or the virtual machine but not both.) You'll need to save files on external media (flash drive, optical disc or other hard drive) to transfer them between the machines).

Another option is to run an older version of Windows on another computer, as a dual boot computer or with Virtual PC (or another virtual computer package - VMWare or Parallels). In that case, you need a licensed version of the older Windows OS. Again install the program while running the older OS.

The final option is to upgrade to a Windows 7 compatible Photo editor and organizer. (Even the Microsoft Windows Live Photo Gallery has some of the features of Photosuite SE.)

I hope this helps.

Cindy Wells

Right click on the executable file that starts the setup, typically setup.exe. Select Properties. Under Compatibility, set it to Windows XP SP3. If that doesn't work, it really won't work without you setting up a virtual machine and installing a copy of XP. If you're running Windows 7, you can download a Windows XP virtual machine to run. It's called XP Mode. Instructions can be found by searching for XP Mode in the Start menu's Help and Support.

Trying installing the game in compatibility mode by right clicking on the EXE file on the medium used to start the install for the game and click properties. A window should pop up with a tab called Compatibility. Under compatibility mode click the check box to "Run this program in compatibility mode for:" In the drop down menu click Windows 95. Then try to run the install again.

The website / Microsoft site does not have any information if this software will work with Windows 7 / Vista, hence it would be a better idea to try installing it and see it it works. If it does not work with windows 7, windows 7 has a very good feature called XP mode to use old software and hardware which are compatible with XP but not with windows 7.

Please check the link below for details of what is XP mode in Windows 7

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/compatibility/windows-7/en-us/Details.aspx?type=Software&p=American%20Greetings%20Creatacard%20Platinum&v=Encore&uid=8&l=en&pf=0&pi=0&s=american%20greeting&os=32-bit

Please check the link below for details of how to use XP mode in Windows 7
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-IN/windows7/install-and-use-windows-xp-mode-in-windows-7

If you would like to make use of the SATA controller's AHCI features, you should enable this BIOS feature. But please note that enabling this feature requires you to load the SATA controller driver during the Windows XP installation routine.
If you do not intend to use the AHCI features, it's recommended that you disable this BIOS feature. This allows you to use the native Windows XP driver. You won't need to load the SATA controller driver during the Windows XP installation routine.

Read more: http://www.techmetica.com/howto/sata-ahci-mode-bios-setting.-what-does-it-do/#ixzz0y5ObAtN8

Bill252... I have the exact same camera and issues with the photofunstudio...did you find a resolution?

Hi there,

Well sorrsy to say but there is no win vista driver's for this model, anyway there is a way to use windows xp drivers in windows vista, follow the below steps -
1. Click the "Start" menu in the lower left-hand corner of the Windows Vista screen.
2. Select "Run" from the Start menu.
3. Type "msconfic" in the Run box. Click "OK." A window will appear that lists all of the programs scheduled to run when Windows Vista is turned on. Uncheck all unessential software programs. Be sure to leave critical programs checked, such as antivirus and firewall programs. Click "OK."
4. Click the "Start" menu and select "Restart" to reboot the computer.
5. Open "My Computer" (located in the Start menu or on the Vista desktop).
6. Double-click the "C:\\" drive. Find the installation directory for the Windows XP program or device that you wish to run in Windows Vista. The installation directory is usually given the name of the program, the program's manufacturer, or a shortened version of either of these two options.
7. Right-click the program or driver. Select the "Properties" option in the pop-up menu that appears.
8. Click the "Compatibility" tab in the window that appears. Check the box next to the heading that reads, "Run this program in compatibility mode." In the drop-down menu, select "Windows XP." Click "OK" to close the window. The program or driver will now operate in Windows Vista in Windows XP compatibility mode, allowing the driver to function as it did in Windows XP. Note that the Windows XP driver will not be able to take advantage of any of the new features in Windows Vista while it is running in compatibility mode. You can also follow the below link for more help -

http://www.softwaredriverdownload.com/try_fool_windows_vista_to_install_in_windows_xp_mode

Good Luck!!

Since this software was designed to work with Windows XP or earlier. It may not run in windows 7 normally, but you can run this application in Compatibility mode.

Windows 7 comes with Program Compatibility troubleshooter, using which you can run older programs in compatibility mode.
To run the Program Compatibility troubleshooter

1. Open the Program Compatibility troubleshooter by clicking the Start button and then clicking Control Panel.

2. In the search box, type troubleshooter, and then click Troubleshooting.

3. Under Programs, click Run programs made for previous versions of Windows.

4. This would scan the computer for incompatible applications and list them, keyboardworks .

5. Click next. this will try running in Windows XP mode.

6. If sucessful save the setting and u should be good to go, else try installing this application in Compatibility mode.

7. right-click choose properties on setup.exe

8. click on compatibility tab. put a check on run this program compatibility mode for and choose windows XP

9. put a check on run this program has administrator. cluick apply and ok and install this application.

10. run the application, if it does not work repeat the steps 1-6.