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Can I Run Early Versions of BibleWorks in Vista and Later Versions of Windows?
Author: KB Admin Reference Number: AA-02806 Views: 24559 Created: 2012-08-05 19:00 Last Updated: 2016-04-27 11:55 0 Rating/ Voters
Version 5 and especially earlier versions of BibleWorks may not successfully function on a computer running Vista and later versions of Windows. BibleWorks 4 cannot be installed to Windows 10, but it appears to be able to Run from CD when you place the BibleWorks 4 CD in an optical disc drive. (After initial installation, these BibleWorks versions may appear to run satisfactorily, but problems may arise later.)

If BibleWorks 5 or BibleWorks 4 is to run successfully on a computer with Vista and later versions of Windows, one must make changes to the Properties settings for the folder in which the BibleWorks files are stored. These changes are performed by the UAC Fix patch for BibleWorks 6 and 7 (revision A01), but for earlier versions, the changes must be made manually. To make these changes, take the following steps:

1. If BibleWorks has already been installed and executed, it must first be uninstalled (see instructions here) to provide a clean installation.

2. Install BibleWorks from the CD media.
a. After inserting the CD in the drive, the initial setup window should appear on the screen. Choose the Install option that appears.
b. In Windows Vista, the screen will darken, and a box will appear asking the user to allow the action. Choose ALLOW.
c. Continue the installation process to its end, at which point the computer should reboot.
d. Do not run BibleWorks until all after all the following steps have been accomplished.
3. Access the Security settings for the BibleWorks folder.

a. Click the Windows Start button.
b. On the right-hand panel of the menu, click on COMPUTER. Windows Explorer will open on the screen.
c. On the left-hand side of the screen, in the folder tree, find the disk on which the program is installed. It is probably Local Disk (C:). Click on the little triangle symbol to the left of it to expand the folder, so the folders under it can be viewed.
d. In the list of folders that displays, find and expand PROGRAM FILES [It will be PROGRAM FILES (x86) for the 64 bit version of Windows Vista or 7].
e. In the list of folders that displays under Program Files, find the folder for the version of BibleWorks that has been installed. Click on the folder to highlight it.
f. Click with the right mouse button to display a pop-up menu.
g. Choose PROPERTIES from the list. (It is at the bottom of the menu.)
h. On the GENERAL tab, check the Read-Only setting under ATTRIBUTES. If it is set, click on it to remove it as a setting, then click the APPLY button.
i. Click the tab labeled SECURITY. (see image below)


4. Change the permissions for the USERS Group in the tab labeled SECURITY.

a. In the list box at the top, scroll down (if necessary) to find the Group called USERS. This confirms that the group exists in the list.
b. Click the button to the lower right labeled EDIT.
c. In the second box that displays, find and highlight the group called USERS.
d. In the Permissions list box below, click each of the checkboxes for ALLOW to add those permissions to the USERS group. When finished, click the OK button.
e. In the upper list box of the Properties box, find and click USERS. Each of the permissions should have a checkmark for ALLOW. When finished, click OK.
f. Close Windows Explorer and proceed to the next step.

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5. Set the Compatibility Mode to Windows 2000 if possible or Windows XP
a. Right-click the desktop icon for BibleWorks to display a pop-up menu.
b. Choose PROPERTIES from the menu.
c. In the box that opens, find and select the tab labeled COMPATIBILITY.
d. In the section labeled Compatibility Mode
- Place a check in the box to run the program in compatibility mode.
- Choose Windows 2000 if possible or Windows XP from the drop-down list.

f. Click the APPLY button in the lower, right-hand corner.
g. Click OK to close the box and accept the changes.


6. Install Windows compatible Greek and Hebrew fonts in Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8.
The version of the Greek and Hebrew fonts that shipped with BibleWorks 5 and previous is not compatible with these versions of Windows, so texts using those fonts will not display correctly in the program. Click the following link for instructions on how to remove and reinstall the font files for Greek and Hebrew. 

Click here for instructions for Windows Vista

Click here for instructions for Windows 7 and later versions of Windows

7. Download and run the Winhlp32 file for your version of Windows. Though the BibleWorks program itself may run under the more recent versions of Windows, the Help files will not be available. This is because WINHLP32.EXE is no longer included with Windows starting with Windows Vista. Information is available from Microsoft for the download and installation of an application that will enable access to the older help files. Caution is urged when making changes of this to the system, and BibleWorks cannot accept responsibility for disruptions caused by such changes. Remember that for the versions in question, program information is available in the printed manual that came with the software. Visit this FAQ for info about the Winhlp32 files and links to the sites for them.

Last Update: ELM/ January 2013