Fix: Steam thinks its running in compatibility mode

[ZeroHour]

Hi
Just thought I would post a solution to a problem I had with Steam on Windows 7 RC x64 (but I believe it can happen in vista as well)
Everything was working in steam for weeks until I went to close it down last night, when I exited steam windows poped up with a message stating it was going to apply compatility settings to steam as it detected a problem (no cancel or way to stop it doing this)
When I relaunched steam it poped up with a message telling me:
Running Steam in Windows compatibility mode is not recommended. Please remove any Windows compatibility settings for all users under file properties for Steam.exe and restart Steam. Press 'Cancel' to premanently ignore this warning and continue.

Reinstalling steam made no difference as well as trying to set compatibility settings under the shortcut. I eventually had a go of the application compatibility tool microsoft gives out to see that the settings saved on the machines local database and that triggering when I ran steam. I had a hunt through the registry and found the area where the keys are kept and deleted the key and my problems were gone.

To fix the issue:

1. Hit start->run->regedit
2. Go to key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Layers
3. Look for a entry with your path to steam.exe
4. Delete that entry
5. If you dont find it there try HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Layers

Hope this helps if you get the issue.

Please feel free to register and say hello here and if you have any other problems in general please try a new post, you never know.

[Revolexis]

Hi ZeroHour,

I created an account on here just to say a big THANK YOU for taking the effort to post that, I've been trying to figure out how to fix that issue since yesterday and even did a full reformat to try and get rid of it.

THANKS!

[ZeroHour]

Np, and welcome to edugeek
The problem drove me mad on windows 7 until I hunted the key down.

Even if your not in educational IT I hope you find us useful and if you have any pc issues feel free to post them and I am sure others will help asap.

[nashbridges]

Turns out Steam found me a new forum! Not only did your post fix this problem, it found me this forum.

10 years in education tech and I've never come across this site. I'm glad I'm here.

[ZeroHour]

Turns out Steam found me a new forum! Not only did your post fix this problem, it found me this forum.

10 years in education tech and I've never come across this site. I'm glad I'm here.

Np, glad the fix worked and glad you have found us now (tell others ). Enjoy

[joshlete]

I too have created an account just to thank you. Steam at first, wouldn't let me download mods, then i'd get the error. Now, I have no problems. Thanks a bunch.

[Dos_Box]

Turns out Steam found me a new forum! Not only did your post fix this problem, it found me this forum.

10 years in education tech and I've never come across this site. I'm glad I'm here.

Thats because we don't spam or advertise. We are the education IT industries dirty little secret

[ZeroHour]

I too have created an account just to thank you. Steam at first, wouldn't let me download mods, then i'd get the error. Now, I have no problems. Thanks a bunch.

Np, thanks for taking the time to post

[Lukebad]

As many others in this thread, I'd like to thank you for your post!
I registered to thank you, but I intend to keep using this forum from now on.
Thanks again, mate!
Lucas

[tudajfor]

Thank you so very very much, This worked like a charm

[Troy]

This doesn't work for me.., pretty much tried everything I can find.

[ZeroHour]

This doesn't work for me.., pretty much tried everything I can find.

Can you try browsing into your folder where steam.exe and double check no compatibility settings have been enabled in there?
What O/S and edition?

[ParanoX]

Thank you ZeroHour! It worked and the problem is gone!

THANKS from Sweden!

[mik02911]

yeah, i've done everything even what you suggested nothing works i've done everything thing the steam forums suggested i don't know what to do i have windows 7 professional and at time it'll let me reinstall steam but sometimes when it is uploading the platform it'll try 3-5 times before an error comes up saying "steam is temporary unavailable, please try again later" can someone help me i've been told its a corrupt file in the installation but i have no clue how to get it out... can someone please help me

[unknownx0]

I tried this but it keeps on replying it has been disabled by your administrator but i have not disabled anything my OS is windows vista basic and i dont know what else to try.