Windows 7 forum: Windows 7 with Visual Basic 6

Sam,

I have a test box setup with Windows 7 and as a test I installed Virtual Box and XP in that virtual box. Visual Basic 6 or VB6 has all the same stuff/issues and works as expected in that Virtual Box (see google.com) so that is the extent of my testing.

This test box will get a new video card over the next week and I'll try to install VB6 in Windows 7 then but NOT before then. Remember its just a test box we have here and I'll try stuff when there is a time to do that.

On your part, let me know how your tests fare.
Bob

Hi Sam, Bob, and others. I know this is an older post but I thought I would update it since there is some mis-information on this thread. VB6 does in fact work great with Windows 7. That said you do have to play by some of the new rules Microsoft has put in place for security purposes. Most notably you need to run the VB6 IDE in admin mode and you need to make sure your programs are either also ran in admin mode or only interact with files and resources they have permission for.

You don't have to take my word for it though. VB6.us has a great article that explains these things in detail and even "proves" it works with their most popular sample apps:
http://www.vb6.us/tutorials/windows-7-vb6-good-or-no-good

Hello.

I have 2 questions.

1. Is a compiled executable able to run in windows Vista/7? I do not need to run the VB development package from anything but a dedicated xp system.

2. If windows 7 can't run this executable how much slower is the xp emulator under windows 7 then running on a dedicated xp system?

Thanks in advance

It did install and complained many times about "known compatibility issues" which I'll let you research.

VB6 on launch gets an "Automation error Error accessing the OLE registry" which you can now research and see if that matters to you.

Hope this helps,
Bob

I hear you. My old VB6 apps are still in use. However I am also writing for Windows Mobile and for that I took the leap from C (yes, C. No +, ++ or #) to C# on Visual Studio 2008. I'm working on my presentation for next week about the changes.

The only gripe some will have is the cost. The old compiler and IDE was 55 bucks a seat. The new VS2008 runs 1K MSRP (the cover price.)

But the luxurious Corinthian leather trim, smell, power windows, and more debugging than I'll ever need makes the transition a lot smoother.
Bob

Glad to see that VB6 works on Windows 7. My question is whether it will compile an exe. And if it does, will that exe run on Windows XP or earlier???

My VB6 compiles program works without fail on Win7. However, if I use the VB compiler on a Win7 machine and try to use it on an XP machine, it wont run. Any answers out there?

FWIW, I've had some pretty ok success installing on VB6 on Windows 7. After Googling around, I found bits and pieces of information, and was able to piece it together and get a working installation.

I found your post last night, and thought I'd share the process. I've documented the process here:

http://www.fortypoundhead.com/showcontent.asp?artid=20502

Enjoy!

Do not believe that VB6 is fully compatible with Windows 7. I thought it was until I used my VB6 program a lot and some strange things started happening. For example, a GET from a Random Access file runs fine, until you ask it again for one of the retrieved variables from the GET, and suddenly it's from a different record. Detailed graphics code sometimes skips the last few steps in the procedure. None of these problems occur in the interpreter mode, but are found only when the code is compiled. If the same compiled code is run in the XP SP3 compatibility mode the problems do not occur. I tell my clients to run the executable in the XP compatibility mode, but they do not like the UAC prompt that occurs before the code executes. The problems appear in the executed code running under Vista and Windows 7 (64) bit. I have not tested Windows 7 32 bit

MS has indicated compatibility with VB6 from the beginning, but this is not always true. Uncomplicated short programs are compatible, programs of considerable length and with graphics seem to be the exception. Please see my earlier post.

Was vaguely a Service Pack item if I recall. Is SP6 for VB6 installed?