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Compatibility update is available for Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012


View products that this article applies to.

Summary

A compatibility update is a software update that improves the compatibility experience in Windows 8 and in Windows Server 2012. Microsoft regularly releases Windows compatibility updates to improve the overall user experience. This compatibility update is dated March 2013.

For more information about the improvements, refer to the "Applications or devices that experience a change in behavior after you install this update" section and the "Applications and devices that are included in this update" section.

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More Information

Update information

How to obtain this update

Windows Update
This update is available from Windows Update.
Microsoft Download Center
The following files are available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:
Operating systemUpdate
All supported x86-based versions of Windows 8Download Download the update package now.
All supported x64-based versions of Windows 8Download Download the update package now.
All supported x64-based versions of Windows Server 2012Download Download the update package now.
For more information about how to download Microsoft support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
119591 How to obtain Microsoft support files from online services
Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

The kinds of problems that are resolved by application compatibility updates

When you try to install and run certain games or applications in Windows 8 or in Windows Server 2012, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms:
  • The game, the application, or the driver is installed incorrectly.
  • The game, the application, or the driver causes system instability.
  • The primary functions of the game, of the application, or of the firmware do not work correctly.

Applications or devices that experience a change in behavior after you install this update

The following table lists the applications and devices that were included in this cumulative update package. This table also describes the behavior of these applications and devices after you install the update.

Compatibility updates trigger several changes in Windows 8. The following are the three most common:

Hard block

The update puts a hard block on the application. A hard block prevents an application that is incompatible with Windows 8 from running on the system.

Note Microsoft enables Windows to put a hard block on a non-Microsoft application only if the manufacturer is notified.

Soft block

This update puts a soft block on the application. A soft block notifies you when one of the primary functionality of the application is broken on Windows 8 or causes instability to application experience.

Driver Block

This action may block an existing driver on your computer. When the driver is migrated during the upgrade, an Inbox driver will be installed.

Applications and devices that are included in this update

Application NameVersionBehavior after you install the update
HP Software Framework4.0.108.1Enables the application's functionality.
Lightscribe Diagnostics Utility1.18.36.7Enables the application's functionality.
Scilab5.3.3Enables the application's functionality.
VCDS Release11.11.4Enables the application's functionality.
Apple Mobile Device USB DriverImproves user experience.
Wisair WSR Host UWB Radio DriverImproves user experience.
Dr.Web Security Space Pro7.xImproves user experience by warning the end-user, and provides a URL for more information about the product.
iLok Driver5.9.5.xImproves user experience.
Telenor Connection ManagerMultiple versions (E367,E1752,Icon7.2,Icon225,Icon401,Icon505 & MD400)Improves user experience by warning the end-user, and provides a URL for more information about the product.
Razer Nostromo Driver2.02Improves user experience by warning the end-user, and provides a URL for more information about the product.
Sandboxie3.73.xImproves user experience by warning the end-user, and provides a URL for more information about the product.
The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, about the performance or reliability of these products.

Windows Update replacement information

This update replaces the following updates:
  • 2793210 The compatibility update for Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012: January 2013
  • 2792476 The compatibility update for Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012: December 2012
  • 2764462 The compatibility update for Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012: November 2012
File information

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References

For more information about software update terminology, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
824684 Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates
Additional file information

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Keywords: kb, kbexpertiseadvanced, atdownload, kbsurveynew, kbfix

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Article Info
Article ID : 2790907
Revision : 2
Created on : 4/9/2020
Published on : 4/9/2020
Exists online : False
Views : 470