Windows Troubleshooter

Hello Emma,

If the Get Help app redirects you away from the classic Program Compatibility Troubleshooter, you can try launching the older troubleshooter directly.

1. Try opening the classic troubleshooter

Press Win + R, enter the following command, and press Enter:

msdt.exe -id PCWDiagnostic

If the classic Program Compatibility Troubleshooter opens, continue with the next steps.

2. Select your installer

Click Next.

When the list of installed programs appears, select Not Listed.

Click Next again.

You should then be prompted to browse for the program you want to troubleshoot.

3. Run the compatibility test

Click Browse and select your setup.exe or .msi installer.

Click Next.

Select Try recommended settings.

Click Test the program to check whether the installer works with the suggested compatibility settings.

Alternative: Set compatibility mode manually

If the troubleshooter does not open, or your organization's policies block msdt.exe, you can try setting compatibility mode manually:

Right-click the installer and select Properties.

Open the Compatibility tab.

Select Run this program in compatibility mode for:.

Choose the Windows version the application was designed for.

Click Apply, then OK, and try running the installer again.

Please note that Microsoft is retiring the legacy MSDT troubleshooters. Depending on your Windows version, the command may redirect to Get Help or may no longer work.

If this resolves the issue, please consider marking this response as Accepted Answer so other users experiencing the same problem can find the solution.