Run a Windows executable in XP compatibility mode from the command line?

Question

Is there a way I can set the compatibility mode of an .exe file through the command line on execution of said file?

Solution

You can use the Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) to do this, http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=24da89e9-b581-47b0-b45e-492dd6da2971&displaylang=en.

First you pick the compatibility settings for the application and it will save to an SDB file.

Then to install the SDB you use the following command.

sdbinst -q <path to sdb file>

Then whenever you run the EXE you want after that point Windows will apply the compatibility settings.