Problems w/ database program on Windows 8.1 (kinda urgent)

[Julio Kirk]

So, I work at a school and we have a database, and a program to feed the system with students' grades and other data. It is old, but it used to work just fine on 7. However, I uptaded my notebook to Windows 8.1 recently, now the program doesn't work (it can't connect to the local database). I understand a little about computers and I normally don't need much help, but I really don't have any experience with SQL, databases and stuff like this, so I really can't tell if the problem is on 8.1, or my lack of information, or both.

All I could make out of the situation is that the program, the grades manager, is one of those dumb programs, badly constructed, and it seems to work on SQL 2005. It all seems very outdated.

I don't know if I make myself clear, but I'd appreciate if you guys could shed some light here. The IT guy who works here already frowned at Windows 8.1, and I'd like to tackle this one without his help, since his idea of a solution is to revert my notebook to Windows 7 and run everything as outdated as possible. They never seem to bother updating sofware or even hardware around here.

Thanks in advance

 

[USAFRet]

Investigate Compatibility Mode
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/older-programs-compatible-version-windows

 

[Julio Kirk]

Investigate Compatibility Mode
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/older-programs-compatible-version-windows

Thanks a lot, sir! It did the trick. Turns out both programs were incompatible and I was typing the wrong server name too, so it was both me and Windows. Anyway, thanks again, just saved my day (and geek dignity hahaha)

 

[USAFRet]

Excellent! Glad everything is working.