Miloš P.

Posted on Jul 30 • Edited on Aug 11 • Originally published at milos-p-lab.github.io

Bringing VB6 Back to Life: Run the Classic IDE on Windows 10/11 — No VM Needed

#vb6 #legacy #development #ide

Introduction

Visual Basic 6.0 (VB6) holds a special place in the hearts of many developers, especially those who worked with it during its heyday in the late 90s and early 2000s. However, running VB6 on modern Windows systems like Windows 10 and 11 can be a challenge due to compatibility issues and the need for virtual machines. Fortunately, there's a way to run VB6 natively on these systems without the hassle of VMs or complex registry tweaks.

Visual Basic 6.0 (VB6) still powers countless internal tools, utilities, and legacy business applications — yet running the IDE on modern Windows is increasingly difficult.

Microsoft officially ended support long ago, and modern Windows versions often produce errors related to missing components, registry issues, or unregistered OCX/ActiveX controls. Many developers resort to running VB6 inside a virtual machine — which adds overhead and complexity.

I wanted a better way.

✅ The Solution: One Click Setup — No VM, No Registry Hassles

I created a self-contained, portable installer that:

Installs the VB6 IDE on Windows 7, 10 and 11 (including 24H2)
Registers all required runtime components automatically
Avoids the need for a VM, ISO, or manual tweaks
Lets you edit, run, and compile VB6 projects immediately

📦 Download the ready-to-use installer from the GitHub repo:

👉 VB6-on-Windows-11 (Releases) page.

This package is designed for developers who need to maintain legacy VB6 applications, analyze old code, or quickly build utilities in a familiar environment. It provides a hassle-free way to get started with VB6 on modern Windows systems.

🔧 What’s Inside the Package

VB6.exe: extracted and configured version of the original IDE
Auto-registration of runtime DLL/OCX files (via .bat and .reg)
No installer wizards, no license checks
No need for virtual machines or legacy Windows
Immediate Project Access: Start editing, running, and compiling VB6 projects right away.

Optional:

Link to legacy-friendly Double Agent as MS Agent replacement (if your apps used speech/animation)
Example project: delaycmd.exe to run apps with delay (including as system services)

💡 When and Why to Use This

You need to quickly modify or recompile an old VB6 app
You want to analyze legacy code without recreating an XP VM
You’re working with older internal tools still used in your company
You want to run/debug examples or educational projects from VB6 era
You need to understand how certain controls behave without reverse engineering

⚠️ Limitations

Works on Windows XP, 7, 10, and 11 (including 24H2), but compatibility may vary based on system configuration.
Microsoft does not officially support VB6 — this is community-driven.
Some antivirus software may flag the installer due to it being a self-extracting .exe (built with WinRAR). This is a known issue with false positives.

📖 Want the Full Story?

For background, setup details, and example projects:

👉 Read the full blog post

Feedback Welcome!

Have a use case or suggestion? Feel free to open an issue or contribute.
This is a personal preservation effort — if it helps others, even better!

Conclusion

Visual Basic 6.0 may be a relic of the past, but with this setup, you can keep it alive and well on modern Windows systems. Whether you're maintaining legacy applications or just want to relive the nostalgia of VB6 development, this package makes it easier than ever to get started without the headaches of virtual machines or complex configurations.