# FormatMessageW failed, using 2.1.49 (last version compatible with windows 7)

**URL:** <https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/formatmessagew-failed-using-2-1-49-last-version-compatible-with-windows-7/29430>\
**Category:** Help\
**Created:** [April 17, 2023, 12:46am UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/formatmessagew-failed-using-2-1-49-last-version-compatible-with-windows-7/29430 "2023-04-17T00:46:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 2

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**Author:** ![NameLessGO](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/forums.ankiweb.net/namelessgo/32/34298_2.png) [@NameLessGO](https://forums.ankiweb.net/u/NameLessGO)\
**Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 2:25am UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/formatmessagew-failed-using-2-1-49-last-version-compatible-with-windows-7/29430/2 "2023-04-17T02:25:22Z")

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There was an error report about FormatMessageW, but we didn’t get a follow-up, and was prob fix in later versions (link fixed → [Debugging](https://docs.ankiweb.net/platform/windows/startup-issues.html#debugging))

> [@anki desktop cant opening](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/anki-desktop-cant-opening/4628/2):
>
> Please see [https://faqs.ankiweb.net/when-anki-does-not-start-on-windows-debugging-steps.html](https://faqs.ankiweb.net/when-anki-does-not-start-on-windows-debugging-steps.html)

at this point, you might want to try upgrading to [Windows 10](https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows10) or better yet, using [Linux Mint](https://linuxmint.com/documentation.php)

[![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/anki2/original/2X/3/3600cc32ae0b6b2e6cdbe8b9051369ee26449b01.jpeg "Is Linux Mint BETTER Than Windows?") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=499jqHWZ-Ts)

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