Will applications built with Delphi/C++Builder run on older versions of Windows including Windows Vista, XP, 2000, 95, 98 and Me?
Because of the use of Unicode as the default string type, Windows 98, 95, and ME will not run applications produced with Delphi/C++Builder 2009 or later. These operating systems do not support Unicode strings, and Microsoft has dropped support for them.
Applications built with Delphi/C++Builder 2009-XE2 and VCL will run on Windows 2000 or later. Applications built with Delphi/C++Builder XE3-XE5 will run on Windows XP and later. Applications built with Delphi/C++Builder versions from XE6 onwards will run on Windows 7 or later.