i've tried making programs in c++ for windows, the hard way, not using a visual basic like interface. i realize that when you compile the program it's processor specific but then how do all these programs you go and buy run? is there something i'm missing? icq is/was written in c/c++, i know because my old copy crashed and it dumped code out, but one download will run on any computer regardless of the CPU type. i'd appreciate any help, i've only been working with windows programming for a little while.