x86 problems

Hello, I've trying to install old business software on my new Vista 64 bit machine.
I've run the compatibility wizard to no avail. Before I bought the machine I took my software and a floppy drive into a Staples and a kid there risked his job to show me it would run on Vista 64. He a made a few keystrokes I could not follow and was able to change a setting to x86. The install shield came up as normal and the program installed. I foolishly thought he was just doing some normal thing prompted by Vista. Now I'm trying to do it here at home and Windows says the program is not compatible.
As you can tell, I'm not real good at this stuff so any help would be a blessing
Thanks wauchop

right click on the cd, bring up the properties tab, click on the compatability tab, check the box that says run this program in compatability mode for and pick what version of windows.

that maybe what he did, and as far as i know that is the only way to do it.