+1 to a Virtual machine. Legally you will need another licence but that's no different to a dual boot. Much easier to use. You can even suspend it with all your applications open like hibernating the host machine and just resume it when necessary.

Perhaps the compatibility mode options might work (right click on the .exe and then "Compatibility" tab? I've not used them much but they might get you over the line. That's in Windows 7. I presume 8/8.1 has similar options?

If it runs on Vista I'm a little surprised it won't on Windows 8.