So, it seems that Windows 8 (64 Bit) and ISE Design Suite 14.4 (64 Bit) don't get along. If you try to open a new project or add a source, it crashes. I am not sure if there is an easy way to switch to 32 bit from 64 bit, but here is how I ended up fixing my problem. You can edit your desktop shortcut to point to C:\Xilinx\14.4\ISE_DS\settings32.bat C:\Xilinx\14.4\ISE_DS\ISE\bin\nt\ise.exe and in the registry /* probably not necessary but it doesnt hurt. Computer\HKLM\SOFTWARE\Classes\isefile\DefaultIcon Computer\HKLM\SOFTWARE\Classes\System Generator Project\DefaultIcon change 'nt64' to 'nt' */ Computer\HKLM\SOFTWARE\Classes\isefile\shell\open\Command Computer\HKLM\SOFTWARE\Classes\System Generator Project\shell\open\Command Computer\HKLM\SOFTWARE\Classes\XPS_GUI\shell\open\Command change 'settings64.bat' to 'settings32.bat' there are a few other keys you can change.. just look for 'xilinx' in the registry and edit those (intellipoint, intellitype etc), but the ones listed are what i changed and they work for me Windows 8 is turning out to be such a pain that I have considered going to a straight Linux (CentOS 6.3) setup. Only downside is that my MUD Client wouldn't work...