Companion 1.52 does not work on Windows 8

What steps will reproduce the problem?
1.Install companion9xInstall_v1.52
2.Start it in Windows 8
3.Crash

What is the expected output? What do you see instead?
Companion should start

What version of the product are you using?
1.52
On what operating system?
Windows 8 x64
Which firmware have you selected ?
-

Please provide any additional information below.
I have tried to 
-uninstall&&install
-run with elevated rights
nothing works

Original issue reported on code.google.com by dafes1...@gmail.com on 10 Jan 2014 at 2:38

roberto1903 / companion9x

Companion 1.52 does not work on Windows 8 #291