diff --git a/Source/Encoder_QSV.cpp b/Source/Encoder_QSV.cpp
index 2eb466b65..ce23f0527 100644
--- a/Source/Encoder_QSV.cpp
+++ b/Source/Encoder_QSV.cpp
@@ -145,6 +145,8 @@ namespace
 
     bool spawn_helper(String &event_prefix, safe_handle &qsvhelper_process, safe_handle &qsvhelper_thread, IPCWaiter &process_waiter)
     {
+        if (OSGetVersion() < 7) return false;
+
         String helper_path;
         auto dir_size = GetCurrentDirectory(0, NULL);
         helper_path.SetLength(dir_size);
@@ -553,8 +555,12 @@ class QSVEncoder : public VideoEncoder
             }
         }
 
-        if(!spawn_helper(event_prefix, qsvhelper_process, qsvhelper_thread, process_waiter))
+        if (!spawn_helper(event_prefix, qsvhelper_process, qsvhelper_thread, process_waiter))
+        {
+            if (OSGetVersion() < 7)
+                ThrowQSVInitError(L"QSV is no longer supported on Vista", Str("Encoder.QSV.HelperLaunchFailedVista"));
             ThrowQSVInitError(L"Couldn't launch QSVHelper.exe: %u!", Str("Encoder.QSV.HelperLaunchFailed"), GetLastError());
+        }
 
         ipc_init_request request((event_prefix + INIT_REQUEST).Array());
 
diff --git a/rundir/locale/en.txt b/rundir/locale/en.txt
index da99bdd4a..018f095b2 100644
--- a/rundir/locale/en.txt
+++ b/rundir/locale/en.txt
@@ -477,6 +477,7 @@ Encoder.QSV.SNBIVBMaximumResolutionWidthExceeded="Your output resolution width o
 Encoder.QSV.SNBIVBMaximumResolutionHeightExceeded="Your output resolution height of %u exceeds the maximum of 1200 supported by Quick Sync on Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge based processors!\r\n"
 Encoder.QSV.InitCustomParamsFailed="Encoder initialization failed while custom parameters where active. Try enabling CBR or VBR in the Quick Sync Encoder settings."
 Encoder.QSV.HelperLaunchFailed="QSVHelper.exe couldn't be launched!"
+Encoder.QSV.HelperLaunchFailedVista="Quick Sync is no longer supported on Vista."
 Encoder.QSV.HelperEarlyExit="QSVHelper.exe exited."
 Encoder.QSV.IncompatibleImpl="QSVHelper.exe has exited because of an invalid 'qsvimpl' encoder setting; try removing the 'qsvimpl' parameter from your Custom Quick Sync Encoder Settings"
 Encoder.QSV.NoValidConfig="Quick Sync couldn't find a valid configuration; try connecting a (virtual) monitor to your Intel GPU"