Troubleshoot problem applications with Windows 7 Program Compatibility tools

As you know, Microsoft has put a great deal of effort into making sure that Windows 7 is extremely compatible with new and existing hardware and software. The most evident piece of this compatibility push was Microsoft’s establishment of the Windows Ecosystem Readiness Program. Another big piece of Microsoft’s compatibility push was the inclusion of Windows XP Mode in Windows 7.

However, there is another big feature built in to Microsoft Windows 7 that is designed to enhance compatibility but doesn’t seem to get as much of the fanfare as the others — the Program Compatibility Assistant. This tool is designed to automatically run when it detects an older program that is encountering compatibility problems. Read more.

Explore the Windows 7 Application Compatibility List for IT Professionals

In the October 9th edition of the Windows Vista and Windows 7 Report, The Windows Ecosystem Readiness Program ensures compatibility for Windows 7, I explained that in addition to improving performance of the new operating system, Microsoft put a great deal of effort into making sure that Windows 7 is extremely compatible with new and existing hardware and software.

To make these compatibility investigations more productive for IT professionals, this week Microsoft released the Windows 7 Application Compatibility List for IT Professionals, an Excel-based spreadsheet that provides one-stop access to a complete list of software applications (more than 5,500 applications) which have undergone the Windows 7 Logo Program testing program for compatibility with 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows 7.

In this edition of the Windows Vista and Windows 7 Report, I’ll examine the Windows 7 Application Compatibility List for IT Professionals spreadsheet and provide you with an overview of what you can find in it.

The Windows Ecosystem Readiness Program ensures compatibility for Windows 7

We all remember what a compatibility nightmare Microsoft Windows Vista was between the time that it launched in January 2007 and the release of SP1 in April 2008. Unfortunately, software and hardware manufacturers and Microsoft were not on the same page when Vista launched and it took them close to year to get to that point. As you can imagine, the folks at Microsoft are very determined not to repeat that bit of history with Windows 7.

In fact, in February of this year Microsoft announced the Windows Ecosystem Readiness Program, which is designed to help Independent Hardware Vendors (IHVs), Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), developers, Independent Software Vendors (ISVs), and Original Device Manufacturers (ODMs) work towards compatibility with Windows 7 by providing them with access to all kinds of resources. I discuss the Windows Ecosystem Readiness Program in this edition of the Windows Vista & 7 Report.