Running Legacy Programs on Windows 7

Microsoft does try hard to make old software work on their systems. Windows Vista users did have problems with some older applications and drivers. Windows 7 users, especially ones using Professional/Ultimate/Enterprise, will be surprise at how many programs still work.

You can run a test on your current computer to check for compatibility problems using Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor.

Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor is far from complete in its information. It can skip some applications, so you do not know if they work or not. However it does a good job telling you if the hardware of your current computer is appropriate for Windows 7.

Solution 1. Compatibility Mode

If the program will not run try:

1. Right clicking on program and select “Properties” and “Compatibility” tab.
2. Check box “Run this program in compatiblity mode for:” and select the version of Windows it used to work with.
3. Some programs made need to run as Administrator. Select this check box only if you have to.
4. Select “Apply” and “OK”

For more information go here: Make older programs run in this version of Windows

Solution 2. Windows XP Mode
Windows 7 Professional//Enterprise only.
Hardware must support VT (Intel) or (AMD) AMD-V

If Compatibility Mode did not work try:

1. Go to http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx
   
2. Follow the instructions, which include downloading and installing two programs, “Windows XP Mode” and “Windows Virtual PC”
3. Once installed click the start button and type Windows XP Mode or selected from the All Program Files/Windows Virtual PC/Windows XP Mode.
   
4. Recommended: Run Microsoft Update and install an antivirus program, such as Microsoft Security Essentials http://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/
   
5. While running XP Mode install the legacy programs. The physical CD/DVD and hard drive of your computer will be visible to Windows XP Mode.
   
6. You will notice a bar at the top of the screen with “Action” on it. Select “Close”. This will cause the virtual machine to “hibernate”.
7. Go to Start Button/All Programs/ Windows Virtual PC/ Windows XP Mode Applications. Select the application you want to run.
8. Optional: Right click on the program icon in the taskbar and select “Pin this program to taskbar”. Now you can get to that old application quickly.

XP Mode takes a lot of work to get going but you can run that old version of your favorite program on Windows 7.

Should I upgrade to Windows7?

Windows 7 is certainly Microsoft’s best operating system yet. Unlike Vista you can run it on old hardware. I have installed it on an old P4 Dell and it ran fine. To find out if your computer can run Window 7 download the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor. The advisor is good at evaluating the hardware but not so good at the software. In my tests It could not verify some identified software at being compatible. Some software it did not identify at all.

To find a complete list of the software on your computer try http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html . Look at the list of programs you want to keep and check them against the software vendor’s website (Example: adobe.com) and see if it will run on Windows 7. The software vendor’s website may not mention Windows 7 at all, since it is so new. If it says it will run on Vista chances are good it will run on Windows 7. If in doubt call or email the company and ask if the software is compatible with Windows 7.

Free Photo Retouching Computer Graphics Program

GIMP is the GNU Image Manipulation Program. It is a freely distributed piece of software for such tasks as photo retouching, image composition and image authoring.

It can be installed on Mac, Windows, and Linux
http://www.gimp.org/

Free Antivirus Software

"Microsoft Security Essentials provides real-time protection for your home PC that guards against viruses, spyware, and other malicious software."

"AVG Free Edition is the well-known antivirus protection tool. AVG Free is available free of charge to home users for the life of the product."

"Founded in 2004, Malwarebytes is all about helping users remove malware from their computers... "

Mozilla Firefox Web Browser and Thunderbird Email

Firefox is a great free program for web browsing. It was built with privacy and security in mind. There many great add-ons to Mozilla, such as Evernote (note application), Delicious (web bookmark tool), and No-Script (Security Feature).
Download Firefox

Thunderbird is much better than Outlook Express for email and is good at filtering junk mail. It starts up fast and can handle IMAP. Plus it is free! This is a good program to run on a Netbook.
Download Thunderbird

Conficker (W32.Downadup) Removal Tool

Recently you may have read reports of a super computer worm that maybe on 9 million computers. Symantec offers a free removal tool.

Download it here: symantec.com

Free Movie Creation Software

Macs may have iMovie, but Windows has "Windows Live Movie Maker". This is a free program for Windows Vista and Windows 7 that lets you create movies or slide shows from your videos and photos collections.

download.live.com/moviemaker