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Application and Device Compatibility
We recognize that your PC experience involves programs and devices from many different providers, so
we’ve made a signicant effort to ensure that the applications and devices you use and love are compat-
ible with Windows 7 and work the way you’d expect them to.
Windows 7 helps address application compatibility in several ways. Perhaps most importantly, we worked
to minimize changes in the way applications and devices interact with Windows. As a result, the work
done by third-party software and hardware developers to make their products work on Windows Vista
generally carries forward for Windows 7. In most cases, the same software and hardware that works with
Windows Vista will also work with Windows 7.
In addition, we created a comprehensive list of the most widely used consumer and business applica-
tions, which were tested throughout the development cycle. We also created new and improved tools
such as the Windows Upgrade Advisor, Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT), Windows Compatibility
Center, Quality Cookbook, Application Verier, and ISV Developer Portal to help customers and software
developers assess application compatibility.
For untested programs or applications developed in-house, Windows 7 offers a number of in-the-box
compatibility aids. For example, if a program fails to install because of a hard-coded version check,
the Program Compatibility Troubleshooter can automatically x the problem (with the user’s consent)
and rerun the installer. Windows 7 also includes an expanded application shim infrastructure and a
Problem Steps Recorder that people can use to capture application compatibility issues for evaluation
by technical experts.
Furthermore, we continually monitor application compatibility issues throughout the Windows ecosys-
tem. We designed Windows 7 to monitor application health and, with the user’s permission, provide
feedback to Microsoft so that we can work quickly with application developers to resolve compatibility
problems and issue a x if necessary. Microsoft has also invested in partner outreach efforts so that soft-
ware developers have the resources required to ensure application compatibility.
As with applications, we are also working to ensure that devices compatible with Windows Vista will work
just as well with Windows 7. As a part of this effort, we have greatly expanded the list of devices and
peripherals being tracked for compatibility with Windows 7. We have identied thousands of devices
through data collected via the Customer Experience Improvement Program and through outreach efforts
to device and PC manufacturers, and we have tested those devices for compatibility with Windows 7.
When updated device drivers are required, we are working to ensure that you can get them directly from
Windows Update or through links to driver downloads on device manufacturer Web sites.
What;’s New in Windows 7