Windows 7 update references application compatibility issues

Microsoft has launched a minor update for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 that references compatibility issues for some applications. It’s the first update for new Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 since the availability of the release-to-manufacturing versions of the operating systems. The update will either improve the functioning of a particular application or block it from executing. The update implements a hard block to avoid an application from running or a soft block to just warn the user that the application executing is incompatible with the operating system.

Microsoft’s Knowledge Base explains that the update is planned to address problems typically encountered when executing legacy games or other applications on Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. However, the article lists a fair amount of security software, including Trend Micro Internet Security, PGP Desktop and Trend Micro VirusBuster 2008. Even Window Live Photo Gallery made the list. The update package can be downloaded from the Microsoft Download Center in x86 and x64 editions for Windows 7. It’s available in x64 and Itanium versions for Windows Server 2008 R2. The update needs a restart to take effect.

Users not helped by Microsoft’s update can try to execute incompatible applications by using Windows 7 desktop virtualization features. Microsoft recommends Windows 7 XP Mode desktop virtualization feature for small-to-medium firms. For larger organizations that needs centralized management control over multiple PCs, Microsoft rather recommends using Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization (MED-V). MED-V is a element of the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack, available via Software Assurance licensing.

MED-V permits users to run XP or Windows 2000 virtual desktops in Vista. However, Microsoft plans to add support for new Windows 7 hosts when MED-V 1.0 Service Pack 1 is launched in the first quarter of next year, according to a Microsoft blog. MED-V doesn’t needs special hardware virtualization facilities for execution. In contrast, users of XP Mode have to first assure that the PC uses processors with built-in virtualization capabilities, such as Intel VT and AMD-V technologies.

For those facing scaring application compatibility issues and willing to pay for support, Microsoft currently rolled out a new support line for the purpose. The company also gives a free downloadable Application Compatibility Toolkit to help diagnose such problems. Microsoft partner-based support is available through the Windows 7 Application Compatibility Factory Program.

In another development, Home users doing clean installs to Windows 7 can use a cable device and Windows Easy Transfer software to facilitate migrating files and settings from an old computer to a new one. The Windows Easy Transfer software is present for both 32-bit and 64-bit machines. From a technical standpoint, Microsoft only supports upgrades from Vista to Windows 7. Upgrades from Windows XP 7 are not supported. Rather, XP users need to do a custom installation of Windows 7. A custom installation is important a clean install that needs backing up settings and options and then restoring them after installing Windows 7.

When XP users run the custom installation option in the Windows 7 setup program, it offers two options. Either the user wipes the hard disk, destroying data and settings, or they can install Windows 7 using the existing XP-partitioned drive on the PC. However, users need to have enough disk space to carry it out. Using the existing partitioned drive doesn’t pass over the user data but instead stores the data in a directory called “windows.old.” After the installation, users can move the data over to Windows 7 folders from the windows.old directory.