Virtual PC and XP Mode Aid Application Compatibility

To remove application compatibility as a barrier to migration, high-end editions of Windows 7 will use a new Virtual PC feature to run older Windows XP-compatible business applications in a virtual machine (VM). XP Mode, a free copy of Windows XP that runs in Virtual PC, allows access to applications running on XP in the VM from Windows 7. However, this solution means that two OSs will need to be maintained and requires processors designed to assist with virtualization.

Incompatible Application Workaround

Windows 7, scheduled for general availability in Oct. 2009, is architecturally similar to Vista. Consequently, most applications that are compatible with one will be compatible with the other. Most commercial software vendors now offer Vista-compatible versions of their software and will offer a Windows 7—compatible version. Microsoft has also supplied an application compatibility toolkit to help software developers make any necessary changes to ensure compatibility.

However, some application versions that aren’t compatible with Windows Vista or Windows 7 could continue to be used for years. In particular, with line-of-business applications, such as industry-specific accounting modules, customers will delay upgrades due to factors such as the cost of testing and deploying a new version, a business need for features in an older version, or unwillingness to rewrite an in-house developed application that is used only occasionally.