I am still running Windows XP because I am worried that programs that I need to use won't run on Windows 7. I need to upgrade my computer hardware soon, so is there any way to get old software to work on it?
Microsoft includes features like Program Compatibility and Windows XP Mode within its Windows 7 system. These tools can help users who are reliant on older programs run the software on a new PC.
Program Compatibility, included in all versions of Windows 7, lets older programs sometimes work on the new system by adjusting certain settings. If you try to run old software on a Windows 7 machine and get error messages, the Program Compatibility troubleshooter might be able to automatically fix the problems that prevented the software from working properly. It is not always successful with troubleshooting, and some programs just will not work on Windows 7, but you can read more about Program Compatibility here.
If you have programs that you absolutely need to keep running, consider getting a new computer with an edition of Windows 7 that supports Windows XP Mode, a version of the old system that runs Windows 7. Unlike Program Compatibility, which tries to adjust settings to make old programs run on Windows 7, Windows XP Mode is a virtualized Windows XP environment and behaves like a PC running Windows XP. Microsoft explains how all of this works on its site.
Not all versions of Windows 7 support Windows XP Mode, so when shopping for a new computer, you need to get one that runs Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Ultimate or Windows 7 Enterprise. You should shop quickly if you want Windows XP Mode, however. Microsoft's new Windows 8 system is due out on Oct. 26, and it does not include the XP feature. Windows 8 will use something called Hyper-V virtualization to run different operating systems, but third-party virtualization software might be another option for getting a copy of Windows XP working on a new PC.
