Windows 7 To Feature Virtual System XP Compatibility

One of the most irritating things about updating your computer O/S (apart from the cost, the effort you have put in is that of actually installing it and the new features that often don’t work) is that the software you have been using quite happily on your now ‘old’ O/S is not designed to work with the new one, and more than often doesn’t.

This means that if you rely on specific software (like a small business could) then you may be reluctant to upgrade as it will mean losing the software which itself has no problems. Seeing this problem Microsoft have announced that Windows 7 will be able to run programmes designed for XP through a virtual system.

This will allow businesses and presumably individuals (as it will be featured in both the next Windows 7 beta/RC of Professional and Ultimate versions) to use XP-designed software on Windows 7 just as well as on their current Windows XP O/S install – the programmes will even be able to run ‘as normal’, as in you can run them directly from Windows 7 and the virtual system will do all the background work.

Although the release only talks about small businesses and how it will run their software, there is no obvious reason that the same software couldn’t be used to play games that won’t work on Windows 7, but that will on Windows XP.

Good as this is (and I’m sure that it will come in useful for many people) it does raise the question, what’s wrong with Windows XP? Why a small business would want to spend the money to upgrade, when the software that they need works perfectly fine on their current system – but obviously that is something that the individual business will have to decide, and at least this is one less barrier for them should they want to upgrade to Windows 7.

Via – Windows Blog

Related Pages:

1. Windows 7 Review – Part 5: File and Software Compatibility
2. Windows 7 Prices Announced
3. Windows 7 Beta Released
4. What’s Wrong With Windows XP?
5. Windows 7 Digital Download To Install On Netbooks Via USB (US Only)

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