Aug 24, 2015  With compatibility mode, you can force an app to use settings from an earlier version of. May 12, 2017  Will your PC run Windows 10? Use the official compatibility checker to find out. The Get Windows 10 app lets you register for a free upgrade from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1. Sep 23, 2018  1 Test for compatibility with Windows 7 & Windows 8.1 1.1 If you plan to install Windows 7 or 8, you need to check your computer’s hardware & software compatibility with the new OS. Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor - Download This can run on WinXP & Vista - see also Windows 7 system requirements. Sep 21, 2006  Windows Vista compatibility presents a challenge to independent software vendors (ISVs) and channel vendors. With a new user interface, new security model and tons of fit-and-finish modifications, it would be smart to look at exactly what's happening under Vista's hood in terms of application compatibility - and determine how it might affect your products.

• Windows Vista Compatibility Check Test
• Windows Vista Compatibility Center
• Windows 10 Compatibility Test Tool

Microsoft has begun the process of rolling out hundreds of millions of free Windows 10 upgrades. The Get Windows 10 app, which is being delivered as a Recommended (automatic) update to Windows 8.1 and an Optional update for Windows 7, does a compatibility check and should notify you if you have any devices, apps, or compatibility issues that will prevent a successful upgrade.

But just because you've registered for the upgrade doesn't mean you're completely free of potential problems. In my experiments with the Get Windows 10 app, I've discovered that it didn't notify me after it found some apparently minor issues with a couple of upgrades.

If you want to check your own Windows 10 upgrade report, follow these steps.(Note that you must have installed KB3035583 for the Get Windows 10 app and its associated icon to be available. You'll find it in Windows Update, as a Recommended update for Windows 8.1 and an Optional update for Windows 7.)

Step 1: Right-click the Get Windows 10 icon (on the right side of the taskbar) and then click 'Check your upgrade status.'

Step 2: In the Get Windows 10 app, click the hamburger menu, which looks like a stack of three lines (labeled 1 in the screenshot below) and then click 'Check your PC' (2).

Step 3: See the list of potential compatibility issues. The list includes separate categories for devices and apps.

So far, most of what I have seen has been minor. If you see more significant issues, I'm interested in hearing about them. Leave a comment in the Talkback section below or, better yet, send me an email using the contact form in my bio. Be sure to leave a correct reply address so I can follow up if necessary.

Windows Vista compatibility presents a challenge to independent software vendors (ISVs) and channel vendors. With a new user interface, new security model and tons of fit-and-finish modifications, it would be smart to look at exactly what's happening under Vista's hood in terms of application compatibility -- and determine how it might affect your products.

What are potential Vista application compatibility problems?

Here are some Windows Vista application compatibility issues for you to consider.

User Account Control is a new security feature that keeps users from running with too many security privileges. Briefly stated, users log on -- whether they are power users, ordinary users or administrators -- and are assigned a normal security token. When an action is requested that requires administrative privileges, a logon prompt is displayed and the user must enter credentials. At that time, an administrative security token is assigned to them that allows them to carry out the protected function.

While Microsoft has done its best to make this a minimally intrusive feature, it can have implications on applications you're developing. For one, do you need administrative rights to run your application? Or does your application require administrative access to certain areas of the system periodically? You'll want to make sure UAC doesn't interfere with the normal operation of your program.

• Internet Explorer 7 rendering and Protected Mode compatibility

  If you have a Web application or local application that makes use of Internet Explorer, make sure the revamped CSS rendering doesn't wreck your Web pages. That actually applies to Windows XP clients as well, since IE 7 will be available for XP within the next six months. Additionally, the new Protected Mode --available in Windows Vista -- runs IE in an isolated security setting; so if you use ActiveX controls or other real-time client processing, test with the latest IE betas to make sure it still operates properly.

• General resource usage and Aero Glass compatibility

  Aero Glass introduces a number of different resource-usage scenarios, and as such you'll want to make sure your program doesn't kick Aero Glass users -- those users whose computers support the premium Vista effects theme -- out of Glass mode and into an uglier, slightly less functional Aero Basic mode. For example, the current production release of the Sun Java Virtual Machine has this problem and it's quite unattractive.

• Bridging Vista to applications

If it will be too costly to convert applications to function correctly in Windows Vista, consider providing support to bridge technologies. For instance, you may want to run an application within a virtual machine (VM) provided by VMware Player or Virtual PC with a compatible operating system installed on that virtual machine. With the recent cost decreases of each of these products, many organizations are finding it increasingly cost effective to deploy applications within VMs rather than fund expensive software upgrades every time an operating system is refreshed.

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Free upgrades for windows 7. How to test Vista application compatibility

Windows Vista Compatibility Check Test

If you're interested in running a battery of tests and compatibility comparisons on Windows Vista, you'll want to download the beta version of the Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit 5.0 (ACT). According to Microsoft, ACT 'assists you in identifying and managing your application portfolio, reducing the cost and time involved in resolving application compatibility issues, and helps you quickly deploy Windows Vista and Windows XP Service Pack 2 operating systems.' It's a thorough set of tools for running your application through the various areas of Windows Vista that might break it. While it's not designed specifically for ISVs, it is still a tool you will find useful for application testing. Beta releases for this toolkit come fairly regularly, so you will want to monitor the Microsoft Connect site for fresh downloads.

Windows Vista Compatibility Center

Also, check out the Windows Vista Application Compatibility Community. ISVs can find relevant information on this portal, including links to the latest automated tools for testing their applications against Windows Vista.

Windows 10 Compatibility Test Tool

About the author
Jonathan Hassell is an author, consultant and speaker residing in Charlotte, North Carolina. Jonathan's books include RADIUS, Learning Windows Server 2003, Hardening Windows and most recently Windows Vista: Beyond the Manual. His work is seen regularly in popular periodicals such as Windows IT Pro Magazine, SecurityFocus, PC Pro and Microsoft TechNet Magazine. He speaks around the world on topics including Windows administration, networking and security.