I’ve been using Windows 7 since its beta days and helping clients work with it since the operating system was released to manufacturing. Overall, Windows 7 is impressive. But, as good as it is, especially compared to Windows Vista, it’s not perfect. Here, I share with you some of its common problems with the new Windows in its first months of life and, if not their solutions, at least some workarounds.
1. Installing and Running Old Software

While many older Windows programs run just fine on Windows 7, everyone seems to have at least one older program that doesn’t have a fully Windows-7-compatible version. You can get many, but not all, of these programs to install and work on Windows 7 if you use Windows 7’s Compatibility Mode.

Some older programs (such as system diagnostics, hard-disk managers, and security software) shouldn’t be run on Windows 7 at all. The odds are that these kinds of programs will give you more trouble than they could possibly be worth.

To install an older program, find the software’s installation program icon, and right click on it. Then select the Properties/Compatibility Tab. Once there, select the newest version of Windows on which you know the program will run.

More >