Windows 7 backwards compatibility

Martin | Apr 09, 2008 | View Comments

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Windows 7 will be different. Different from previous Microsoft operating systems that all had to ensure that applications designed for older versions of Windows would also run perfectly on the newest operating system. Backwards compatibility is a great feature and gives users one less reason to worry about when updating from an old version of Windows to a newer one.

On the other hand it does have an impact on performance and size of an operating system. The biggest folder of a Windows Vista installation is not the system32 folder anymore, it’s the WinSxS folder. The WinSxS folder basically stores different versions of program libraries like dll files which are needed to ensure that an application that is requesting a library gets the correct version it is requesting.

This is on the other hand a very redundant method and there are reports on the Internet that the WinSxS folder grows out of proportion rapidly.

Microsoft’s approach in Windows 7 is different. Windows 7 will not be binary compatible to older Microsoft operating systems. This does not mean that old programs will simply not run on Windows 7 though because Microsoft will be using virtualization to ensure compatibility with older applications that have been designed for a previous Microsoft operating system.

The huge advantages of this approach are performance increases for native applications and the operating system itself and a decrease of the distribution size itself.

In Windows 7, Microsoft will break from the Windows’ norm by breaking previous API compatibility, offering new API frameworks as a native solution, and providing support for legacy frameworks (COM, ATL, .NET Framework, etc) through monolithic libraries designed to provide the functionality of all previous revisions of the modules in question. This extends/replaces the WinSxS philosophy, providing every single function, past and present, in fully comprehensive libraries. This should allow the majority of legacy applications to run perfectly, while still retaining native performance for applications compiled specifically with the Windows 7 platform in mind. It should also be possible for applications produced with previous versions of Visual Studio to be directly recompiled into native code using the new API frameworks.

source The Beta Guy

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About the Author: Martin Brinkmann is an Online Journalist from Germany who discovered his love for technology in high school. He is currently working as a freelancer for several publications and runs his own Internet website Ghacks

  • Mike
    window 7 compatibility with usb2vg ???
    What to do?
  • Mike
    window 7 compatibility with usb2vg problem???
    What to do?
  • Cheyenne44
    I have gone with windows from 3.1 regularly (actually does anyone remember windows 2?) but I stopped and would not go Vista. I have the same feeling above Windows. I am thinking about Dual system, keeping XP and going Linux 10 using the WINE emulator to get back some of those great programs that '98 and XP left in the cold. I have thousands of dollars (like many of you) in perfectly good software that can't run under the newer windows version. I actually keep several computers up with different versions just get around the lack of backwards compatibility. Back when people wrote "tight programs" in machine language, those ran well. and still do if you have a machine to do it on. Maybe we need to rethink whether we give the $$$ to Microsoft for their untested products (Beta testing does not count since it does not represent all of our real environments).
  • I used to develop in C#. Now I want to know what can I do with c# in Windows 7 Environment. As information Phyton defeat C# in TIOBE index.
  • tomas
    When a company like Microsoft releases a new OS that is
    incompatible whith its own software, (Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0 is quite difficult to install and run on Vista) it is not a question of progress or "what is best for the users". It is just about making more money...
    You can raise several complaints against library versioning issiues in different Linux distros, but I have never seen a confidence breech of Microsofts proportions in the Linux world.
  • Eric
    @Rob

    I see what you're trying to say, and I agree with you, but for businesses, they use the software to make hundreds of thousands a year, so 400 for the ability to install the os on their computers sound fair, as it is quickly made by the computers. But for the home users, we don't make our money off computers, we don't have that kind of money just for an os. I think I'd take your "core" idea, and just make it broad objects, such gaming, business, networking, multimedia and etc. But do keep in mind, programming takes a LONG time to do, but they do still overcharge.
  • Michael
    Once everything not there... will people say "damn it, it takes me so much time to install everything. why not just build one ultimate edition w/ everything I wish to have... LOL"?
  • ryan
    ..."The huge advantages of this approach are performance increases for native applications and the operating system itself and a decrease of the distribution size itself."
    in other words: Windows 7 programed applications will run as they should. ANY OTHER WINDOWS BASED APPLICATION WILL RUN LIKE SHIT THROUGH AN EMULATOR.

    note to Microsoft: quit monopolizing the market and trying to scare knowledgeable people into using you. Macs have been Superior from the start and Linux has now surpased you in every aspect (os size, functionality, cost and happy customers. not to mention that linux can run 70% of all applications ever created by any operating system. Thats without funding...)

    note to potential buyers- put more pressure on game companies to write games for linux/mac. If you dont need to play games and you dont need media editing, linux is a FREE alternative to Microsoft
  • Rob
    If I had the opportunity from good ole Bill I'd tell him in the likeliness of Dr. McCoy from Star Trek "Dammit Bill let me make Windows 7: Gamer edition!" In the end when the project was done Bill will say "Gee why couldnt I do that in the first place? By giving people what they want, instead of what I think they need?" Not to target gaming people on that note. I'm really saying to Microsoft to just release a core edition. Then if they wish to make so called "addon" editions hence business, ultimate or whatever they could still do so, but sell them as a addon for like $20 to be fair. Personally We the people should have the "Ultimate" choice on what we want included with our OS. All I can say is I hope you leave that windows messenger junk out of my next OS. So this is a shout out to you MS people that work for Bill. Take heed to what I posted, or in a few years it may be Steve with the only Job. Yes, the pun is intended. K Thnx! :)
  • In testing phases, one thing that I see positive over the Vista pre-beta edition is the fact that application compatibility has been improved very vastly. I am working with the pre-beat edition and current testing has most commonly used applications working fine. . . . . Take the jump for more. . .
    http://www.verzion7.com/?p=438
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