Windows 7 and XP Program Compatibility

[phrog]

I know a lot of you'all out there are computer professionals or list computers as a hobby. A friend of mine is thinking about upgrading from XP to Windows 7 and asked me if he would have a compatibility problem with his programs he uses on XP such as a billiard game he plays a lot (and he's in his mid eighties). I told him I thought there would be some programs he probably could not use and others that would port over with little problem but I wasn't sure. Any of you guys comment? Thanks.

[jdon]

Does he have a compelling reason to upgrade? If he's happy with XP (as I am), just keep it!

[chopnhack]

That's not necessarily true, from what I understand windows 7 Pro edition has emulation of xp and older windows format for backwards compatibility.

[herb fellows]

Yes, I'm sure there are exceptions, but there is a compatibility mode that makes mostly everything work in win 7. I didn't have that many things when I switched over about 8 months ago, but everything worked.

That was in the Home and Student version btw, so you don't need to get pro to get that compatibility mode.

[phrog]

Does he have a compelling reason to upgrade? If he's happy with XP (as I am), just keep it!

I, too, have XP and am happy with it. But this fellow always wants the latest.

[phrog]

That's not necessarily true, from what I understand windows 7 Pro edition has emulation of xp and older windows format for backwards compatibility.

He has some very old programs going back to Win98 and I thought those may cause problems.

[LCHIEN]

He has some very old programs going back to Win98 and I thought those may cause problems.

I, too, have XP and am happy with it. But this fellow always wants the latest.

Aren't these contradictory statements about your friend?

[phrog]

Aren't these contradictory statements about your friend?

You're right. He'll have to explain why he wants to upgrade. I don't understand either.