Application Compatibility for Windows Vista

Application compatibility is one the largest hurdles in any Operating System Migration, and Vista's improved security model provided some challenges for poorly written or legacy applications. To ease the testing burden, Microsoft has developed a number of useful tools and guidance for automating the testing process in your organization, including the Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT 5.0), technologies within the Vista Operating System that virtualize directories and resgitry hives, and Least User Priviledge.

How to test a single machine for Windows Vista compatibility issues
Using a free tool from Microsoft, admins in small companies can easily test a PC for application and hardware compatibility with Windows Vista. Source: SearchEnterpriseDesktop.com

Free tools bring enterprise compatibility testing to Windows Vista
Application compatibility is a major issue for large companies planning a migration to Vista. Fortunately, Microsoft designed its free tool, Application Compatibility Manager, to help large enterprises test for Vista compatibility issues before making the upgrade. Source: SearchEnterpriseDesktop.com

How To Manage Windows Vista Application Compatibility
Great introductory article on resolving basic Vista compatibility issues including version checking, UAC, 16 bit applications, as well as an overview of Vista's built in compatibility features. Source: Information Week

Testing applications for Vista Compatibility
In depth six part series by Brien Posey covering the Windows Upgrade Advisor and the Application Compatibility Toolkit. Source: WindowsNetworking.com

Preparing applications for Windows Vista migration
Preparing applications is the biggest part of any move to a new Windows operating system, especially Windows Vista. Because most organizations run up to several hundred applications on their desktops, testing and validating, repackaging and performing quality assurance on these applications requires significant effort. Source: SearchEnterpriseDesktop.com

Avoiding software conflicts in a Windows Vista migration
Before considering a Vista rollout, take an inventory of existing applications to determine how well they will work under the new operating system.  Source: SearchEnterpriseDesktop.com

How to troubleshoot issues that may prevent a program from being installed correctly on a Windows Vista-based computer 
Microsoft Knowledge Base article which outlines steps required to fix problems that may prevent a program from being installed correctly. Source: Microsoft.com

How to determine whether there are program-compatibility issues before you install Windows Vista
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article KB describes how to determine whether there are any program-compatibility issues before you install Windows Vista. Source: Microsoft.com

Advanced methods to troubleshoot a program that does not run as expected after it is installed on Windows Vista 
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article KB 931362 that covers adavnced troubleshooting methodologies for resolving application compatibility issues within Vista. Source: Microsoft.com

How to troubleshoot program-incompatibility issues that may stop the Windows Vista Setup program
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article KB 931360 describes how to troubleshoot "hard or soft" block issues that may stop the Windows Vista Setup program. Source: Microsoft.com

Workarounds for Windows Vista compatibility issues
Windows Vista's new security features cause compatibility problems for many applications. Fortunately, in some cases you can get around these issues and continue to run your applications. Source: SearchEnterpriseDesktop.com

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