For download

Feb 24, 2010 15:23 GMT  ·  By

Unlike Windows Vista RTM, which delivered an extremely poor application compatibility experience to end users, the evolution to Windows 7 is causing extremely few apps to break when installed or run on top of the new operating system. But with exceptions to every rule, Windows 7 does fail to play nice with a small number of programs. This is why Microsoft periodically kicks up a notch the platform, updating it in order to resolve various problems reported by customers. Case in point: the February 2010 Application Compatibility Update.

“The Windows Application Compatibility Update is a software update that improves the compatibility experience,” Microsoft explained. The company notes that the update is designed to integrate with not only Windows 7, but also Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (SP2), Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 (SP2), and Windows Server 2008 R2.

“When you try to install and run certain legacy games or applications in Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (SP2), in Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 (SP2), in Windows 7, and in Windows Server 2008 R2, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms: the game, the application, or the firmware is installed incorrectly. The game, the application, or the firmware causes system instability. The primary functions of the game, of the application, or of the firmware do not work correctly,” the company explained.

There are no less than three modifications that Microsoft can introduce through an application compatibility update. Incompatible apps are placed under a Hard Block, which prevents them from running on the operating system. Also for incompatible apps, the Redmond company can use a Soft Block which only informs users of the incompatibility issues. At the same time, the refresh can update functionality for applications running on top of the operating systems mentioned above.

The extensive list of applications that are included in the February 2010 update are available in KB 976264. The download links for the February 2010 Application Compatibility Update are below for: - All supported x86-based versions of Windows Vista - All supported x64-based versions of Windows Vista

- All supported x86-based versions of Windows Server 2008 - All supported x64-based versions of Windows Server 2008 - All supported IA-64-based versions of Windows Server 2008

- All supported x86-based versions of Windows 7 - All supported x64-based versions of Windows 7

- All supported x64-based versions of Windows Server 2008 R2 - All supported IA-64-based versions of Windows Server 2008 R2