Monday 13 July 2009

Microsoft Application Compatibility List - Updated

OK, another short post today, but at least I point out that the ChangeBase team will be delivering the Patch Impact Assessment for July tomorrow - so, watch this space.


I wanted to mention that Microsoft has updated it's spreadsheet list of applications that either have known compatibility issues, are supported or have free/paid upgrade options.

The list contains information on 8785applications which have been allocated into the following Windows Vista specific compatibility categories:


  • “Certified for/Works With Windows Vista” means that the application has earned the “Certified for Windows Vista”
  • "Compatible” means that the application has been reported by the application manufacturer as compatible with, or supported on, Windows Vista.
  • “Not Compatible” means the application has been reported by the application manufacturer as not compatible with, or supported on, Windows Vista.
  • “Free Update Required” means the application has been reported by the application manufacturer as needing a free upgrade from the application manufacturer to ensure that a product is compatible with, or supported on, Windows Vista.
  • “Paid Update Required” means the application has been reported by the application manufacturer as needing a fee-based upgrade from the application manufacturer to ensure that a product is compatible with, or supported on, Windows Vista.
  • “Unknown” means that no information is available from the application manufacturer about whether the product is compatible with, or supported on, Windows Vista.


After creating a quick and dirty XL pivot table, I was able to generate the following summary results;


32-bit Windows Vista Compatibility Status

Total

Certified for Windows Vista

656

Compatible

5699

Free Update Required

177

Not Compatible

564

Paid Update Required

312

Works with Windows Vista

1377

Grand Total

8785


There is also mention of 32-bit and 64-bit support. At present, there does not seem to be any references to Windows 7 or Server 2008 R2. As this XLS list is updated monthly, we will see a Windows 7 update when Windows 7 hits RTM later this month.

Just a side note though, the number of "certified for Windows Vista" applications is incredibly small - especially after years of Vista's production release.


The Microsoft Application Compatibility List can be found here:


http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=9DF23606-7276-4CE2-8993-143E101DDBCD&displaylang=en


And further references on application compatibility and the Windows Logo Program can be found here:


Windows Vista Compatibility Center: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/compatibility

Windows Vista Logod Product List for Hardware: http://winqual.microsoft.com/hcl/Default.aspx

Certified for Windows Vista Software List: https://winqual.microsoft.com/member/softwarelogo/certifiedlist.aspx

Works with Windows Vista Software List: https://winqual.microsoft.com/member/softwarelogo/workswithlist.aspx

Windows Vista TechCenter: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/aa904820.aspx

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