In our opinion...Both Windows 7 and Vista have problems!

We can fix two of the most serious issues:

• ...failure to support Legacy Software
• ...failure to support Legacy Software HELP
• Tips to improve Vista's performance

OVERVIEW

When Microsoft created Vista/W7, they wanted every software development company to purchase new development tools to take advantage of new Vista features such as fancy grahics and security issues. Vista/W7 was designed to protect you from all types of nasty things you might accidently obtain from the Internet. Additionally, Microsoft made the way Vista/W7 loads applications such as ours completely different from every prior operating system. And they wanted software companies to give them copies of their products (including source code) along with fees to "approve" products to run properly under Vista/W7.

Our products, as well as thousands of other products, do run properly under Vista. Since we are not going to pay Microsoft to "approve" our products, Microsoft places the burden on the consumer (you) to make the decision to PERMIT specific products to run.

BACKGROUND: Vista has an ADMIN mode that lets USERS do anything they wish to do and a USER mode which lets Vista decide what to run. If you wish to run our software products (and thousands of other products you may have purchased in prior years), you have to tell Vista that such products are safe. Here's how:

STEP 1 After installing the software, you will usually find the software ICON on your Desktop. YOU MUST RIGHT CLICK ON THE ICON. Your will see the following dialog... Select Run as administrator (third line). This works...but you will have to do this EVERY time you wish to run the software product. The next step shows you how to make this permanent so that you can run the software product using the conventional LEFT CLICK.

STEP 1 INSTEAD Instead of selecting Run as administrator (as shown above), select Properties at the bottom of the Dialog. At the top of this new dialog, select the Compatibility TAB at the top and you will find this... In the first box, "Compatibility mode", place a checkmark in the "Run this program in compatibility mode for:". The pull down list should also read "Windows XP (Service Pack 2)". Then, at the bottom of the dialog, put a checkmark in the "Run this program as an administrator" You're almost done. Now press the Apply and OK buttons.

STEP 2 Now, when you LEFT CLICK on our ICON, you will see a User Account Control Dialog where you simply select ALLOW. This might be annoying too. So to completely cure these Vista Defect fixes... Press START and select CONTROL PANEL. The select USER ACCOUNTS and select your User Name. One of the options is to turn off this USER ACCESS CONTROL. If you would like this option, you simply have to reboot your computer to make it effective.

RESTORING WINDOWS CLASSIC HELP: Vista removed one tiny file to disable support for the HELP documents you are used to viewing in thousands of software product. You can obtain this file directly from the Microsoft web site or click

DOWNLOAD HELP SUPPORT FILE

In the Download Dialog, SAVE this file into the C:\Windows\system32 folder.

IMPROVING VISTA PERFORMANCE: The following TIPS are courtesy of Samara Lynn (CRN).
1.) Add more memory. Endless benchmarks show that Vista is a memory pig, so max it out.
2.) Turn off Aero. It's an inferior attempt to make the Windows desktop appear more Apple-esque. Not to mention, it really doesn't add anything to the user experience. Disable the Aero theme via Personalize Appearance and Sounds settings and then by going to the Themes setting. The Windows Classic theme uses less processing power. Don't forget to disable the animated mouse pointers in Control Panel Mouse Properties by deselecting Windows Aero (system scheme). Go for Windows Default.
3.) Eliminate widgets from the Sidebar, or close the Sidebar altogether.
4.) Ensure that virtual memory (page file) size is adequate.
5.) Third-party legitimate software - don't be afraid of it, because there are some great utilities that aid in boosting Vista's performance. One is Process Lasso, which prioritizes processes, thereby improving system performance, and another is Process Manager, which can eliminate the annoying UAC permission elevation pop-up that appears when trying to do almost anything in Vista, yet will not compromise security.
NOTE: We at ED/iT have not tested Samara's suggestions since we will not purchase or deploy Windows Vista in our Corporation.