Application Compatibility -- Migrating from Windows 2000 or Windows XP

Application Compatibility—Migrating from Windows 2000 or Windows XP Professional

Because Microsoft® Windows 2000 and Microsoft® Windows XP Professional share common attributes with Windows Vista, almost all applications that run on Windows 2000 and Windows XP Professional run without modification on Windows Vista. However, a few applications are affected by the differences between Windows XP and Windows Vista.

One example is antivirus software. Due to changes between the version of NTFS included with Windows NT 4.0 and the version of NTFS included with Windows Vista, file system filters used by antivirus software no longer function between the two file systems. Another example is third-party networking software (such as TCP/IP or IPX/SPX protocol stacks) written for Windows NT Workstation 4.0. The following features and applications cannot be properly upgraded to Windows Vista:

• Applications that depend on file-system filters. For example antivirus software, disk tools, and disk quota software.
• Custom power-management solutions and tools. Windows Vista support for Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) and Advanced Power Management (APM) replaces these. Remove all such custom solutions and tools before upgrading.
• Custom Plug and Play solutions. These are no longer necessary, because Windows Vista provides full Plug and Play support. Remove all custom Plug and Play solutions before upgrading.
• Fault-tolerant options such as disk mirrors.
• Third-party network clients and services.
• Virus scanners.
• Uninterruptible power supplies.