Will Your Software and Hardware Work With Windows 8?

Hearing about Windows 8 but wondering if it means a new investment in hardware and software like Vista did? Microsoft is paying attention to the issue of compatibility and learned from the mistakes of Vista that compatibility is key to keep users. To help, Microsoft publishes a Compatibility Center for Windows 8 with complete listings of software programs and hardware peripherals that partners have testes with the current release of Windows 8.

In the FAQ section, which is a link at the top of the page, Microsoft says that if your product works on Windows 7, it's most likely going to work on Windows 8. The left column lists software and hardware by categories. Select the category for your software under the Programs heading, or your hardware peripherals, under the Devices heading. A search box on the site provides a convenient way to search for any software program or peripheral, and a FAQ section helps answer questions about the current version.

 

Windows 8 Compatibility Status Icons

Since Windows 8 is not an a final product, but is in what Microsoft calls "release preview," even if your software or hardware doesn't appear in any lists, it still possible it could be added by the time the final version of Windows 8 ships. Key to knowing the impact is if a product has already been tested and is NOT compatible. There are symbols listed with each tested program and device, and a red X means that the product is not going to work at this time on Windows 8. While it's still possible for the manufacturer to get the product working, it isn't looking good.

If you want to check your computer to see if it will run Windows 8, you can download a copy of the Windows 8 release preview here and the software will run a compatibility check report for your computer.

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