Windows 7 Compatibility Center

The Compatibility Center lists thousands of the most popular devices and software titles to help you easily identify what will or won't work with the Windows 7 operating system. You can use the site to download device drivers and software updates, as well as leave feedback on how we can improve.

To determine product compatibility status for the Compatibility Center, we look at whether:

• The product has earned the "Compatible with Windows 7" logo which indicates it has met Microsoft testing requirements for compatibility with 32-bit and 64-bit Windows 7.

• The software publisher or device manufacturer stated that they currently offer product support for 32-bit and/or 64-bit Windows 7. Please note that these products have not undergone Windows 7 Logo Program compatibility tests. Also, visit the manufacturer’s website for more information.

• The software publisher or device manufacturer stated that they plan to offer product support for 32-bit and/or 64-bit Windows 7 by a specified date in the future. Microsoft provides this information as a service for your information only. Since compatibility dates can change, please check back for updates and also visit the manufacturer’s website for more information.

We use five different icons so you can identify a product's compatibility status with Windows 7. The icons appear on the right of all search results pages and below "Compatibility status" on each product's detail page. You will also see the “Compatible with Windows 7” logo on some products which indicates the product has met Microsoft’s testing requirements for compatibility with 32-bit and 64-bit Windows 7.

	The "Compatible" green check icon means the device manufacturer or software publisher stated this product works with 32-bit and/or 64-bit Windows 7. Usually, you won't need to do anything to ensure compatibility, and you'll see "No action required" below "Compatible" on the product's detail page. However, if a manufacturer or publisher offers or requires additional software or a newer version, you'll find a link to what you need and see more details to the right of the link. Please note that these products have not undergone Windows 7 Logo Program compatibility tests. Also, visit the manufacturer or publisher's website for more information.
	"Compatible by month/year" yellow caution with clock icon means the device manufacturer or software publisher stated they plan to support this product on 32-bit and/or 64-bit Windows 7 by the specified date. Microsoft provides this information as a service for your information only. Since compatibility dates can change, please check back for updates and also visit the software publisher's website for more information.
	The "Action recommended" yellow caution icon indicates that you may need a solution from the software publisher to ensure that a product will work properly with 32-bit and/or 64-bit Windows 7. Often a free upgrade is available, but some publishers may require a fee-based upgrade to the newest version. In either case, below "Action recommended" you'll find a link to what you need and see more details to the right of the link.
	The "Not compatible" red cross icon means the device manufacturer or software publisher stated they do not plan to support this product on 32-bit and/or 64-bit Windows 7. Also, visit the manufacturer or publisher's website to check for updates and more information.
	The "Information coming soon" blue icon means we are working with the device manufacturer or the software publisher to confirm support for this product. We update information frequently, so check back soon. In the meantime, these options are available to you: Check with the software publisher or device manufacturer. Try these compatibility troubleshooting tips. Ask questions and get answers from Microsoft and the community.

For products that pass Microsoft specified compatibility tests, we provide a logo status, which indicates Microsoft approved compatibility:

	"Compatible - Windows 7 Logo" means this product met Microsoft's testing requirements for compatibility with 32-bit and 64-bit Windows 7. To earn the "Compatible with Windows 7" logo, software and hardware must pass Microsoft designed installation, performance, reliability, and security tests so you can be sure these products are compatible with Windows 7.

You'll find information on thousands of devices and software programs for both home users and businesses.

Along with products that are primarily sold in the U.S. market, we list products that are sold globally (for example, Microsoft Office software). We will soon launch localized versions of the Compatibility Center which will list products that are available in local markets.

We frequently add products to the Compatibility Center, so check back if you don't see a product listed. Even better, near the top of all site pages, you can click Feedback and fill out a quick form to suggest that we add a product. Although we cannot respond directly to suggestions, we review all of them to continually update our information.

There are four ways to find products on the site: browse, search, advanced search, and filtering and sorting.

Using browse

The default home page shows icons to browse for hardware. You can switch between hardware and software by clicking the tabs above the icons.

Move your mouse over an icon to see a list of subcategories. Click any subcategory to see a broad list of products. For tips on narrowing your list results, see filtering and sorting results later in this section.

Using search

The search bar is located near the top and center of every page in the Compatibility Center.

Select Hardware or Software from the drop-down menu, type the name of the product you're looking for, and then click Go. If you cannot find your product or you get too many results, try the following search tips:

• Type shorter variations of a product name or model.

• Include the manufacturer name with the product name.

• Put your search terms between quotation marks " " to search for an exact phrase.

• Use advanced search.

Your search results will be displayed on two tabs – one with hardware results and the other with software results.

Using advanced search

If you want to perform refined searches, you can click the Advanced search link for more search options.

With the advanced search form you can search within specific parameters:

• Brand/Publisher name

• Category

• Subcategory

• Compatibility status

• System type (32-bit or 64-bit)

Filtering and sorting search results

Using browse will give you a broad list of results in a product subcategory. You can narrow the list by sorting or filtering.

With the results filter, you can view 32-bit or 64-bit compatibility information or refine your results by category, common brands or publishers, compatibility. You can use the Sort list box to reorder the list and the Show list box to choose how many results are shown on the page at one time.

Yes, on a results page, click anywhere on the product listing to bring up a product details page.

Links under the compatibility status will take you directly to a download page for the device driver or software upgrade you need. Additional links on the left side of the page go to the manufacturer's or publisher's homepage, support site, and contact page. For compatibility information on 64-bit versions of Windows 7, click the 64-bit tab at the top of the page.

Yes, please do. Every product details page enables you to send feedback about that product. You can select Yes or No next to "Is this page accurate?" If you select No, please send us detailed feedback by filling in the Suggest a correction or Report a compatibility issue form.

In addition, you can Send general site feedback or Suggest an additional product by clicking the Feedback link at the top of any page.

We want to hear from you because your feedback is extremely helpful. Although we cannot respond directly to submissions, we research all of them to continually address compatibility concerns and improve our information.

Yes. Download the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor to see if your Windows XP or Windows Vista PC can upgrade to Windows 7.

First, try these search tips to see if you can find your product:

• Type shorter variations of a product name or model.

• Include the manufacturer name with the product name.

• Put your search terms between quotation marks " " to search for an exact phrase.

• Use advanced search.

If the product you're looking for isn't listed in the Compatibility Center, please suggest an additional product for us to consider adding:

1. Near the top of any site page, click Feedback.

2. Click Suggest an additional product, fill out the form, and then click Send suggestion.

Although we cannot respond directly to you, we review all suggestions to continually update our information and add new products. Check back often.

To help us correct erroneous product information:

1. On a product's detail page, next to "Is this page accurate?" select No, and then click Suggest a correction.

2. Fill out the form as completely as you can, and then send your correction.

Your feedback is extremely helpful. Although we cannot respond directly to your suggestion, we review all of them to continually update our information. If you are a hardware or software partner, please visit the partner pages.

If you're a hardware or software partner and want to request that a product be added to the Compatibility Center, please visit the partner submission form page.

The terms "32-bit" and "64-bit" refer to the way a computer's processor handles information. The 32-bit versions of the Windows operating system can use up to 3 GB of memory while the 64-bit versions of Windows can use more memory (up to 128 GB of RAM). More memory helps increase overall system and application performance, especially with applications optimized for 64-bit. For more details on 64-bit Windows visit this FAQ, or you can read this Windows Help and How-to article.

To find out which type of Windows is installed on your computer:

If you’re running Windows 7 or Windows Vista:

1. Click Start , click Computer, then click System properties.

2. Under System, view the System type.

If you're running Windows XP:

1. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then double-click System.

2. On the General tab, view the System type.

A driver is software that allows your computer to communicate with hardware or devices. Without drivers, the hardware you connect to your computer—for example, a video card or a webcam—will not work properly. Learn more about drivers.

To see if you can benefit from updating your laptop or desktop component drivers for functions like video and networking, you will need to visit your PC manufacturer's website. Here is a list of popular PC manufacturers' support sites to get you started:

• Acer

• Asus

• Dell

• Fujitsu

• Gateway

• HP

• Lenovo

• Panasonic

• Sony

• Toshiba

Sometimes your hardware devices will need to have updated drivers. There may also come a time when you have to reinstall a driver. Learn more about how to update or repair a device driver.

If you encounter problems with your computer or device after upgrading the driver, you might want to restore the driver for a device to a previous version.

To find out exactly which version of a software program is installed on your computer:

If you’re running Windows 7 or Windows Vista:

	Click Start , click Control Panel, click Programs, click Programs and Features, and then click the name of the program.
	In the Details Pane at the bottom of the window, view the product version.

If you’re running Windows XP:

	Click Start, click Control Panel, and then double-click Add or Remove Programs.
	Click the name of the program and then on the Click here for support information link.

How you add a new program depends on the location of the program's installation files. Typically, programs are installed from a CD or DVD, from the Internet, or from a network. View specific steps for installing a program from each of those locations.

Software publishers, including Microsoft, frequently release upgrades for their programs.

To check the Compatibility Center for an available upgrade:

1. Use the site search box or browse for a product.

2. On the product listing, click anywhere to go to the product details page.

3. Under the compatibility status, if you see a link for a newer version or an upgrade, click it to check the product website directly.

4. If you don't see a link, click the Homepage link under the product name on the left side of the page to visit the manufacturer's or publisher's website and learn more.

Note: Different software programs may use different methods to install upgrades. Be sure to carefully read the instructions on the publisher's website before installing any upgrades.

To uninstall a program that you no longer use or want:

If you’re running Windows 7 or Windows Vista:

1. Click Start , click Control Panel, click Programs, and then click Programs and Features.

2. Click the name of the program and then click Uninstall.

Get more details.

If you're running Windows XP:

1. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then double-click Add or Remove Programs.

2. Click the name of the program and then click Remove.

Program compatibility is a mode in Windows 7 that lets you run some programs written for earlier versions of Windows. Many programs written for Windows XP will also work in Windows 7, but some older programs might run poorly or not at all. If an older program doesn't run correctly, you can use the Program Compatibility Troubleshooter to simulate earlier versions of Windows, which may address the issue.

To run the Program Compatibility Troubleshooter:

1. Click Start , click Control Panel, click Programs, and then click Run programs made for previous versions of Windows.

2. Follow the instructions in the troubleshooter.

Get more details.

You can download the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor to scan your Windows Vista or Windows XP-based PC for compatibility with Windows 7.

If you’re running Windows 7 or Windows Vista:

• Click Start , and in the Start Search box, type winver, and then click the result.

If you’re running Windows XP:

• Click Start, click Run, type winver, and then click OK.