Older software - Windows 7 compatibility?

It is. In the 64-bit versions of Windows you have Program Files for 64-bit apps, and Program Files (x86) for the 32-bit files.

Perhaps I'm being overly comcerned about my existing software, that suits my needs perfectly: being rendered useless.
Thanks to all, who responded to my inquiry for the input.
Bob W

Bob,
I've been having the same concerns about XP. With the help of comments from others (see my thread "Anticipating Waning Support" in the XP forum) and brief use of Win 7 on my wife's laptop, I have pretty much decided to keep my old desktop running with XP Home as long as I can. It serves my purposes and considering the cost to upgrade it to run Win7, It would be better to buy new. Again, in the brief time we have had Win7, I haven't found anything that I like about it better than XP. But, my demands are not great and I'm getting old and set in my ways. Perhaps if I had a need for some of the new features, I would feel differently. To me, they have just made changes for the sake of change. They say there are some performance improvements but I don't need increased performance badly enough to make the change.
Like you, I understand that 7 Professional and Ultimate have an XP mode. I have also read and have been told by sales people that 7 Home Premium will not run XP software. However, that has not been my experience so far (see my message above). Also, the Setup Guide that came with my wife's laptop (Dell Inspiron) outlines a method for loading "non-Windows Vista" (I guess the Vista and 7 environments are similar) programs if you have problems with normal install. I haven't had to use it yet but that indicates to me that 7 HP is written to run many older programs.
Good Luck
Bill

You're confusing a few things. Win 7 Home Premium won't run the XP Mode that's part of Win 7 Professional. That is basically a copy of Windows XP running in a special virtual machine. However, Win7 Home Premium still has a large amount of backwards compatibility built into it, you just get a little additional with Professional is all.

Dear Bilyo,
Many thanks for the objective assessment of staying with XP vs going to Windows 7. I certainly have no complaints with XP, and feel comfortable using it.
My son bought several computers (both for business & home use) that were Vista equipped, and rapidly considered it to be a big mistake.
Why Microsoft touted that system as being the "latest and greatest" sure is a mystery, other than just to lure new buyers.
Maybe Windows 7 is just a overhauled version of what Vista should have been?
Apple had to be overjoyed with Microsoft's apparent profit only mindset!

It sure is hard to sort thru what is honest technological improvement vs advertising hype and plain old BS, when it comes to computer manufacurer claims.

Thanks again for your comments.
Bob W

Bob,
It might me worth noting that in answer to the question "Do You Need Windows 7"?, Woody Leonhard, in his book "Windows 7 For Dummies", states: "Probably not. If you have a PC with Windows XP installed and it works well enough for what you want to do, leave it alone". And, he goes on to expand the point.

Jimmy: I understand what your are saying that backward compatibility and XP mode are not the same thing. I was only expressing my surprise that the older apps would run after having been told emphatically that they would not. We were even considering a dual boot with Win 7 and XP. We are in a "wait and see" mode now.
Bill

As the machines fail and the ones with the OEM licenses we all know pass on with the passing of the machine at the office we have done the 7 RC, the 7 Beta and now we use Windows 7 on the spiffy new machines.

Anything that didn't work were items we didn't expect to keep like that old Norton etc. So no loss.

Sure we'll keep Windows XP around where we paid for the retail license but as we move off desktops and onto more laptops there has been no need to carry the baggage of the old stuff around anymore.

Moving on.
Bob

There are other methods of using older software on Windows 7, I suggest you check out the Program compatibility troubleshooter if you do decide to upgrade: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Make-older-programs-run-in-this-version-of-Windows.

Cheers,
Tara