Microsoft Corp said the most popular US personal-computer programs will work with its new Windows XP operating system, though some users will have to replace older anti-virus software, printers and scanners.
The largest software maker's tests have shown that 90 percent of the 1,500 best-selling computer programs, as well as 12,000 devices like printers and scanners, are compatible with XP, said Jim Cullinan, Windows lead product manager.
The company tested hardware released since January 2000, meaning about half of PCs currently in use may not be able to run Windows XP, analysts said. Compatibility with older machines and programs is important for users that want to buy Windows XP to upgrade the software on PCs they already own. Because most PC makers use standard hardware and parts, the risk of problems with upgrades of machines made as far back as 1999 is limited, said analyst Rob Enderle at Giga Information Group.
"Now everyone has pretty much standard Intel hardware, so we don't see a major risk," said Enderle, referring to Intel Corp, the largest computer-chip maker. "When Windows 95 came out, it was like the Wild West out there in terms of what PC makers put in their boxes."
Enderle expects about 40 percent of consumer sales of XP to be retail purchases for use on existing PCs. The company will get the remainder of sales when consumers buy new PCs that come with XP already installed.
Microsoft had to conduct more extensive tests for Windows XP on different devices, PCs and programs because the operating system relies on a different base of programming code than previous versions of Windows for consumers, such as Windows 95 and Windows 98.
The company spent more than US$150 million on compatibility research, testing and promotion for Windows XP and had 600 people working to test programs and devices.
On top of the 1,500 popular North American programs tested, the company tested 2,000 more outside the continent and found that 80 percent to 95 percent of those will work with XP.
Anti-virus and security software from companies such as Symantec Corp and McAfee.com Corp won't work on the new operating system because their programs are tied to a specific version of Windows, said Joshua Howard, lead program manager in Microsoft's applications experience group.
Computer printers that have fax and scanner functions may not work with the software. Some older, uncommon or cheaper scanners and Internet cameras also could be incompatible, said Eugene Lin, a program manager for device compatibility.
Companies that won't have the software, called drivers, for making the devices work with XP ready when the product goes on sale can distribute those drivers through the Microsoft Windows update Web site. XP also will be able to sense when a user adds new devices, and can go to that Web site and download the appropriate driver or notify the user when one becomes available, Lin said.
"We used to ship the compact disc, and by the time it hit the shelf there would be all these new devices or we would run out of room for drivers," he said. "Now we can just update or add to them over the Web." Microsoft, PC makers and analysts expected Windows XP to spur the beginnings of a recovery in the declining PC market in the December quarter on the strength of holiday sales to consumers.
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