rps Loc: Muskoka Ontario Canada

I have Windows 7 on both my desktop and my laptop. My Photoshop 7 and Photoshop Elements 1.01 install and work on the laptop but not on the desktop. The Toshiba laptop is about a year and a half old. The ASUS desktop is about 3 months old. (I know that's ancient software and I probably will update to Elements 11. But for the time being I'm puzzled.)

Searcher Loc: Kent, England

I'm puzzled too...I have PS7 on my Win7 but Illustrator 8 refuses to run (same vintage). The Topaz collection runs on my XP set up, but all the experts at Topaz could not get them running on my Win 7.

Internet Explorer 8 which came on my Win 7 as OEM, would not run in Win 7 until Microsoft worked some magic and still does not work properly with several websites.

I would align Win 7 with Win ME, both duds. From rumours and articles, Win 8 is even worse.

Keep hold of that laptop, it's precious.

Ziza Loc: USA

Try this. It may help.

1. Right-click on the desktop shortcut for each program.
2. Select Properties.
3. Click on the Compatibility tab.
4. Check the box that says "Run this program in compatibility mode for".
5. Select Windows 7 in the dropdown menu.
6. Click Apply and then click OK.

georgevedwards Loc: Essex, Maryland.

This may seem silly but when I got my upgrade to Windows 7 I found a lot of issues with software that worked fine on XP. The problem was that Windows 7 uses 64 bit as opposed to 32 bit in XP (some versions of W7 can also do 32 bit I think, like Business Premium, but not Home Premium). For some software there were downloadable 64 bit versions, like drivers, etc. But a lot of my old software doesn't work anymore, like my Broderbund Printshop 11. I can't print labels any more to stick on the back of my matted photos.

Ziza Loc: USA

That's not the problem. Any 64-bit edition of Windows 7 will accept 32-bit applications. When you install a 32-bit program on a 64-bit OS, this program will run in the 32-bit compatibility mode of the 64-bit OS, i.e., it will be subject to the limitations of a 32-bit OS -- maximum supported installed 4GB RAM. For example, even if you have 16GB of RAM and you install Photoshop Elements (a 32-bit program) on a 64-bit OS, only just a bit under 3GB RAM will be available to PSE. That’s why a 64-bit Windows OS has two paths to install programs. 32-bit programs get installed in C:\Program Files (x86)\ . . . and 64-bit programs get installed in C:\Program Files\ . . .

Sometimes you may have an old program which ran well on Windows XP, but is encountering problems running on Windows 7. This has nothing to do with 32-bit vs. 64-bit. It is just a matter of incompatibility with a different OS. The way this issue is addressed varies depending on which edition of Windows 7 you have.

In the Home Premium edition, you run the program in compatibility mode for this OS.

1. Right-click on the desktop shortcut.
2. Select Properties.
3. Click on the Compatibility tab.
4. Check the box that says "Run this program in compatibility mode for".
5. Select Windows 7 in the dropdown menu.
6. Click Apply and then click OK.

In the other editions of Windows 7 (Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate), you install Windows XP Mode.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/install-and-use-windows-xp-mode-in-windows-7

As a clarification: Drivers pertain to hardware compatibility. For example, an old scanner or printer manufactured in the pre-Windows 7 days may not run properly on this OS. Then, you need to go to the manufacturer's site to see if there is an updated driver to make your device compatible with Windows 7. As a rule of thumb, devices compatible with Vista will run fine on Windows 7. (As they say -- Windows 7 is Vista on steroids.)

georgevedwards Loc: Essex, Maryland.

Sounds like you know what you are talking about. I had my computer sort of custom made by a local company to whom I voiced concerns about older programs and you may be correct, the fact remains it is a new system which won't accept my older software. That is what the company told me and all my 32 bit programs won't work on my 64 bit system, they just do not work. If it is due to something else the result is the same. Windows does say it has an update that will run a "virtual" Windows XP for software that worked on XP but not on Windows 7, but it was not included in my package, like I said, it seemed to be available for Business Premium 7 but not my Home Premium 7. I blame my builder for that because I foresaw the problem and mentioned to them I would rather have XP still, but they talked me into it, saying the new 7 got rid of those problems that Vista had. They were wrong, they should have used the Business Premium edition. It gets to the point were even the geeks don't always know what they are talking about. Like you say, it may be due to something else than the 32/64 bit problem, but to my mind that is what the main difference is so I attribute it to that. Windows claims a feature of Windows 7 is WOW 64, enabling 32 bit programs to work, but the basic premise remains the same, older programs just don't work on Windows 7. I have stacks of software that don't work to prove it. The Windows site say there is a download called Virtual PC for free that will enable the older software to work. I will have to try it and see. I just tried to download it and they said it won't work on Home Premium, they want $40 before Jan 31 to upgrade, or it will cost more, like maybe $70 after that. I am tapped out right now. I just wasted another 2 hours.

georgevedwards Loc: Essex, Maryland.

I have just tried to install my Broderbund Printshop11 which worked on XP. I can't click on the desktop icon in your instructions for compatibility mode because 7 won't install the program. I put in the CD to install, click the install buttons and nothing happens. I am open to more suggestions.

Brian in Whitby Loc: Whitby, Ontario, Canada

Windows 7 can indeed run 32 bit programs but the 64 bit version cannot run 16 bit programs. That maybe the problem.

rps Loc: Muskoka Ontario Canada

I'm not really sure just what I did but by fiddling around I got PS7 to load properly and it works fine. Originally I got a message that said it was incompatible. This is old software but it was free (don't ask!) and it does just about everything I want other than handle RAW. If I have a thousand bucks to spend on my hobby, I'd rather put it in a lens than the latest PS.
I'm still thinking of getting Elements 11. What can it do for me that PS7 doesn't.

Ziza Loc: USA

My advice is -- download a free 30-day trial to see if PSE11 meets your needs and interests.

http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/tdrc/index.cfm?product=photoshop_elements&loc=en_us

You can also check these resources to see what this program has to offer.

http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/learningcenter/
http://tv.adobe.com/show/learn-photoshop-elements-11/

Ziza Loc: USA

The instructions above will work only if you have installed the program and created a shortcut. With an installed program but no shortcut, navigate to the .exe file (C:\Program Files or C:\Program Files (x86)), right-click on it, and follow the rest of the instructions.

Unfortunately the information below seems to indicate that Broderbund Print Shop 11 (a software originally designed for Windows 98, Me, and 95) is not compatible with Windows 7. It looks like the only solution is to get a new version of this program which will then be compatible with this OS.

http://www.fixya.com/support/t10320739-possible_install
http://www.fixya.com/support/t8625274-unable_install_print_shop

Brian in Whitby Loc: Whitby, Ontario, Canada

If you want to handle RAW files for much less, try, Corel AfterShot Pro. IT is often available on sale from Corel's website at a very reasonable price. List Price is $99.99. Current sale Price is $59.99. It is very fast and has an awesome array of adjustment tools.
You can buy it or try a 30 day free trail here.
http://www.corel.com/corel/product/index.jsp?pid=prod4670071&cid=catalog20038&segid=6000006&storeKey=us&languageCode=en

While you are at Corel's web site you might also look at Corel PaintShop Pro. It does pretty much what Photoshop does but again at a much better price, Reg $79.99 currently $59.99. Free 30 day trial is also available.

cgchief Loc: Jarrettsville

RPS - I recently purchased Adobe Photoshop Elements 11
($50) but have not installed it. I thought it could work with
Raw, but no mention of Raw in the booklet in the program box. As a Community College Student you can buy Photoshop, and other programs, at a reduced price.
I used to use PS7, still on an old computer; PSE11 has new means of selecting and masking that are helpful. I am now using PS cs5 and PSE8.

Ziza Loc: USA

The Raw Converter is a standard feature in PSE. You do the same in PSE11 as in PSE8. In the Expert editing mode (Full Editor in previous versions), you do File>Open to bring up your Raw file into the Converter. The only difference is that the Converter in PSE11 uses the same version (7) and process (2012) as in PS CS6 and Lightroom 4. However, in PSE11 the Converter still doesn't have as many features as the one in the two other programs.

http://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop-elements/using/processing-camera-raw-image-files.html

The Refine Edge feature used to fine-tune your selections is present in previous versions of PSE. However, in PSE11 it is brought over from Photoshop. It does a much better job.

http://download.photoshopelementsuser.com/LC/LearningCenter11/LC11-RefineEdge.mov

A built-in layer mask is not new in PSE11. It was first introduced in PSE9.

http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/wp-content/themes/pet/_mov/elements9/PET-Elements-9-Layer-Masks.mov

If you want to see what is new in PSE11, you can check here.

http://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop-elements/using/whats-new.html

chirschfield

If you have Win 7 Pro you can use MS Virtual PC to run your computer in Win XP mode.
I have an old scanner with no Win 7 driver, so for the rare times I use it I open an XP window and run it there.