Updates Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 to fix common application compatibility issues by using Dynamic Update functionality

The Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Application Compatibility Update is a software update that improves the compatibility experience in Windows 7 and in Windows Server 2008 R2. Microsoft regularly releases Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 application compatibility updates. This update package is available through Dynamic Update during the installation of Windows 7 or of Windows Server 2008 R2.

Note If the computer is connected to the Internet when you upgrade the operating system, Dynamic Update prompts you to download critical content. You have the option to skip Dynamic Update during setup.

The kinds of problem that are resolved by application compatibility updates

When you try to install and run certain legacy games or applications in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms:

• The game, the application, or the firmware is installed incorrectly.
• The game, the application, or the firmware causes system instability.
• The primary functions of the game, of the application, or of the firmware do not work correctly.

Applications that experience a change in behavior after you install this update

The following table lists the applications that were added to the cumulative update package. This table also describes the behavior of these applications after you install the update.

Application compatibility updates trigger several changes in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. The following are the three most common:

• Hard block
  The update puts a hard block on the application. A hard block prevents an application that is incompatible with Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 from running on the system.
  
  Note Microsoft enables Windows to put a hard block on a non-Microsoft application only if the manufacturer of the application gives its consent.
• Soft block
  The update puts a soft block on the application. A soft block notifies you when an application that is incompatible with Windows 7 starts to run.
• Update
  The update improves the application’s functionality in Windows 7.

Applications that are included in the August 2009 update

Update information

Prerequisites

To apply this update, your computer must be running one of the following operating systems:

• Windows 7
• Windows Server 2008 R2

Restart requirement

You must restart the computer after you apply this update.

Registry information

You do not have to make any change to the registry.

File information

The English version of this update has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.

For all supported x86-based versions of Windows 7

For all supported x64-based versions of Windows 7 and of Windows Server 2008 R2

For all supported Itanium-based versions of Windows Server 2008 R2

For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, about the performance or reliability of these products.