Will Windows 7 support the VB6 runtime?

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+13 Q:

Will Windows 7 support the VB6 runtime?

I can't seem to find a straight answer on this. It appears that Visual Studio 6 won't be supported, but I'm only concerned with the runtime. We have some legacy apps that we'd rather not rewrite, but our customers will expect them to run on Windows 7.

If anyone can provide a link to something official from MS on the topic, that would be very helpful.

+2 A:

I seriously doubt that Windows 7 will break the VB6 runtime. There must be zillions of end user built little libraries that would also break.

Hardliners perhaps wouldn't have a problem with that but commercially I think MS would even after this many years.

AnthonyWJones 2009-01-15 14:51:35

+11 A:

VonC 2009-01-15 14:52:59

To the Death with VB6

Chuck Conway 2009-01-15 15:01:28

Says nothing about it being _supported_ past Win7. And since the runtime is basically your stock Win32 app, expect it to work well into this century.

MSalters 2009-01-15 15:02:20

If that with no furhter support in later windows system holds, than this sucks badly.

Friedrich 2009-01-15 15:12:00

Excellent quotes and links. One thing - you will always be able to run the VB6 IDE in a virtual machine so it wouldn't be catastrophic that the IDE isn't supported.

MarkJ 2009-02-11 21:06:16

@MarkJ: good point. I just edited the question to add your suggestion.

VonC 2009-02-11 22:19:42

Of course, you might not be able to use the IDE to debug on Windows 7/8/9... But as long as WinDbg or something supports PDB files you might still be sort of OK.

MarkJ 2009-02-21 21:51:26

STOP PRESS! YES!! The support statement now says "The core Visual Basic 6.0 runtime will be supported for the full lifetime of Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008 and Windows 7". http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/vbrun/ms788708.aspx

MarkJ 2009-02-26 22:21:39

+2 A:

It would be great to see an official statement. Some folks have reported on the VB6 newsgroup - and again - that the VB6 runtime is included, and VB6 programs (and even the IDE) run fine on the Windows 7 32-bit beta.

2009-01-15 16:41:16

+1 for this report, and your insightful comments on my answer.

VonC 2009-02-21 22:24:00

Cheers! Your answer is excellent, I already gave it "+1"

MarkJ 2009-02-26 10:58:51

+1 A:

The Preview Beta does support VB6 programs, but this could mean nothing in terms of the retail release.

The IDE was supported in Vista's initial release but as indicated above "support" has expired.

It comes down to what you mean by "support" in different contexts, but programs run on the Win7 Beta and people claim the IDE can run there as well (though I haven't tested that myself).

Bob 2009-01-17 18:32:30

+1 A:

Our primary software product which is written in VB6 and uses various older libraries installed and ran on Windows 7 Beta without any problems.

I have yet to see an official statement from Microsoft regarding support for VB6 in Windows 7. Ceasing runtime support for the millions of VB6 applications and libraries would make little sense for them commercially, considering how popular VB6 still is.

Heather 2009-02-17 19:43:39

+12 A:

YES! Official support statement:

The core Visual Basic 6.0 runtime will be supported for the full lifetime of Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008 and Windows 7,which is five years of mainstream support followed by five years of extended support

I don't know when it was changed, because it didn't say that a couple of weeks ago, but it does now. Hoorah!

As VonC pointed out in his answer, the IDE is not supported any more, which is a worry if you want to maintain and update your VB6 code.

The Visual Basic 6.0 IDE will be supported on Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 as part of the Visual Basic 6.0 Extended Support policy until April 8, 2008

People have been using the IDE on Vista with a few tweaks. And if necessary it will always be possible to run it in a virtual machine.

MarkJ 2009-02-26 22:25:33

Good catch! +1. I have updated my answer and put a link to yours.

VonC 2009-02-27 04:54:25

Another reason I won't be upgrading my Windows machine anytime soon to Vista or Win 7.

Clay Nichols 2009-03-24 15:51:42

You'll still be able to run the IDE on Windows 7 with the virtual XP mode.http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/001258.html

Paul Alexander 2009-06-02 19:05:12

@Paul. That's why my answer contains the following: "And if necessary it will always be possible to run it in a virtual machine."

MarkJ 2009-06-03 09:18:00

Another +1 because the answer proved helpful for a vendor meeting today :)

Dan McGrath 2009-11-26 22:50:00

ansaurus

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Will Windows 7 support the VB6 runtime?

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