Windows 7 Software Compatibility Testing - 7-Zip

7-Zip is a very simple yet powerful archive utility with extensive support for multiple formats. This free file archiver features an extremely easy to understand interface and common functions, but its greatest strength lies in the unique compression capability it offers. 7-Zip has been designed to reduce the size of different types of files (Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, images etc.) thus achieving a file which can be up to five times smaller than the original. 7-Zip uses the new 7z compression format, which compression rates are up to 50% better than standard ZIP, without any quality or speed loss. All you lose is file size! Besides this innovative format, 7-Zip supports other more common as ZIP, CAB, RAR, ARJ, GZIP, TAR and others, so you can use it with virtually any compressed file you find.

The 7-Zip interface is as simple as can be, with a dual panel file browser and some basic configuration options. It integrates seamlessly into the Windows context menu and can be automatically associated with any of the supported formats.

So, I downloaded 7-Zip in its latest version (9.09 beta) and installed it under the Windows 7 environment in order to test its behavior and compatibility, and what you are about to read is the results of such testing.

Installation & First Run
I was really surprised to see how easily and fast resulted to be the setup process this time. As a matter of fact I think this is the shortest and easiest installation since I've started this testing series. Just 3 steps and a few seconds and 7-Zip was ready to run for the first time.
First of all I was asked to define the destination folder.

Clicking the "Install" button started the installation progress which almost gave me no time to take a screenshot.

And finally the Setup Wizard told me 7-Zip installation was complete.

Running 7-Zip for the first time brought no trouble or inconveniences at all. Moreover I was astonished to see how fast it loads and gets ready to work.

Functionality & Integration
The first thing I tested was the capability to compress files. I took some files, and compressed then individually and in batch mode as well as a complete folder with sub-folders and compressed them in turns and I must say it worked perfectly with no signs of hitches delays or incompatibilities.

The same results I got when decompressing. Easy and fast, couldn't ask for more!!

To test the full functionality I decompressed a non 7z format file with excellent results. But this time I did it through context menu.

Regarding integration I found no issues or troubles, being 7-Zip perfectly integrated with the environment, not only with context menus but also with the Aero features.

Bugs Report
As you can see no bugs or incompatibilities arouse during this testing, moreover I could not find any users complaining about it in specific forums and Windows 7 related sites. At Microsoft TechNet Windows 7 Application Compatibility forum there is a list of apps that work with Seven and 7-Zip is on that list.

Final Words
So, for those who want to try an alternative and free file compressor I recommend to take a look at 7-Zip for their Windows 7 machine.

Have you already tried it? Fine, tell us what was your experience like by leaving a comment below.