Microsoft has introduced an online service designed to let consumers know whether their PCs are capable of running the company's new Windows 7 operating system.

Windows 7 screen shot
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The Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor, as the service is called, will scan a user's hardware to determine if it meets Windows 7 system requirements.

It will also provide recommendations on which version of Windows 7 is the best fit for a particular system, and sniff out potential incompatibilities with third-party peripherals.

"If an issue can be resolved, it suggests the next steps for you to take before installing Windows 7," said Microsoft VP Mark Relph, in a blog post Tuesday.

Windows 7, which will be released to consumers Thursday, comes in several home and business editions. Some are engineered to run on higher-end 64-bit processors.

Microsoft is also hosting a Web site, called the Windows 7 Compatibility Center, that lists third-party hardware and software products that have been certified as compatible with the new operating system. "The site goes beyond just telling you what will or will not work.

It also provides links to drivers and software updates to help get your PC running with the latest software," said Relph.

That Microsoft is taking Windows 7 compatibility seriously is hardly a surprise. Conflicts with third-party peripherals and applications plagued Vista, Windows 7's predecessor, in the weeks following its release in January, 2007.

Partly as a result, Vista failed to win the hearts and minds of tech enthusiasts and was virtually shunned by the enterprise market, where only a handful of large enterprises upgraded to Vista from Windows XP.

Microsoft can ill-afford a repeat performance with Windows 7, as the company's software sales have slumped badly in recent quarters.

Windows 7 hits online shops like Amazon and electronics retailers, including Best Buy, beginning Thursday.

The full version of Windows 7 Professional is $299, with upgrades going for $199. Windows 7 Ultimate is priced at $319, with the upgrade version at $219. The full version of Windows 7 Home Premium is priced at $199, with an upgrade from Vista or XP costing $119.

InformationWeek has published an indepth report on Windows 7. Download the report here (registration required).