I'm not sure why PhotoShop or any program "needs to be ready" for XP. Usually the only programs that may have problems with new operating systems are utilities, such as Norton SystemWorks. One can understand why you'd need to get a new version of Norton SystemWorks when it works closely with the operating system. I've been happily running all my "old software" with really no problems. Yes, Adobe PhotoShop 5.5 works, as does Macromedia Fireworks, etc etc. ThumbsPlus seems to be having some problems with files created by Corel Dream 3D... That's a program I had for years but never used. There is something about the way Corel Dream 3D handles TIF files that ThumbsPlus doesn't like. I see a nice long error message when I check out the images. I don't think that's a Windows XP problem, just a Corel problem for an old program that isn't even in the current version of Corel Draw.