Hello,
I just recently acquired a laptop that has Windows 7 and I absolutely HATE the O.S. I was planning on trying to install Mastercam in the morning but you pretty much confirmed my suspicion that it won't run in Windows 7. I managed to install my VB6 and C++ programming software, but it provokes warning messages when I run the software.
One of my programs that I wrote in C++ has a timer and when I run the program it makes other various windows blink every time the timer hits. Microsoft has always been pretty good about backwards compatibility but they pretty much abandoned it with Windows 7. I'll put up with it until I get totally p'd off and then I'll format the disk and install Windows XP Professional.
I have been forced to buy a Mastercam upgrade in order to run a new version of Windows so I know what you mean about the cost factor. I feel like a chump when I think about the $17,000.00 that I have spent with CNC Software Inc. while others are running the full package that they downloaded off of the internet for free.
I can't believe that companies like CNC Software Inc. can't do a better job of securing their software.
Good Luck