Send Keys does not work in Windows 7 by default.

Does anyone know the solution to any of the following:
  1. Is there a way to programatically re-enable Send Keys?
  2. Failing that, is there an alternative to Send Keys that achieves the same result?
  3. Failing 1 & 2, is there a way to determine if the Windows OS is Win 7 so it can exit the macro instead of coming to a halt at the send keys command?