Carpet tack strips are very easy to install if you are putting them on a wood floor.  Not so on old concrete! There are tack strips made for concrete, they work very nicely on concrete that has not aged for 20+ years.  Concrete is constantly curing during its lifetime, becoming harder and more brittle as it ages.  If you try to nail carpet tack strips to old concrete the nails either bend or shatter the brittle concrete.  The easy fix for this is to use an epoxy resin formulated for wood and concrete.  There are several brands at your local home improvement store.  Use one of these or use a construction adhesive formulated for wood and concrete (like Liquid Nails).   Make sure to clean up all dirt and other debris in the area you are going to putting the carpet.  It is a good idea to seal the concrete if you have the time,  this will stop moisture from seeping up and causing mildew.  Also remember to put the padding down on the concrete with a light layer of carpet adhesive AFTER the concrete sealer has dried.

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