Discussion on:

Determine if your hardware can support Windows XP Mode in Windows 7

Are you experimenting with Windows XP Mode in Windows 7? If so, what type of CPU do you have Intel or AMD? What was your experience with your hardware?

in using XP mode under Win7. Once the support for XP runs out, I will simply use a PC with no Internet connectivity to run any applications that are needed, until they get replaced by something newer, which usually happens with hardware upgrades or replacements.

Virtualization may be the mode of week after next, but I prefer to dual or multi-boot. From my POV its easier to reboot, than to start up a virtual machine.

I agree with you there.

Upgrade my OS just to run XP mode, forget it, I'm just sticking with XP Pro and save all the hassles and more BS spin from M$

You guys miss the point completely. Some of us work in small shops with in-house apps that only run on XP. We don't have the manpower to convert our software every time Microsoft gets bored and shifts the ground under our feet. Unfortunately, it's a mess a lot of us have inherited and are stuck with. The XP virtual mode in Windows 7 gives a lot more flexability running our software and integrating it with newer software and the (few) advantages of Windows 7. I have nice new Win 7 apps and old XP apps running alongside each other, interacting normally (cutting/pasting/sharing files/etc.) and generally getting along.

NOW, on the topic of Bios etc...

I work in the field a lot and have Win 7 installed on my Toshiba Notebook with a Centrino T7200 which DOES support virtualization. It was, however, turned off in the Bios and Toshiba was no help at all getting it activated. None of the literature with the computer or on their support site showed how to even bring up the Bios settings. They provide a 'hardware config' utility for Windows which sets up the Bios, but it did not include Virtual mode settings. The normal Bios hot keys on startup did not work (Del, Esc, F12, etc.). They only document hotkeys for system recovery and boot device. After a lot of pounding forums I figured out that hitting F1 multiple times did the trick (once didn't work!) and I got it turned on. After that all went smoothly.

On the bright side, the Virtual XP does work well and generally shares clipboard, files, ports and devices with its host. It does this much better than the old Vista version of Virtual PC.
On the down side, the file sharing needs some work and can be occationally slow accessing because it runs through the Windows Networking interface. More importantly, where Windows 7 has been bulletproof compared to the horror that is Vista, having multiple virtual XP apps running alongside Win 7 apps has caused some freezups and other problems more reminiscent of Win 95.

Hope this helps.

I liked this statement about MS getting bored, but when are you people going to bite the bullet and get an operating systme CORE that does not change with anyones whim?

Speak to MS with your IT budget and move into UNIX or LINUX to run your mission critical applications and leave MS to gaming or other non-critical stuff.

I've just received an update message from MS to update my IE to version 8.0... Ahhhh no. not on my watch until I know that this thing is widely used and stable. Last time when I updated from IE6 to 7, nothing worked and I tried Firefox and what a joke that was..

UNIX or Linux people ... get used to it and you'll never look back.. or maybe you will just to think that you should have done the move sooner.

Rebooting is a thing of the past. Virtuls boot in seconds 5-10. DOuble clicking on an desktop package shortcut couldn't be easier. The energy and space savings of it are incredible. I used to have 5 desktops for various testings and now I have one nice big workstation that runs them all.

I have setup Virtual XP on my AMD Phenom 8450 trple core computer with 4Gb memory but it was not really a success, the object was to run WxToImg satellite software that is a problem in Win 7.
To be on the safe side I setup antivirus software within XP but the main problem was to get the audio signal in from the satellite receiver the sound card was not recognized until I loaded in a "sound blaster" driver and then the received pictures had phasing errors every 30 seconds or so.
It is much easier to boot up a native XP system!.

Why virtual XP mode?
It's a transparent (nearly) virtual machine; no instructing end users on running a VM.

With Win7 you're licensed for a single XP SP3 VM. No need to worry about OEM license contraints on the XP you used for your VM.

The downside is that it's only available for Win7 Pro and up.

I personally have some software, older GPS mapping, that will only work on XP. I don't want to spend the $$$ on an update for something I use maybe once a year to put maps onto my GPS.

It looks alot like Server 2008 TS RemoteApp.

I say Dual, but I actually Quad-boot. I have Vista32 Ultimate as the default, and Vista64 Ultimate, Win7RC Ultimate, and XP Pro as menu options.

I just built a new PC 4 weeks ago and installed an Intel Core2 Quad Q8300. Now I discover that it does not support VT. I have no intention of upgrading again just for a Virtual XP machine where I have to jump through hoops by changing CPU's, trying to figure out how to turn VT on, etc., etc. I already have a REAL one, and it doesn't have to share memory, video, or any other resources with anything else. It gets the full 4 gigs (well, 3) of my RAM and the full attention of my graphics card.

I am slowly weaning myself off XP by continuously installing Vista replacements of my XP Apps, and uninstalling the XP versions. I also test these new apps on Vista64 and Win7 for compatibility. I fully intend to make Win7 my default OS as soon as it is released for sale.

Both my work machine and my home machine, are set up this way. I can remote connect from either end, and by executing batch files, I can change the default OS and reboot the machine, then reconnect remotely into the new OS.

When I find that I no longer, or rarely, boot into XP Pro, I will wipe the partition and use it for storage.

I'm currently running Vista Premium and just per-ordered Windows 7 Premium. I notice that Microsoft only offers the XP Mode in their professional, Ultimate and Enterprise versions. Once I upgrade to Windows7 will I be able to download and manually install Virtual PC and XP mode and have it work in my Premium version? Yes my AMD BIOS supports it. Thank you!

I am experimenting with Windows XP Mode and I have an Intel i7 920 Nehalem. For me, set up was sooo easy, I was truly amazed.

It seems many here are IT Pros, so I wanted to give my take as that employee that will be using the machine that you may or may not put 7 on. Basically, if gives me the choice of operating on XP or 7 - Or Both, which is great! Why does it seems this never comes up? Its always pick 7 or pick XP, I think we may be missing Microsoft's point, "Hey, Let your employee pick whatever they want". or "Oh, 7 isn't working on your old machine? Here, just double click on the XP Mode Icon your IT professional has put on your desktop". Who can argue with more options??? Assuming your companies hardware can support virtualization...

On a personal (at home) side of things I will now be able to experiment with Malware as I get deeper into my training in a virtual environment watching malware work with a simple click of a button AND IT COMES WITH 7! Also, my girlfriend is not familiar with 7, so now she just has to double click to open up the virtual machine, and there is trusty ole' XP. I like it, A LOT! Sorry if my words seem unconventional, but that is my take as a Non-IT Pro... Thanks,

J.R.

Hey mark, I haven't experimented YET. I did order Windows 7 Premium instead of Pro because in doing the "Windows Upgrade Advisor" all my Vista hardware/software is compatible with 7 except for my card reader. I'm told, over all, if XP/Vista supports your hardware/software, 7 will as well. Because of that I decided to order win 7 Premium.

With XP Mode, first you need Windows 7 Pro as Windows 7 Premium doesn't support XP Mode. To determine is your computer is compatible you need to download and run the CPU AMD "CPUInfo utility"(assuming you have an AMD Processor) and check if you have "Virtual Mode Support" in the resulting readout. If so XP Mode will work on your box. If you have an Intel Processor here's some information: http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=946

I hope this helped some. Lee

Why not Windows 7 in XP Mode?

All the more reason to ignore yet another irrelevant operating system upgrade from the company that brought you Vista.

I tried release candidate 1, and upon removal back to XP through GHOST it detonated one entire 500gb partition along the way. Beautiful product indeed.

And we have Microsoft Office 2010 around the corner too as if the world has not upgraded totally to Office 2007 from 2003 or 2002 (the latter the BEST one they ever released).

For intel CPU, use Intel? Processor Identification Utility:
http://www.intel.com/support/processors/tools/piu/sb/CS-014921.htm

After installation go to CPU Technologies tab and look for Intel(R) Virtualization Technology , if it says yes, then your cpu supports hardware-based virtualization

I have an Acer notebook with an Intel processor which supports virtualization, but it is disabled in BIOS and as far as I can see, Acer isn't interested in enabling it. To make the matter even more confusing, some of their notebooks do have virtualization enabled and some do not. And there is no easy way for user to see which do have it enabled and which don't.


Also, I haven't been able to find any utility which would show me if VT is enabled or disabled in BIOS.

http://www.grc.com/securable.htm

Even tells you if the BIOS has disabled the option but CPU is capable.

Hello guys.

I'm on the IT sector from about ten years now. Currently I have one machine running Intel Centrino2 (Merom with Santa Rosa) T7250 powered by Windows 7 beta and one AMD Athlon64 X2 5200+.

I have not experimented, yet, with the so-called "Windows XP mode". It sounds to me like you are just using plain virtualization, which, by my opinion, has nothing in common with having a different mode of your operating system.

It's like if I have installed VirtualBox on my Gentoo linux with Windows XP on it and my processor do have virtualization support, so would it be right to say that I have enabled the 'Windows XP mode' of my Linux? I don't think so.

It?s very interesting this new option in Windows 7, especially in the corporate world. But there are other options already available for the common or power user. We?ll need an important difference in performance in Windows Virtual PC to choose the Microsoft way...

Yes, this is all fine, and anything is better than Vista, but you can also run the Virtual PC on Vista and install Windows XP can't you? I have heard two sides to the story. That with Vista software vendors had plenty of time to update their programs for Vista compatibility, and the flip side, that it is Microsoft's job to eliminate compatibility issues. My opinion is that if Microsoft wants to continue charging the big bucks for its operating system, it is their job. If I can't run Windows 7 without running the Virtual PC, why continue running Microsoft-based software at all? Why not go with Linux?

I have a Compaq Laptop with Vista installed.
I removed it and loaded XP, Impossible to get all the drivers working,Re loaded Vista all drivers working. Loaded Virtual Box Installed XP, Walla All Drivers Working. So I really dont see Why we need Win7 I have tried it and it will be very hard for any Business to justify the expense of a change.

I have one client that's asked me to demonstrate Linux hosts running XP in a vbox.

The only problem is the dang windows licensing. Did you know a standard Dell OEM license does not allow you to install the XP in a vbox on the SAME HARDWARE? "genuine advantage" flags it as different, ergo unauthorized hardware.

I went round and round with Dell for a couple hours on this. The "help" didn't have a clue what I was talking about.

Why go through all this when we already have XP?
My current hardware already supports XP so why upgrade?
And does this mean a whole new set of apps for win 7?

For me it was no trouble at all to install XP mode and use it to run an old MS-DOS program that I still use. It's considerably simpler and faster than using a dual boot setup, which is what I was doing previous to installing XP Mode.

The two computers I use most often are both less than a year old with Intel processors. It was easy enough to enable VT in the BIOS and then install Virtual PC and XP Mode.

FWIW one system is running Window 7 32 bit and the other 64 bit and both work fine in XP Mode.

Well obviously is about applications that run under XP. It is like a backward compatibility issue; once the transition is done. Bye bye XP! I hope! ; )

Thank you for the article on virtualization with AMD processors.

I have an older laptop with a Turion 64 x2. When I looked in the BIOS for a virtualization setting and found none, I had come to the wrong conclusion regarding the availability of that technology.

The laptop does indeed have the capability and runs XP Mode just fine, albeit slower than my newer systems do. Nevertheless, it is adquate for testing and demonstrating the capability.

Thank you also for the link to the AMD CPUInfo application, and the tip that the element of interest was called "Secure Virtual Mode". I was unable to find the utility without your link. Dunno why AMD keeps this useful tool so well hidden.

To those who say XP Mode with Windows 7 is not needed when you have the real XP at hand, I say you're mostly correct. At least for right now.

But this computer technology moves forward at a quick-march, and there will come a time when Win7 will connect to devices that XP cannot.

In the meantime, XP Mode may help people who purchase new computers with Win7 pre-installed -- if they were lucky or smart enough to get a CPU with virtualization capability.

But I sense there may be something even bigger going on here. Today's virtualization may be merely the primative steps in a fundamental change in our computers. To me it seems likely that in the near future the entire base operating system environment will be placed on a chip of our choice that we plug in. On top of that, we'll add the desktop interface of our choice, as we now do in Linux, and then run applications in their own protected environments.

Win XP works perfectly.
Developers love it.
Users love it.
Business love it....

If MS wants us to use a new windows to catch on, they have to learn what made XP so good. In my opinion, they could have easily improved XP and launched XP Lite. Sold it for $50 (like normal software) and it would have been a HUGE success...

A bloated OS is NOT what we want.... We want a lean mean operating machine.

Buying the new mac seems more inviting every day.....

Excellent info, thanks for digging in and ferreting this out.

Ironic, isn't it, that intel is the one not offering the broadest support. Makes me glad I've mostly recommended AMD based hardware...

I can NOT get to the MSI site.
It keeps timing out?
What's up with that?
(www.msi.com)

I di hope Windows 7 will work with Windows XP, I am runing Windows Vista now, (if not I will move to Mac)

So let me get this straight, you need fancy hardware to run Windows XP mode, so you need better hardware that to actually run XP?

If a PC has good enough hardware to run Windows 7 then it is sad if it can't run XP mode.

What about 9x mode? I have some old games I wanna play!

It does appear, after perusing the specs, that Windows 7 will run quite satisfactorily on a $50 processor. XP will run on even less than that, but to run virtual XP requires A MINIMUM of a $100 processor. Now, isn't that progress? We all know that the $100 processor is then going to add $300 to the price of the equipment to run virtual XP. Nice move Microsoft.

my bios says i don't have intel VT, but i could install the virtual xp mode on my windows 7

Just because Micro$oft releases something new does us no good reason to trash a successful product. I am sticking with Windows XP until Windows Seven (of 9) is a road tested, proven product. That means six months or more and field results come in.

Hey, be my guest to screw up your clients computers.

MicroShaft's new goodies are slick - yes. I think it's an elementary question, too, as to why they're really turfing support for XP Pro.. I have it on several machines (I've got 6, for chrissake!) and it'll STAY that way!

I do disagree on the 6 mths bit, though - Microsoft pulled a slick trick when they released the Win7 Beta to public consumption.. look at what it did with XPM vs. not? Paying attention to their customers isn't entirely foreign to Microsoft - they just insist on pushing their own agenda over what that of their customers.

Personally, I'd like to see MS release free installation keys for any OS more than two generations old.. maintain the latest fixes (service packs and critical hotfixes) on a CD that organzations can buy at-cost.. and let the Haves support the new OS, while the have-nots use older gear. That sort of pushes them to ensure real value-add in the new OS', wouldn't you think?

Since Microsoft is ending XP support soon, will Microsoft support the version of XP to be used in Windows 7?

If not, what's the point?

If they will, can you use any updates/patches for the Windows 7 version of XP on the original XP that is no longer supported?

There is an easier way to determine if your CPU is capable of XP Mode. Download Securable from security Guru Steve Gibson's site. It needs no installation. Run this tiny app and have your answer in five seconds.
http://www.grc.com/securable.htm