Introduction: Windows 7 XP mode is a virtual machine running Windows XP that lets us
to run the applications that run only in Windows XP and not in Window 7.
We can have a look at the basic requirements and installation procedure
of the XP mode in Windows 7.
Basic Requirements to run XP mode: • XP mode is available only for Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate and Enterprise editions.
• Microsoft virtual PC, to run XP as a virtual machine.
• Minimum 2 GB of RAM (which is more than the 1 GB of RAM-Windows 7 hardware requirement.)
• A processor that supports hardware assisted virtualization (HAV). To
check if the processor supports HAV, please follow the below steps
Download the
Hardware-Assisted Virtualization Detection Tool from the
Windows XP Mode and
Windows Virtual PC support website. This tool can check if the processor supports HAV or not.
If the processor supports the HAV, you need to make sure that it is
enabled. Steps to enable HAV in the bios vary depending on the OEM
models (Dell, HP, and Panasonic.etc). Appendix A provides the steps to
enable HAV in some of the OEM models.
If it does not support HAV, you can download an update from Microsoft
Download center that can remove the HAV requirement for XP mode.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.] Note: You can use this update only if you are using the XP mode
in the Microsoft virtual PC with Windows 7. This will not work if you
are using any other combination of operating systems.
Installing Windows XP mode: To use windows XP mode, you need to download and install Windows XP
Mode, which is a fully licensed version of Windows XP with Service Pack
3. You also need to download and install Windows Virtual PC, which is
the program that runs virtual operating systems on your computer.
You can download them from the Microsoft Windows XP mode and Windows
virtual PC website. You need to select the language and edition of
Windows 7 while downloading them.
Once installation is completed you need to restart the PC.
• Now click on start and go to All programs. Click Windows virtual PC and then Windows XP mode.
• You need to accept the license terms and enter credentials that should
be used to launch the XP mode. Proceed and start the set up wizard.
• Once set up is complete Windows XP mode opens in a separate window.
Installing a program in Windows XP mode: • Click on start in the Windows 7 computer. Go to All programs and click Windows virtual PC and then Windows XP mode.
• Insert the disk with the installation files for the program and browse
it in XP mode and install it. Once installation is complete close the
XP mode window.
• Now go to All programs in the start menu of Windows 7 computer. Then
go to Windows virtual PC and click Windows XP mode applications. Now
select the program you want to launch.
Difference between XP mode and virtual XP machine: All applications you install in the Windows XP Mode client will be
available automatically on the Windows 7 host computer. When you run an
application, it starts in its own separate window as any other
application does. From the perspective of the user, this means that
applications appear as though they are executing directly within Windows
7.
Limitations: • XP mode has x86version of XP professional with SP3. Windows virtual PC
does not support x64 virtual clients, which means that you cannot use
XP mode as a compatibility option for x64 applications.
• It requires more system resources than the built-in or custom compatibility modes.
• Administrators need to maintain and manage Windows XP virtual client
up to date with updates even though the people using the computer will
not be accessing the Windows XP operating system directly.
• The antivirus program with Windows 7 machine will not work with the XP
mode. We need to have a separate antivirus program for the XP mode and
need it updated.
Steps to enable HAV in some of the OEM models: Dell Systems: • Depress the F12 key when boot menu text appears at startup
• Select BIOS setup and depress the Enter key
• Using the mouse, expand the Virtualization Support menu item by
clicking on the plus to the left of Virtualization Support and select
Virtualization
• Check the Enable Intel Virtualization Technology checkbox
• Click Apply
• Click Exit
• Fully shut down (power off), wait a few seconds, and restart your computer
HP systems: • Depress Esc key when prompted at startup
• Depress the F10 key to Configure BIOS
• Scroll to System Configuration using the arrow keys
• Select Virtualization Technology and depress the Enter key
• Select Enabled and depress the Enter key
• Depress the F10 key to save and exit
• Select Yes and depress the Enter key
• Fully shut down (power off), wait a few seconds, and restart your computer
Lenova ThinkPad Systems: • Depress the blue ThinkVantage key when prompted at startup
• Depress the F1 key to enter the BIOS setup utility
• Using the arrow keys, scroll to Config and depress the Enter key
• Scroll to CPU and depress the Enter key
• Scroll to Intel® Virtualization Technology and depress the Enter key
• Select Enabled and depress the Enter key
• Depress Enter key to continue
• Depress F10 key to save and exit
• Select Yes and depress the Enter key
• Fully shut down (power off), wait a few seconds, and restart your computer
Panasonic: • Depress the F2 key when boot menu text appears at startup
• Select "Advanced" menu in Setup Utility
• Change "Intel® Virtualization Technology" setting from "Disable" to "Enable"
• Depress F10 to exit Setup Utility
• Select "Yes" in confirmation menu
• Depress Enter to exit confirmation menu.
Acer, Samsung, Asus:PCs capable of supporting Windows XP Mode have already been enabled and do not require additional configuration.
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