Run XP Mode on any Win 7 PC

[DarkPhoenix]

Now you can Run XP Mode under Windows 7 with full integration - Even if your Hardware and Processor does not support XP Mode

Note. In order to legally do this you are supposed to own a copy of the OS XP Mode was intended to run on, that is Windows 7 Professional , Enterprise or Ultimate Editions.

Because XP Mode is a fully functioning licensed version of Windows XP that is freely downloadable it is intended for Windows 7 user Only.

EDIT - This statement has been found to be incorrect. See post below. -> If you own both, one of the editions above and Home Premium, then you can still legally download the XP Mode from Microsoft and try this on your Home Premium machine. It should work fine.

A common problem is not having the right hardware is that many processors and bios settings do not support XP Mode.

XP Mode is a fully licensed version of XP that runs in the Microsoft Virtual PC environment. It has full integration with Windows 7. You can transfer files to and from with drag and drop and even run programs through one to the other. For instance, you can run an XP 32 bit program installed in the XP Mode virtual hard drive, right from your Windows 7 start menu.


If you could not run XP Mode before because you lack the right hardware the solution is VMLite - www.vmlite.com

VMLite is a virtual machine emulator based on the Sun Microsystems Virtual Box Open Source edition. It uses software emulation to overcome the problems caused by a lack of proper hardware.

VMLite is made specially to not only run XP in a virtual environment but to retain the ability for full integration with Windows 7.

No need to go to Microsoft and download the XP Mode software. VMLite has a download button that will download the software and install it if you do not already have the XP Mode files downloaded to your hard drive.

If you do already have the XP Mode software downloaded, just point VMLite to this and it will install.

You have to register to download the program and associated help files and documentation from the download page but registration is free.

If you choose to manually download XP Mode from Microsoft and use VM Lite, you do not have to download the Microsoft Virtual PC software that accompanies XP Mode. This is only for people who do meet all of the processor and hardware requirements for XP Mode.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/vir.../download.aspx

VMLite is very easy to set up and comes with a very good instruction manual in PDF format. (A separate download) Although I remind myself I am talking to a bunch of programmers here so this should be no problem for you anyway.

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I am one of the Win 7 Ultimate (64 bit) users who do not have the correct processor for XP Mode and this software works awesome.

You can set your XP Mode system ram to what ever you are comfortable with ( I have 4 gigabytes of ram on my host system and I set this to 1.5 gigs for the XP Mode) and you can set your emulated video ram to 128 MB's. I find this works well for anything you need to do in a virtual environment.

What I really like about this is I can test my apps for 64 bit or 32 bit compatibility right from the same PC !
I have the 64 bit Visual Studio installed on my windows 7 host and the Virtual Studio 32 bit installed in the XP Mode.

By default this software set up the 32 bit version of XP Mode. I am looking into setting up a virtual 64 bit mode on a 32 bit host system. ( I understand this is possible but may have a few quirks)

Hope this helps someone :-)

[Nightwalker83]

Have you tried doing this using Home premium to make sure it actually works? Where are you getting your information about this?

[dilettante]

It is pretty clear that the "XP Mode" VM downloadble from Microsoft is only licensed to those who have Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, or Ultimate editions.

Install and use Windows XP Mode in Windows 7

So isn't this just piracy?


Or is the point to let "XP Mode" work on non-compliant machines, but installing your own existing copy of XP into it rather than downloading the one provided for qualifying editions of Windows 7?

[DarkPhoenix]

Have you tried doing this using Home premium to make sure it actually works? Where are you getting your information about this?

I am only guessing it should work in Home Premium.. I haven't tried it.. and like I said.. you shouldn't even try it unless you can legally download the XP Mode software.

But.. if you do own one of the other versions and can legally download the XP Mode vhd (virtual hard drive) software, then it's just like setting up any other virtual machine that you can legally do because you own the OS.

EDIT: You cannot use this for Home Premium. I was mistaken. See post below.

[DarkPhoenix]

It is pretty clear that the "XP Mode" VM downloadble from Microsoft is only licensed to those who have Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, or Ultimate editions.

Install and use Windows XP Mode in Windows 7

So isn't this just piracy?


Or is the point to let "XP Mode" work on non-compliant machines, but installing your own existing copy of XP into it rather than downloading the one provided for qualifying editions of Windows 7?

I took issue with this at first too. (is it piracy) I have a long back and forth with the owners on their forum.

They are not advocating any illegal use of this software. It is only intended to be used if you have the ability to legally download and use the XP Mode software. People who do not own a copy of Professional, Enterprise, or Ultimate editions can not use this legally.


All VMLite is doing is taking the place of Microsoft's own Virtual PC software to make it run without having to have the hardware requirements that their Virtual PC Software requires. This is legal. There is nothing anywhere that says you have to use Microsoft's Virtual PC software to run XP Mode..

You see the licensing requirement is for download and use of the XP Mode VHD (Virtual Hard Drive), Not the Virtual PC Software Microsoft tells people to use to run the XP Mode software.

(That software is called "Microsoft Virtual PC" as you see on their download page next to the XP Mode download. Microsoft asks you to download "Microsoft Virtual PC to use with XP Mode. This is a separate download. This is not required by the license and not required to use XP Mode.. Microsoft of course would rather you use their product to run XP Mode so they tell you to use MS Virtual PC.)

In fact, if you do not care about the integrated features of XP Mode, you can use Any virtual machine software like Sun's Virtual Box or VMWare to run the XP Mode VHD file (that's a virtual hard drive file with the .vhd extension)

So the VMLite does 2 things.. it lets you run XP Mode without the stiff processor and bios settings requirements (that is only required by the Virtual PC software MS tells people to use), and it lets XP Mode still work with full integration with your Windows 7 Operating System.

Yes, the point is to let "XP Mode" work on non-compliant machines, And do it with the XP Mode download from Microsoft not your own copy of XP.

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If you wanted to, of course you can always use the software to make a vhd copy of your own XP operating system from it's own hard drive to use in windows 7 instead of using XP Mode.. this is legal and this is commonly done with Virtual Machine programs like Virtual Box or VMWare. But if you did this you would not have the XP Mode integration features.

What's neat about XP Mode is that Microsoft has finally given PC users an officially supported virtual machine with windows 7 integration.

[Nightwalker83]

I am only guessing it should work in Home Premium.. I haven't tried it.. and like I said.. you shouldn't even try it unless you can legally download the XP Mode software.

But.. if you do own one of the other versions and can legally download the XP Mode vhd (virtual hard drive) software, then it's just like setting up any other virtual machine that you can legally do because you own the OS.

However, Microsoft ask you which version you are using before downloading the product. I have installed the "xp mode" on my Win 7 Pro laptop.

[DarkPhoenix]

However, Microsoft ask you which version you are using before downloading the product. I have installed the "xp mode" on my Win 7 Pro laptop.

I believe that is just Microsoft being nosy. But wait a minute you may be right.. I am double checking the XP Mode EULA from the XP Mode folder.

EDIT:

Yes, you are correct, you should not use this on Home Premium.

"1. GRANT OF LICENSE. Microsoft grants you the following rights provided that you comply with all terms and conditions of this EULA:
1.1 Installation and use. You may install, use, access, display and run one copy of the Software in a single virtual machine on a single computer, such as a workstation, terminal or other device (“Workstation Computer”), that contains a licensed copy of Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise or Ultimate edition. "

Sorry folks.. I was mistaken in my post above.

BTW, Where I get "Run XP Mode on any windows 7 computer" is a tag line from the VMLite company. Of course this really means to use it on any computer even if it does not meet the hardware requirements, as long as you own a copy of Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise or Ultimate edition on that same computer.

Also btw folks.. as great as XP Mode is, if you do not want Microsoft knowing all the details of your computer and internet do not install XP Mode.

"1.2 Activation. If you are using the Software with a properly licensed copy of Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise or Ultimate, activation of the Software is not required. Activation associates the use of the Software with a specific Workstation Computer. During activation, the Software will send information about the Software and the Workstation Computer to Microsoft. This information includes the version, language and product key of the Software, the Internet protocol address of the Workstation Computer, and information derived from the hardware configuration of the Workstation Computer."

[Nightwalker83]

I thought so! Also, I reckon if the company released a product like what you originally stated without Microsoft knowledge/premission it would be illegal anyway.

[DarkPhoenix]

I thought so! Also, I reckon if the company released a product like what you originally stated without Microsoft knowledge/premission it would be illegal anyway.

My original statement about the product stands except you cannot use it for Home Premium.

I see no legal problems with any of the rest of it.

Do you.. or were you just talking about my assumption that you could use it with Home Premium?

All the XP Mode VHD is, is really an image file you load with a virtual machine program. There is nothing in the XP Mode EULA that says you must load that image with a Microsoft product. You are free to load XP Mode with VMLite, Sun's Virtual Box, VMWare or any number of other virtual machine programs out there.

The EULA states:

"Virtual machine technology enables multiple operating systems to run concurrently on a single physical device, such as a computer, workstation, terminal or other device. The Software contains the Windows XP operating system described above within the Virtual Hard Disk (“VHD”) image format. Virtual machine (“virtualization”) software is required to use the Software."

It does not say which virtual machine software you must use.. just that you need said software to load the VHD image. If Microsoft would have built in it's own virtual machine software into XP Mode, then that would be a different story but they did not do this.

When you download the XP Mode software from Microsoft, it does not install like something from Windows Updates. All it does is extract the contents to a folder on your hard drive that is not attached to the workings of your computer in any way.. it just sits there waiting for a virtual machine program to load and configure it. You can move or back up this folder, it makes no difference until you tell it to load with your virtual machine software.

[Nightwalker83]

Do you.. or were you just talking about my assumption that you could use it with Home Premium?

Sorry, I was thinking that the creators of that product somehow changed the Win7 setting to allow Home Premium to use "xp mode". What it appears you are actually referring to is a virtual machine such as VMWare. In that case yes, it ok to it on the system.

[DarkPhoenix]

Sorry, I was thinking that the creators of that product somehow changed the Win7 setting to allow Home Premium to use "xp mode". What it appears you are actually referring to is a virtual machine such as VMWare. In that case yes, it ok to it on the system.

Yeah.. that was my mistake.. I just leaped before I looked.

If you had your own copy of XP and ran it from Home Premium in a virtual machine that would work for testing compatibility purposes. You of course would not have the fancy integration features of XP Mode.

I have never made a vhd or any operating system virtual image so I don't know what all is involved. I understand all the tools, VMLite, VMWare or Virtual Box has this ability.

I understand after you set up your XP in a virtual machine, you can map your network drives and set them to 'share', you can transfer files back and forth from one machine to the other. That will give you IMO the biggest and most useful XP Mode integration feature.

At least this is an option the Home Premium users can look into since they cannot use XP Mode. But it will Not be officially supported by Microsoft.