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Windows XP Mode in Windows 7 and Virtual PC - Part 1: Maintaining Application Compatibility
Part 1 of Windows XP Mode in Windows 7 and Virtual PC. Windows Virtual PC is a new optional component that you can use to migrate to the Windows 7 operating system while maintaining compatibility with applications that run on older versions of Windows, such as Windows XP. This article summarizes the concept and demonstrates the steps required to enable XP mode.
Introduction
If you run Windows XP and want to maintain compatibility with applications that run on that operating system, Windows Virtual PC provides an easy way for you to do this. You can use Windows XP mode to access a virtualized instance of Windows XP that is ready for you to customize with your own applications.
This three (3) part article will cover the following topics:
- Part 1: Maintaining Application Compatibility
- Part 2: Create Virtual Machines
- Part 3: Use virtual machine application on Windows 7
Windows XP mode and Windows 7 allows you to run applications seamlessly in Windows 7 while the applications are installed in the Windows XP virtual machine. Windows XP runs on the 32-bit and 64-bit editions of Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Enterprise, and Windows 7 Ultimate.
This article will show how to setup your test environment and demonstrate how to try out some of the other key features of Windows Virtual PC, such as sharing of physical resources (USB devices, printers, and hard drives).
Before you start
Ensure that the computer you’re going to install Virtual PC support virtualization - specifically processors with Intel Virtualization Technology (Intel VT) or AMD Virtualization (AMD-V) technology. You may need to enable this in the BIOS. Check with the manufacturer of the computer whether a specific processor model supports hardware-assisted virtualization.
To use Windows XP mode as described in this article, you must download the Virtual Windows XP package. This package is used to setup and configure the virtualization environment that Windows XP mode will later utilize.
The Windows XP mode package for Virtual PC is available for download from the Windows Virtual PC product page http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=148103.
Setting up your virtual environment
Before we can take advantage of Windows XP Mode in Windows 7, we must first install Windows Virtual PC and set up the virtual machine.
Install Windows Virtual PC
To install Windows Virtual PC
- Install the update package:
- Double-click the file you downloaded, Windows6.1-KB958559-plaftform.msu, where platform is either x86 or x64.
- Review the end-user license agreement and accept it to install the update.
- To complete the installation, restart the computer.
- After the installation is finished, Windows Virtual PC is available from the Start menu.
Once Windows Virtual PC is installed, you must now setup the virtual machine. At this point you can either use the Virtual Windows XP feature, or create your own customized virtual machine.
Virtual PC Integration Components
Integration components are installed automatically when Windows XP mode is installed. Integration components provide access and the ability to seamlessly share the following components between your hosting OS (Windows 7) and the guest Windows XP. The following resources can be shared:
- Clipboard
- Hard drives
- Printers
- USB devices
Integration components also improve the mouse sharing between your host and guest Windows XP.
Figure 1. Windows XP Mode in Virtual PC Integration Components settings
Continue to Windows XP Mode in Windows 7 and Virtual PC - Part 2: Create Virtual Machines
Part 2 of Windows XP Mode in Windows 7 and Virtual PC, describes how to create the virtual machines in Windows Virtual PC and Windows 7. This article outlines the two options you have in order to setup Windows XP Mode on Windows 7.
- Part 1: Maintaining Application Compatibility
- Part 2: Create Virtual Machines
- Part 3: Use virtual machine application on Windows 7
[Permalink] - Updated: Sunday, February 21, 2010
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