Windows XP Mode in Windows 7

Windows XP Mode is a special feature available only on higher-end versions of Windows 7-specifically the Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate editions. Windows XP Mode provides a fully licensed copy of Windows XP (with Service Pack 3 already installed) running virtually within your Windows 7 system.

Unlike most virtualization solutions, this one does not require that you run the Windows XP instance as a separate desktop. Instead, as you install applications within the virtual XP environment, they are published to the host (Windows 7) operating system as well. Shortcuts for these applications are even placed into the Start Menu. The result? You can run Windows XP-based applications alongside Windows 7 applications on a single desktop.

What's the point of Windows XP Mode? One of the problems that is a continuing concern among many businesses is the stability with which Windows 7 will run applications that were written for Windows XP. This doesn't apply only to custom applications, either-older software of all types has been found to have issues of this sort, even including older versions of Microsoft Office.

Windows XP Mode isn't shipped as part of the standard Windows 7 installation DVD. Instead, you download the installation from the Microsoft website (similar to how Live Essentials is handled).

To install Windows XP mode, you need to download two installers-the Windows Virtual PC installer and the Windows XP Mode software, which uses Virtual PC to run. However, before you do this, you should check your machine to make sure it is capable of running Virtual PC, and thus Windows XP Mode.

The reason for this is that Microsoft Virtual PC requires hardware virtualization support, which is only available in newer systems. The best resource we found for determining if your system includes virtualization support was to first find out what kind of processor you have. How do you do this? Inside Windows 7, open the Control Panel, click System and Security then click System.

Next, depending on whether your PC uses an Intel or AMD CPU, go to one of these two sites:

• If you have an Intel CPU in your system, point your browser here:
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X86_virtualization
  Click on the Intel Virtualization technology link. Alternately, you can use the Microsoft Intel Processor Identification Utility, which can be downloaded here:
  http://www.intel.com/support/processors/tools/piu/
• If you have an AMD CPU in your system, point your browser here:
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_AMD_Athlon_64_microprocessors
  Click the Dual-Core Desktop Processors link, and look for your specific processor. Note that it must be on a list that indicates support for AMD-V. Alternately, you can download the AMD Virtualization Compatibility Check Utility, located here:
  http://support.amd.com/us/Pages/ dynamicDetails.aspx?ListID=c5cd2c08-1432-4756- aafa-4d9dc646342f&ItemID=172

Once you have verified that your PC uses a CPU capable of using virualization, you can get started with installing Windows XP Mode. Here's how:

1. Go to http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx and download the Windows Virtual PC and Windows XP Mode installers. Note that this link also includes instructions on how to enable hardware virtualization on your PC, if your computer's CPU supports hardware virtualization.
2. Install Windows Virtual PC. Your system needs to be rebooted after you have installed Virtual PC.
3. After you have restarted your system, and Virtual PC has completed its installation, install Windows XP Mode.
4. Accept the Virtual Windows XP license.
5. Set up the user and password for the virtual Windows XP system.
6. Finish the setup as you would for a regular Windows XP installation.
7. Start the virtual system.
8. After you've started the virtual Windows XP system, you'll see what looks like a standard Windows XP desktop. The only difference is that it will have a new menu bar at the top, which controls the virtual shell that the Windows XP instance runs in.