This must be a great piece of news for users who’s computer does not supports Hardware Virtualization Technology. This is also good news for small and medium enterprise. Now you can migrate to Windows 7 and still able to support Windows XP-based applications in Windows XP Mode.
You have to install this update package KB977206 to enable Windows XP mode on non HAV machines.
Windows XP Mode is one cool piece that you must have on Windows7. I download and installed it on my Windows 7 notebook and likes what I see.
What is Windows XP Mode?
Windows XP Mode provides a virtual Windows XP environment for Windows 7. It works with Windows Virtual PC and loads up an intelligently pre-configured Windows XP machine that runs on your Windows 7 so perfectly that you would thought that you are running on Windows XP.
This screenshot shows my Windows XP mode, Internet Explorer is running fine and my local and mapped network drives are there too.
Features
Windows XP mode was the easiest virtual machine setup I ever did. Setup was simply to download Windows XP mode and start it!!
Direct access to USB and other plug and play devices, and files on your host is possible now. Plus you also get folder integration between host and guest, clipboard sharing and Printer redirection.
The best part that I like is Windows XP Mode allows you to publish and launch applications installed on virtual Windows XP directly from Windows 7 Desktop as if they were installed on Windows 7.
I installed Putty on Windows XP Mode virtual machine and it appears on Windows 7 as a Windows XP Mode Applications. It runs like it was installed on Windows 7 too.
So Windows XP Mode will allow more people to upgrade to Windows 7 because it allows them to run Windows XP applications.
Windows Virtual PC RC and Windows XP Mode RC installers are available on http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=140344.
There are numerous feature improvements and I strongly believe you will be interested in these improvements.
· Granular drive sharing
In the settings on the virtual machine, you can select specific host computer drives to share with the virtual machine.
· Manage USB devices with virtual applications
While running virtual applications, you can manage USB devices by using the Virtual Applications icon on the task bar.
· Windows XP Mode tutorial
A Windows XP Mode RC tutorial, which introduces the product features, is displayed during Windows XP Mode Setup.
· Jump list for virtual applications
Right clicking on the virtual application icon for Windows XP Mode, on Windows 7 taskbar, displays a jump list that allows one to easily launch virtual applications from the taskbar.
· Faster Windows XP Mode Setup
Windows XP Mode Setup completes more quickly than in Windows XP Mode Beta.
· Compact differencing disks
You can compact the differencing disks to decrease the file size.
· Ability to install Windows XP optional components
Windows XP optional components can be installed in Windows XP Mode RC without prompting for Windows XP media.
· Ability to choose a location to store virtual machine files for Window XP Mode RC
When you are setting up Windows XP Mode RC, you can choose where to store all virtual machine files for Windows XP Mode RC. The default path is: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows Virtual PC\Virtual Machines\.
· Option to turn off and discard changes when Undo disk is enabled for a virtual machine
An additional option is available when you are turning off a virtual machine: Turn off and discard changes. This option will delete the current Undo disk, and turn off the virtual machine.
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