Running XP Mode On Windows 7

This is the last article in my series on virtualization using Windows 7. With Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate, you have the option of running XP mode. Based on virtualization technology using Windows Virtual PC you can have a virtual XP environment to run your legacy applications.

Why is XP mode only available with the Ultimate and Professional versions of Windows 7? Because Windows 7 already has a built in compatibility feature which should enable most home users to automatically run their older applications. XP mode is designed specifically for legacy business applications, which usually have expensive licensing requirements and are replaced and upgraded at a much slower pace than with home applications.

XP mode does not run automatically on Windows 7 you first have to download and install it. The first thing you will need to do is go to the Windows Virtual PC download page http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx and select your Operating System and Language and then download Windows XP Mode, Windows Virtual PC, and the Windows XP Mode update. Once these files are downloaded and installed, you will be able to find XP Mode under the All Programs button from the Windows 7 Start button.

Once you have these files installed, you will need to configure Windows XP Mode. Step 1: go the Start Menu and select Windows XP Mode under Windows Virtual PC. Then accept the license agreement, create a password, and decide if you want to share files or not. It is also a good idea to select automatic updates.

Now Windows XP will appear as a window on our Windows 7 desktop, now all we have to do is install our legacy XP applications and we will be in business. In order to install applications in XP Mode open XP Mode in full screen.

Let us say we are using a USB device to install the application. At the top of the screen, there will be a bar, where we can choose the installation device and then browse to the device and the application. Once we have selected the application just install it as usual. When installing the software be sure to select install for all users so that the program will be accessible from Windows 7.

Now choose release device from the USB drop down menu and open Windows 7. You can now access your legacy program from within Windows 7 using the program menu or you can pin the program to your start menu or the task bar. Easy peasy!