Windows 7 - WinXP Mode and an externally attached hdd with XP Home OS

C32C3 · 10-20-2011

Greetings,

Currently I am beginning to install software that ran well under WinXP but will not run under Windows 7.

I suddenly remembered that I have all of these old but useful softwares saved on the hdd in my Pentium IV.

Question is if I attached the hdd in my Pentium IV to my pc via a USB hub will I be able to access and use these old softwares in the XP Mode. The Pentium IV hdd has WinXP Home as an OS and not XP Pro which is what XP Mode is.

Thank you for your help.

Kari · 10-21-2011

Not without installing them to XP Mode. If your old HD contains installation files for those applications, you can install them to XP Mode. You can not connect the HD to XP Mode and run applications from your old HD.

Remember that XP Mode, although a virtual machine, is just like any other computer. All programs must first be installed on it before you can use them. Only exception is so called portable applications that do not need installation.

Kari

C32C3 · 10-21-2011

Thanks for the insight. I am new to virtualization but I am learning.

So, a virtual pc like the WinXP Mode, is actually a computer "within" my computer; properly called a guest and host computer (?).

OK. So the software programs will have to be installed but the documents can be accessed.

Correct?

mach04 · 10-21-2011

You need to copy those files that you need to be shown or further work on them, on a USB dongle and in the virtual mode after connecting it to the virtual mode, then you can open them and further work on them or even save them on lets say C: where XP is located. But the softwares has to be already installed in order to use those files.

The virtual mode gives you the option to use XP on a same pc that you already use with Windows 7, exactly as having two pc's in one.