Windows 7 - The Day XP Mode Saved My A**!

I am more in love with Windows 7 than ever now having the experience I ahd over the weekend. I could run through the whole story, but I'll give you the shortened version.

I'm a project manager by profession. Needless to say, I was out of the office with a major deadline on my hands. This is one of those "do it or your fired" moments!

There were several files on our shared drive that I needed access to. We are currently able to access the shared drive while out of the office using Citrix. I would normally do this using my my work laptop. Problem is, I didn't bring it with me out of town. I brought my personal laptop with Windows 7 x64 (RTM). Citrix won't install on Windows 7 x64. So I'm panicking! I can't get to the office (I was out of town), there is nobody there who can send me the files I need (closed on weekends), and now I can't access the shared drive (oh crap!).

Thinking I was done for, I had a sudden revelation, I remembered this thing about having a virtual XP mode in Windows 7. But I had never toyed with anything like that. Could it actually work for me?

I found an article on Lifehacker.com explaining how to set it up and run it. It worked flawlessly. In less than 20 minutes, I had a real live virtual copy of XP running. I was still worried that it may not work. It just seemed to be too easy and perfect. One of those "where's the next punch coming from" kind of feelings.

Fortunately, I found out that the virtual copy of XP is 32-bit (THANK YOU GOD!). I was able to install our Citrix client using the virtual XP OS, e-mail the files to myself, from within the client, and then access them from within Windows 7 by simply checking my e-mail and downloading them. WOO HOO! JOB SAVED!

On top of that, I had been having issues syncing my iPod Shuffle (Gen. 2). It didn't work with Windows 7 - - for god knows what reason. Even Apple Tech. Support couldn't figure it out. Well, while in my virtual XP environment, I downloaded and installed iTunes and was able to grab the music I wanted (from my Windows 7 C: drive no less) and sync it with my iPod. Now I finally have a small iPod that I can take to the *** with me -- something I have been dying to have.

Sadly, this seems like an awful lot to go through to do this stuff, but oh well. I made my deadline and am happy nonetheless.

THANK YOU MICROSOFT FOR THE VIRTUAL XP MODE. You not only saved my ass, but you also made me happy by fixing my iPod woes. Now if this could all be managed from the Windows 7 environment, all the better.

Windows XP Mode - Install and Setup

epic.
glade your not flipping burgers because of that little bump

(no offense tiny-teenagers, i was a grill-hand too )

I like to read these stories! I am using XP Mode to access and use some older software I need at my work and like you I'm very impressed. We are lucky that the coders and makers of Windows 7 thought this and gave us XP Mode.

Really happy you posted this. I already sent some emails giving link to this post.

Kari

same here...worked at Wendy's and always had "it's a hard knock life for us" in my head while there...I swear it must have been that Wendy herself


BTW Don't believe what you see on TV...Wendy came to our Wendy's and she is an absolute **** from hell

Great story!

But excuse me, not asking you to elaborate.

greetz

Good story but did you try compatibility mode?
You mentioned it didn't install, which sounds like the app might work on windows 7, but just the installer didn't like the version number.

Ive installed some apps (winpcap comes to mind) that the installer refuses to install, but will in compatibility mode.

also you could have used virtualbox which runs much better anyways...

It is a good day when a solution presents itself in the face of impending doom. Kudos for the save, VirtualXP FTW!

You left your laptop at home?!?

Some just can't resist that XP mode!

Besides that running on the new Virtual PC beta I have Vista installed on one vhd while the 32bit 7 RC is installed on another! All three run while booted in the 64bit 7 here.

Now as for portable players I ended up finding a great alternative to any IPod stuff! That requires something other then the VPC however. But it can also save the day when you leave your laptop at home as long as you have another one or a desktop running XP, Vista, or 7 on it where you carry everything in your pocket.

Nice story Stabgotham - thanks for the post!
Love to hear success stories!

Shame to read some other forums, about the "death" of 32-bit OSs, though...