Windows XP Mode used in Windows 7

Brink · 03 Jun 2012

edwar said:

strollin said:

edwar said:

I see no reason to install any AV software into a Virtual Machine of XP, whether using XP Mode or some other VM software package and your own install of XP. Normally you install XP mode, or XP, in a VM on Win 7 host to run older software that does not install or run in Win 7. That is the point of virtual machine programs and installing your own copy of XP or using XP mode. So don't use the VM of XP for surfing the net or anything else dealing with the internet and you can't get any bugs.

As for updating XP with the latest updates again I see not need as it willl never be exposed to the internet.

If for some reason you home network is exposed to the internet then you don't have it set up correctly to begin with.

I disagree with this point of view and believe it is very short sighted. For one thing, whatever software you have installed in your VM may need to access the internet for whatever reason so you can't guarantee that a VM will never want to access the internet. In my opinion, a VM should be treated as if it was an additional physical machine complete with its own AV software and OS updates.

And I find your response paranoid. But then most people are these days. So what if some program access the internet. Most all programs do to check license status. That does not mean that they will download some malware to your computer. If your LAN is so insecure that things from the net can get through to it then you simply have not set your LAN up correctly.

I am on the net all the time. I do not use any Anti Virus programs of any type on any of the computer I own. Want to take a guess how many times I have been infected with anything? That number would be Zero.

Yes if you have No idea what you are doing then you need all the protection you can get. But all it really takes it some simple common sense.

Hello Ed,

All I can say is famous last words. The very worst trojans, etc... are the ones that place themselves on your computer from whatever means and run without you ever knowing about it and doing who knows what. There are millions or more zombie computers out there because people didn't use the minimum of AV security for whatever reason to help stop it from ever happening.

Sure, I agree with you that there's certainly such a thing as being paranoid and going way overboard with security, but on the opposite side of this is being naive. A good analogy to this would be the locking of your car doors when you park it anywhere to help prevent someone from having easy access to the inside of it. Why make it easy for malware to be able to infect your computer when it could have been so easy to help be prevented.

Please don't take any offense to this. I'm just trying to help people to be at least cautious about their security with more than just common sense. Common sense certainly helps, but it's not everything. That's all.

richnrockville · 04 Jun 2012

Well said Brink, I guess that's why your in charge. :)

rich

SalsbrySorcerer · 05 Jun 2012

Hi Shawn (Brink) and Rich (Richnrockville),

I am new to these Forums and have to say that after much searching on the Net and seeing many other Forums, then this has been the most Professional & Informative I have used & seen.

Now, I don't waste any time looking elsewhere when I need Windows 7 Advice, I come straight here.!

This said, I am dismayed by the differences of opinion here however and without mentioning any names, the Forum Member that suggested that he doesn't use any Anti Virus Software and professes to have NEVER been Infected is either an extremely Lucky Person, or is somehow 'Bullet Proof' as this is the type of Computer Owner that causes the rest of us problems when the E-mails they send are riddled with all sort of 'Nasties'.

Thanks again Brink and Richnrockville and can you remind me Brink, but I believe you are the 'Original Poster' of the Article "How to Install and Setup Windows XP Mode in Windows 7", all that time ago, back in 2009.

For the Record, a Brilliant Post, extremely well put together and with the 'Expanding Images', made this Easy to understand.

I am pleased to now be part of this Forum and look forward to all the Great New Post ahead.

Thanks to all those who contributed, it's been appreciated.

TTFN

Salisbury Sorcerer

cyclic · 05 Jun 2012

I hate to sound negative Brink, but where I once lived it was essential to leave your car unlocked, at leats then only your radio was nabbed, which proved to be the case. However that is out of context and intended for amusement not anything else. You are quite correct and apart from the aside I endorse your sentiments exactly.
:)

Brink · 05 Jun 2012

@ Salisbury Sorcerer

You're most welcome. I'm glad that we were able to help. :)

@ Colin

No problem Colin. Now that's when you know you're in a bad neighborhood. I think I would booby trap it.

Brds7t7 · 11 Jun 2012

Hello SalsbrySorcerer,

i have a few different VM's set up. I have Windows XP Mode and I also have a few others set up in Virtualbox.
Tried getting XP mode to work in Virtualbox but it just loses the activation so stuck with Virtual PC for that one.

All my VM's are updated using the latest updates and all have Avast AV on them. I also don't allow any shares between XP mode and my Host PC. Maybe a little bit too much for some, but I'm always with the view that it's "Better to be safe than sorry!"

:)

edwar · 11 Jun 2012

Brink those famous last words have been spoken for the last 7+ years. I see no need for AV software as even people with AV software still get infected. Why because they think they are protected and go anywhere they care to on the net, download all kinds of junk off the net, Open emails from people/places they do not know and then click on links in those emails. I personally have never heard of anyone being infected without some User intervention, IE the User doing something to allow that infection to happen.

If you know otherwise please post links to them.

The day stuff just comes screaming through my firewall router to my computers is the day I disconnect it and find another or get off the net.

Yes call me crazy. But until I am proven wrong about user intervention I'll save my money and resources for something else.

edwar · 11 Jun 2012

Burdus77 said:

Hello SalsbrySorcerer,

i have a few different VM's set up. I have Windows XP Mode and I also have a few others set up in Virtualbox.
Tried getting XP mode to work in Virtualbox but it just loses the activation so stuck with Virtual PC for that one.

All my VM's are updated using the latest updates and all have Avast AV on them. I also don't allow any shares between XP mode and my Host PC. Maybe a little bit too much for some, but I'm always with the view that it's "Better to be safe than sorry!"

:)

I stopped using XP Mode as it was/is slow compared to VMware Player with XP installed. That is even when XP Mode was on my SSD. Now it takes about 18-25 seconds for XP to load into a Player VM. IIRC with XP Mode it took well over a minute for XP to start. I don't leave it running all the time as I only need it for a few older programs. So If I don't need those programs I shut it down.

Brds7t7 · 11 Jun 2012

edwar said:

Burdus77 said:

Hello SalsbrySorcerer,

i have a few different VM's set up. I have Windows XP Mode and I also have a few others set up in Virtualbox.
Tried getting XP mode to work in Virtualbox but it just loses the activation so stuck with Virtual PC for that one.

All my VM's are updated using the latest updates and all have Avast AV on them. I also don't allow any shares between XP mode and my Host PC. Maybe a little bit too much for some, but I'm always with the view that it's "Better to be safe than sorry!"

:)

I stopped using XP Mode as it was/is slow compared to VMware Player with XP installed. Tihat is even when XP Mode was on my SSD. Now it takes about 18-25 seconds for XP to load into a Player VM. IIRC with XP Mode it took well over a minute for XP to start. I don't leave it running all the time as I only need it for a few older programs. So If I don't need those programs I shut it down.

I would happily dump xp mode if I had an xp licence as I know it's a lot quicker when I tried it in virtualbox. I don't have a valid licence though so that's not an option for me.

edwar · 11 Jun 2012

You may still be able to get an over the counter OEM license for XP. A google search turns up several sites that are still selling it. And all for around $50-60.

Once installed into a VM it can easily be moved from PC to PC without going against the license terms.

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