Solved Windows XP Mode used in Windows 7

[SalsbrySorcerer]

I am NEW to 'Windows SEVEN Forums' and sincerely hope I am posting this Question in the Right place. If I am not then I'll apologise now.

I recently took the Advice of Shawn (Brink) in a Brilliant Post concerning using Windows XP Mode in Windows 7. (Windows XP Mode - Install and Setup)

My request for help concerns this.

I immediately realised that when using XP Mode that I would need to treat this as a Separate Operating System and as such would need to have another Anti-Virus Software Program installed in XP Mode to protect myself from all the Internet Nasties out there.

However, it dawned on my last night, that Microsoft themselves would have Security Updates/Patches that I should look at and this I did.

I was horrified to see that there was the Multitude of Usual Downloads 100+ for such things like Microsoft Net Framework and a host of Security Updates and Patches etc.

Can I ask if I am supposed to Download all of that, as this would mean that the Solid State Drive I am using as my Windows 7 (64bit) Boot Drive and Operating System and Software Installation Drive would get very Full suddenly with that Host of Downloads from Microsoft's Update Site.

In Windows 7, I run with Norton 360 (Version 6), but on the Windows XP Mode, I have simply relied on Microsoft's 'Security Essentials', assuming that as I would ONLY ever use the Virtual XP Mode when wishing to run this 'One Piece of Software' that is now installed there and as such I wouldn't wish to Browse the Internet or anything else requiring being Hooked Up to the Net.

So do I need all that 'Bloat' from Microsoft's Security Updates please?

Many Thanks in advance to anyone who reads my post and that is able to help me with my Questions.

Thanks

Salisbury Sorcerer (SalsbrySorcerer)

 

[logicearth]

Security Updates are not 'bloat'....They fix critical holes in the systems, holes that you do not want.

 

[w7bill]

Salisbury Sorcerer,

Welcome, I would suggest the updates as it is a seperate OS, particularly if you access the internet from the VM.

As stated MSE is very good and I know many run that on their VM (XP mode).

One thing you may not be aware of is Norton (Symantec) veiws your instalation as "one box" this means you are allowed to install Norton 360 on your VM with one licence. If you have a one licence version, contact customer support explain what you have and they will allow the additional install.

I use Norton internet security and have an additional install on my XP mode VM, it runs fine.

MSN would be a much leaner alternative with far less disk writes per week, do what makes you comfortable.

Enjoy your VM -- Bill

 

[SalsbrySorcerer]

Hi Logicearth,

Thanks for the reply.

Maybe the term 'Bloat' was unfair when I used it, but I used it to explain that as I have all the Current MS Updates on my Usual OS (Windows 7 -64Bit) and am using a Solid State Drive, I am already at 75% Capacity of that Drive.

The thought of having to Update the Virtual XP with ALL those Umpteen Updates is NOT what I had planned or thought of and wondered if I can avoid doing so.

If I am to assume that even though Windows Xp has been installed as a Windows Virtual PC, I wondered if I needed to treat it as a FULL OS, as when I checked last night (Curiosity got the better of me) I was horrified to see 100+ MS Security XP Updates.

Do I need to Update all those or as my Use is as a Virtual PC just to allow this ONE Piece of Software to run, then can I avoid it, or is it a MUST DO?

Thanks

Salisbury Sorcerer

 

[richnrockville]

Hi Logicearth,

Thanks for the reply.

Maybe the term 'Bloat' was unfair when I used it, but I used it to explain that as I have all the Current MS Updates on my Usual OS (Windows 7 -64Bit) and am using a Solid State Drive, I am already at 75% Capacity of that Drive.

The thought of having to Update the Virtual XP with ALL those Umpteen Updates is NOT what I had planned or thought of and wondered if I can avoid doing so.

If I am to assume that even though Windows Xp has been installed as a Windows Virtual PC, I wondered if I needed to treat it as a FULL OS, as when I checked last night (Curiosity got the better of me) I was horrified to see 100+ MS Security XP Updates.

Do I need to Update all those or as my Use is as a Virtual PC just to allow this ONE Piece of Software to run, then can I avoid it, or is it a MUST DO?

Thanks

Salisbury Sorcerer

Welcome to the windows 7 forums Salisbury Sorcerer;

My take on this is if the piece of software doesn't go out to the internet. All you have to do is to not configure the network adapters for the internet.

If it does go to the internet, then I recommend the ms updates.

FWIW: I always have my VHD's (Virtual Hard Disks) on my second regular hard disk so that they don't take up valuable SSD real estate..

Rich

 

[strollin]

...
FWIW: I always have my VHD's (Virtual Hard Disks) on my second regular hard disk so that they don't take up valuable SSD real estate..

Rich

You can move the VHD for XP mode from your SSD to another drive, provided you have another drive installed.

 

[cyclic]

I don't see the point in worrying about disk space when the OS (real or otherwise) cannot run at it's optimum, with the necessary updates installed.
I would agree with strollin and then install the updates.

 

[edwar]

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.

 

[strollin]

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.

 

[edwar]

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.

 

[Brink]

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]

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

rich

 

[SalsbrySorcerer]

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]

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]

@ 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. :devil:

 

[Brds7t7]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

Or become a TechNet subscriber.