Windows XP Mode - Nice one Microsoft

[jimbo45]

Hi all

I've just being trying the Windows XP Mode feature

Whilst I'm very happy in using vmware (still excellent for developer / testing scenarios) the "XP compatability mode" works 100% for me so no reason anymore to have anything else for the Main OS other than Windows 7.

I'm retiring all my other old OS'es now since all my incompatable apps work with the "XP compatability feature". Roll on RTM MS please. Just finished testing them ALL.

Minidisc stuff, Photo scanner, negative scanner, plotter, large A2 (Huge poster size) printer, SAP GUI connectivity, SAP JAVA portal access, Web dynpro GUI.

All working (finally). None of this stuff worked either on VISTA (both X-86 and X-64) nor Windows 7.

For typical users this feature will be great -- this IMO is the real "Killer App" that allows small business (and even medium size ones) to upgrade their hardware and software in stages to suit them whilst not having to discard loads of older PC's. Businesses tend to upgrade their equipment much less frequently than home users - especially now.


The "preconfigured" XP machine only has 256MB RAM as standard. Whilst you can't evaluate a Virtual Machine on a ratio 1:1 with a Real machine I think it should be a 512 MB machine by default.

Doesn't seem to want "Activation" either so I assume that the XP machine will work as long as the Windows 7 trial (7100) is active.

I've installed this on the RC 7100 X-64 I downloaded from "the Green Devil" a while ago and its fine.

I'm going to see if I can tinker around with this "Integrated XP VM" and maybe clone it and make the virtual RAM size bigger. I know I can install my own VM but if I have to do that it rather goes against the whole point of "the Integration" feature.

Performance seems pretty good and integration with the desktop just fine.

So far Nice one Microsoft.

Nice to see my old Minidisc app working on the W7 desktop .

I'm waiting for additional language packs as well -- using English at the moment.

(Hint -- would like these for W7 as well - still only a few languages like German, Spanish, etc). There ARE other countries BTW.

Anyway once again MS You've finally got your s--t together. well done.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Monga]

Can you PM me with this if its an addon and will it be compatible with 7068? Thanks.

 

[murphy25]

cheers jimbo grabbing from the 'OID now

 

[DevaPath]

I totally agree with 100% with jimbo on this.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi all

In addition to Shawn's excellent tutorial on this (see the link in the OP or go directly to the tutorials) you CAN make a shortcut on your desktop to run an application in XP compatability mode directly without using the menu.

I know this sounds obvious but if you want to run your app quickly without going through the menu it's OK. Some people might miss this BTW.

As the Virtual PC menu starts with a "V" it's quite a long way down the menu especially if you have a lot of stuff installed on your W7 machine. Saves unnecessary scrolling.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[dirk digler]

if you select VM's in the Virtual PC in all programs, you get to a windows explorer windor with your VM. From there, right click on select settings. From there you can increase the RAM to what you want. You can also add another virtual disk if you would like, but you dont have to build a whole new VM just to get more RAM.

 

[murphy25]

jimbo i stopped the download as my computer went tits up again when trying to download it-http://www.sevenforums.com/system-security/8233-avast-anti-virus.html

strangely this has happened twice and both times i was downloading the xpmode once last night when solar posted it and again this morning when i tried getting it from the 'OID.
so i have gone back to utorrent 1.7.7 tested it on a private site i use and tested it on a small download from the 'OID and both worked fine problem gone.
trouble is i just had a quick look round the 'OID and cant find the xpmode torrent to try again,any chance of a link.

 

[Zanarkand]

Yes..very nice Microsucks.. Virtual PC 2007 sp1 will no longer run on Windows 7 RC, it installed fine on 7077, but since MS designed this VXP mode, which is really good and great, older Virtual PCs won't install due to program incompatibiliy issues. I can't run Windows Virtual PC because my Intel DualCore doesn't support Intel-VT unlike the Core2Duo. So, thanks again Microsoft OOpss. you did it again Bill..-.-

 

[swarfega]

Heres mine in action:



It sees my nvidia 9800gtx card as an s3 card for some reason.

 

[Ronaldo]

I guess this cannot be fun on a AMD machine unless it uses a server cpu?

 

[Zanarkand]

Heres mine in action:

View attachment 9365

It sees my nvidia 9800gtx card as an s3 card for some reason.

VPC 2007 did the same thing.

 

[swarfega]

I guess its better than nothing.

 

[jimbo45]

Heres mine in action:

View attachment 9365

It sees my nvidia 9800gtx card as an s3 card for some reason.

Note Virtual machines create a "Virtual Bios" with their own "Virtual hardware". The VM software interacts with these "Virtual devices" which should work on 99% of machines tested on. You can't relate the "Virtual hardware" like network card or screen or even sound cards to the REAL hardware.

Devices you plug in via USB, COM and parallel ports are different -- these will often require the REAL driver hardware.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[swarfega]

hmm thanks for that.

 

[d0od]

I guess this cannot be fun on a AMD machine unless it uses a server cpu?

Err most AMD chips support AMD-V (or whatever it calls it's virtualisation tech) since the Athlon 64!

 

[raj11650]

I guess this cannot be fun on a AMD machine unless it uses a server cpu?

not really it works great on my amd quad 9950!!!

i guess it will work on amd athlon+ (AM2) processors!!!

 

[bummpr]

cheers jimbo grabbing from the 'OID now

Apologize for being so dense...but what is 'OID"???

 

[jimbo45]

My experience so far -- 100% OK

Hi all
I've been testing this-- if you want to have a go yourselves you can download at "The green devil". Look for "XPM".

Remarks so far

1) Very nice Integration with W7 desktop.

2) The windows XP machine's virtual screen driver is based on "S3" and is only 16 bits -- not a real problem as we want to use W7 in "XP" compatability mode - not as a full bloodied Virtual machine in it's own right -- you can still log on to it of course.

3) The XP VM doesn't require any "Activation" or Keys.

4) It's not part of a "Network" so you won't see it as a separate machine on your LAN. However IE6 does work in it (default) and you can with windows update install IE8.

5) Windows explorer will show your HOST drives as well as the "Virtual drives" directly so you can cut and paste data between HOST and VM drives without the need for "Host only" or other networking. You don't need to "Share drives" etc.

6) Video, and Sound are "Virtual" devices from the "Virtual Bios". You can add real printers, scanners etc through USB/COM/ etc ports.

7) printers, scanners, cameras that I've had work fine as well as the Minidisc applications. Nice to see my MD simple burner (rip CD direct to Minidisc) again on the desktop.

8) you can make a short cut to an application in the VM directly to the W7 desktop -- works a treat.

9) There isn't much point in running things like Office etc on this VM since these apps work fine on the Host machine.

10) not suitable for games etc. -- Running a VM like this makes it SIMPLE for typical Legacy hardware with some apps to work that CAN'T work in W7. This VM is NOT intended to be a full featured Virtual machine -- use a "Classical" VM program and install your own VM if you need this feature.

11) Configurable from the HOST W7 by simply right mouse clicking on the "Virtual Machine" image in explorer.

12) Default Virtual RAM is 256MB. Depending on your applications you might want to "Up" this to 512MB or even 1GB.

The only caveat I can see is that your machine MUST be VT enabled for this to work. If it isn't or you only have a 32 bit CPU then you'll have to use some other software for managing VM's such as Virtual Box or Vmware workstation.


All in all I'm impressed --don't compare with a fully featured VM say running under VMWARE workstation -- this software isn't intended to replace that type of development.

All in all well done Microsoft. This is about right for its intended audience. For serious developers etc you will need to use "Classical" VM software but for small businesses etc who don't want to upgrade everything in one go - especially PC hardware this is a real "Killer App".

Cheers
jimbo

 

[swarfega]

Nice summary and I fully agree.

 

[garysgold]

Thanks, Jimbo. Haven't gotten that far yet. Good to know.