Does Windows XP Mode = Compatibility Mode?

[higgins]

Hi all!

I've heard that Windows 7 Home Premium doesn't include the "Windows XP Mode" and I'm told on the MS's website that it's a separate download, with an image showing totally XP-themed window in the 7 environment.

Windows 7 Features: Windows XP Mode

I'm running Ultimate and I recall no separate download, yet I have the Compatibility Mode available.

So, what I'm asking is... Does the "XP Mode" mean the "Compatibility Mode" or is it a different beast altogether?

Thanks!

 

[pebbly]

xp mode runs in a virtual machine, compat mode is where you try to make an older file or group of files behave as though they were engineered for a newer os version, someone else will explain better than i can

 

[seekermeister]

No, they are two separare things. XP mode is a virtual environment in which XP is run. Compatibility mode is just settings that are adjusted within W7.

The download for XP Mode and the virtual environment are something that you have to download manually, it is not on Windows Update. For XP mode to work, your hardware must support it. As far as I know, it is primarily whether your CPU supports virtualization.

 

[Greg S]

xp mode runs in a virtual machine, compat mode is where you try to make an older file or group of files behave as though they were engineered for a newer os version, someone else will explain better than i can

I would say you explained it perfectly!

 

[higgins]

So, it's basically a MS-created VirtualBox I can run Windows XP in without needing a separate licence for it?

 

[pebbly]

So, it's basically a MS-created VirtualBox I can run Windows XP in without needing a separate licence for it?

not too sure about the licence part of your question ,but yes its just a virtual box

 

[pebbly]

xp mode runs in a virtual machine, compat mode is where you try to make an older file or group of files behave as though they were engineered for a newer os version, someone else will explain better than i can

I would say you explained it perfectly!

thank you for that Greg S

 

[strotzyl]

So, it's basically a MS-created VirtualBox I can run Windows XP in without needing a separate licence for it?

not too sure about the licence part of your question ,but yes its just a virtual box

I didn't have to put in any registration information when I installed it. Microsoft says this:

To use Windows XP Mode, you need to download and install Windows XP Mode, which is a fully licensed version of Windows XP with Service Pack 3. You also need to download and install Windows Virtual PC, which is the program that runs virtual operating systems on your computer.

Here's a link to where I found the info:

Install and use Windows XP Mode in Windows 7

 

[cluberti]

Yes, your Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, or Ultimate license contains an XP Mode license as well (the XP Mode VM is licensed based on the Virtual PC BIOS, so it is pre-activated as long as it runs in Windows Virtual PC).

 

[Greg S]

Yes, your Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, or Ultimate license contains an XP Mode license as well (the XP Mode VM is licensed based on the Virtual PC BIOS, so it is pre-activated as long as it runs in Windows Virtual PC).

Does this work on an older laptop, say about five years old?

 

[Darician]

Technically, it can work but you would need to have at least 2 GB of RAM to make it worthwhile. When it comes to XP Mode though, it's generally recommended for something that absolutely cannot run in Windows 7, usually for Line of Business applications. Otherwise, compatibility mode is recommended as a suggestion as it is essentially a shim between the OS and the application tricking it into believing it's Windows XP. It's also why the virtualized registry edits and save locations exist.