Question on Old Software in Windows 7

[Janesdf]

Hi,

I recently purchased a new pc with Windows 7 Home Premium. My new pc is an eMachines which I got at a great price. This is my second eMachines and since my first one (with Windows XP) was such a great pc, no problems and with FREE support (which I only needed for minor issues), I didn't hesitate when I bought this second eMachines. I no longer have the old machine as it became too slow to use over the years.

My new pc did not come with any CD software, however, I still have my old eMachines CD with Win XP Home Edition that ran ALL of my software from Win 95 to XP. With Win 7 Home Premium, NONE of my old software works. The eMachines CD states "Restore CD, Ver 1.1" for my old eMachines T1742 model. Can I use this CD on my new eMachines to add Win XP so I can use all of my old software? If I can, are there any special steps I should know about? I'm really trying hard to like Win 7 and I would love it, but I feel like MS sucker punched me by removing the option to run older software on Win 7 Home Premium AND for not including XP mode in Home Premium.

Thanks.

 

[theog]

The eMachines Restore CD,from your old eMachines T1742 model, will not work on new PC.

Have a read of those tutorials:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/8057-dual-boot-installation-windows-7-xp.html?ltr=D
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/66010-sata-drivers-load-windows-xp-setup-dual-boot.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/72185-sata-drivers-slipstream-into-windows-xp-cd.html
Use EasyBCD 2.0 in Win 7 & Win XP.
Download EasyBCD 2.0.2 - NeoSmart Technologies

A bit more reading.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2676-bcdedit-how-use.html?ltr=B
System Restore Points - Stop XP Dual Boot Delete - Vista Forums

 

[Lee]

VM, Virtual Box (Free), VMWare Workstation (Check web site for cost). There really is no reason to install XP in a dual boot configuration.

 

[RadioHans]

How about installing Windows XP mode virtual XP, available free of charge from Mocrosoft? I use it, and ALL my old programs work perfectly!
Windows Virtual PC: Home Page

 

[alphanumeric]

How about installing Windows XP mode virtual XP, available free of charge from Mocrosoft? I use it, and ALL my old programs work perfectly!
Windows Virtual PC: Home Page

Windows 7 Home Premium does not support XP Mode. You need Pro or better.

EDIT: This might work though. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/support/virtual-pc-2007.aspx

 

[Carl Lawrence]

Here is a tutorial about how to do a dual-boot of Windows XP and 7: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/8057-dual-boot-installation-windows-7-xp.html?filter

 

[myzr7]

Janesdf What software would you like or need? Most all the programs of the past will have a free alternative to download and install from the Internet. You could look at this link and see if you might be able to use some of the free software mentioned here.
http://www.sevenforums.com/software/92-free-great-programs-windows-7-a.html

 

[MacGyvr]

Hi,

I recently purchased a new pc with Windows 7 Home Premium. My new pc is an eMachines which I got at a great price. This is my second eMachines and since my first one (with Windows XP) was such a great pc, no problems and with FREE support (which I only needed for minor issues), I didn't hesitate when I bought this second eMachines. I no longer have the old machine as it became too slow to use over the years.

My new pc did not come with any CD software, however, I still have my old eMachines CD with Win XP Home Edition that ran ALL of my software from Win 95 to XP. With Win 7 Home Premium, NONE of my old software works. The eMachines CD states "Restore CD, Ver 1.1" for my old eMachines T1742 model. Can I use this CD on my new eMachines to add Win XP so I can use all of my old software? If I can, are there any special steps I should know about? I'm really trying hard to like Win 7 and I would love it, but I feel like MS sucker punched me by removing the option to run older software on Win 7 Home Premium AND for not including XP mode in Home Premium.

Thanks.

What software are you trying to install that won't run on Windows 7? Windows 7 has a very high degree of compatibility with older software. If you are trying to install software from your Restore CD, that won't work, you need original install CDs for whatever it is you are trying to load.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Don't be confused between "XP Mode", which you do NOT have on Windows Home Premium and "Compatibility Mode", which you DO have and should use. There should be a tutorial on this site for it and there is certainly a lot of information on it at Microsoft.com.

Such as this:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Make-older-programs-run-in-this-version-of-Windows

My guess is you have not investigated "Compatibility Mode", which certainly should work for most older programs.

"XP Mode" is a much more complex solution and is not available on your version of Windows 7 anyway.

 

[myzr7]

Don't be confused between "XP Mode", which you do NOT have on Windows Home Premium and "Compatibility Mode", which you DO have and should use. There should be a tutorial on this site for it and there is certainly a lot of information on it at Microsoft.com.

Such as this:

Make older programs run in this version of Windows

My guess is you have not investigated "Compatibility Mode", which certainly should work for most older programs.

"XP Mode" is a much more complex solution and is not available on your version of Windows 7 anyway.

This is correct. If you have the cd's with the programs that you need. Then you could install them in compatibility mode.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/316-compatibility-mode.html