Windows 7 Backwards Compatibility Advice

[Chips]

I'm going to be buying a new computer that's going to be custom built. Along with this I'm going to be buying a master copy of Win 7. I have a large collection of XP programs I'd like to keep using, so what versions of Win 7 have the XP compatible mode built in? Is it 100% compatible with XP and is it easy to switch modes?

 

[zigzag3143]

Master copy?

XP mode can be run on any hardware that supports it. (most 64 bit does)

No it is not 100% compatible (most is) but running XP software (IMHO) puts security ho;es in win 7, whihch not perfect is more secure than xp

XP mode will be slower than win 7 native.

 

[kado897]

XP mode is only available in Win 7 Pro and above.

 

[marsmimar]

Windows XP Mode - Windows 7 features - Microsoft Windows

I believe you could also create a separate virtual machine within Windows 7 using the Windows Virtual Machine, or another freebie like VMware or VirtualBox and run XP within that VM.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/8254-windows-virtual-pc-create-virtual-machine.html

VMware Player: Run Windows 7, Chrome OS - Free Download for a Virtual PC

https://www.virtualbox.org/

 

[cyclic]

I can confirm that VMware\Player runs XP beautifully and in full screen if you want.

 

[kado897]

That said. Most XP programs will run under Windows 7 without XP mode. The problem is you won't know which ones until you try.

 

[Barman58]

First point here is Win7 is not XP, it may well be that a lot of programs you have, even those classed as essentials with XP will not be needed. Win7 has a lot of facilities built-in that was an addition in XP

The vast majority of correctly written programs, written for 32Bit XP will work on Win7 both 32 & 64Bit, directly, This would exclude any system level programs, as the system architecture has been completely re-written.

Games can be a problem due to the fact that game developers, especially back in XP days, tended to use shortcuts in their programming to squeeze the last bit of performance from the operating system, A lot of these practices were well known and are catered for in the design of win7, but not all

XPMode is designed to enable Business users to run bespoke software that is not compatible with win7 until the software can be re-written. Saying that, it does a good job of running the small amount of software that will not run in win7 natively, and can run them seamlessly to the user, appearing to run in the native win7 environment.

Running XP programs on modern hardware will always be considerably quicker than running them in XP mode. Of course as the programs were designed to run on XP era hardware it is often the case that they will run as well in XPMode as they did on the original hardware

 

[Chips]

Master copy?

Yeah, as in an actual physical disk. Not pre-installed by the shop where the shop keeps the master disk. Not having to rely on the rather unreliable Systems Restore function if things go wrong.

I can confirm that VMware\Player runs XP beautifully and in full screen if you want.

Sounds good. Does it work on Home Premium? Do XP Mode & VMare/Player both work well with games as well as business programs? What's the difference between Win 7 Pro and Win 7 Ultimate? What's the best to get for what will primarily be a games machine (with some video editing and office work thrown in)?

 

[Chips]

Games can be a problem due to the fact that game developers, especially back in XP days, tended to use shortcuts in their programming to squeeze the last bit of performance from the operating system, A lot of these practices were well known and are catered for in the design of win7, but not all

Yes, that was my main concern. Even a well written game like Sim City 4 has a tendency to flash, graphics break up and the game even locks-up on Win 7.

 

[Barman58]

Not being a gamer myself, I will defer to others on the compatibility situation, I know there are a lot of posts on the forums here with good advice on using win7 for gaming.

Generally the nature of virtual OS options, XPmode, Virtualbox, etc. , will have a limited specification virtual graphics capability, irrespective of the actual card in the system, As with general performance those games that have to be run in a virtual OS will have been designed to run on XP era hardware so may well be suitable for the Virtual hardware.

The ultimate option is of course a Dual Boot set-up - that way you can have a native XP for those games/applications that are problematic

 

[Chips]

Dual Boot? You mean having both Win 7 and XP installed on the same computer, and choosing which one you want to use on booting up? How does that work?

 

[Barman58]

Not too dificult to set-up

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/8057-dual-boot-installation-windows-7-xp.html

Thing to check with latest hardware is that all the drivers etc are available for XP

 

[Chips]

Thanks for the info. That's a big help!

 

[DeaconFrost]

It is far from the final word, but you can run Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor on your current system to find out what will or won't work. Some things will show as a false positive (of sorts), such as a printer. It will say the printer won't work, when in reality it may just need Windows 7 drivers...no brainer.