Windows XP Mode Help

[DQScott95]

Ok so im running windows 7 ultimate x64 and i installed windows XP Mode... Everything works fine except that XP Mode lags a lot. how can i change this to make it run really smooth like it was a main OS...?

 

[zigzag3143]

Ok so im running windows 7 ultimate x64 and i installed windows XP Mode... Everything works fine except that XP Mode lags a lot. how can i change this to make it run really smooth like it was a main OS...?

Where/ how does it lag? does it lag in a browser, or on launching an app?

 

[DQScott95]

It just lags in general like when i click a folder to open it i have to wait like 3 seconds for it to respond plus sometimes my apps wont even respond

 

[Kari]

First thing to do is to add RAM to XP Mode. To do this, turn XP Mode off and go to its settings and assign the amount of RAM you want:



My recommendation is to use at least 1GB, 2GB's if your host has more than 3GB.

Next, modify the options.xml:

• Turn off all running virtual machines
• Open C:\Users\Your_Username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Virtual PC\Options.xml with Notepad
• Add this somewhere between the Preferences tags:
  

  <virtual_machines>
  <enable_idle_thread type="boolean">true</enable_idle_thread>
  </virtual_machines><br/>

• Save the file

This allows your virtual machines to use more of the hosts resources, thus increasing the performance. A clear difference!

Kari

 

[DQScott95]

First thing to do is to add RAM to XP Mode. To do this, turn XP Mode off and go to its settings and assign the amount of RAM you want:

View attachment 65442

My recommendation is to use at least 1GB, 2GB's if your host has more than 3GB.


Next, modify the options.xml:

• Turn off all running virtual machines
• Open C:\Users\Your_Username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Virtual PC\Options.xml with Notepad
• Add this somewhere between the Preferences tags:
  

  <virtual_machines>
  <enable_idle_thread type="boolean">true</enable_idle_thread>
  </virtual_machines><br/>

• Save the file

This allows your virtual machines to use more of the hosts resources, thus increasing the performance. A clear difference!

Kari

Well i already increased the ram to 1GB i have 4 total on my puter should i set it to 2GB (what is 2 gigs in MegaBytes) and as for the lines you told me to type in the XML where in it exactly should i paste it

 

[Kari]

I would give it 2 gigs (2 GB = 2048 MB)

Add the lines anywhere between the Preferences tags. I have them quite in the beginning of the file:

[FONT="Verdana"]<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-16"?>
<!-- Microsoft Virtual Machine Options and Settings -->
[B][I][COLOR="DarkRed"]<preferences>[/COLOR][/I][/B]
	<version type="string">2.0</version>
	<properties>
		<modifier>
			<build type="string">6.1.7600.16495</build>
			<name type="string">Virtual PC</name>
		</modifier>
	</properties>
	[COLOR="DarkRed"][B]<virtual_machines>
		<enable_idle_thread type="boolean">true</enable_idle_thread>
	</virtual_machines>[/B][/COLOR]
	<br />
	<virtual_machines>
		<power>
			<mm_timer_duration type="integer">10</mm_timer_duration>
		</power>
	</virtual_machines>
	<br />
	<virtual_gateway id="0">
		<id type="integer">0</id>
		<type type="integer">0</type>
	</virtual_gateway>
        ...
        ...
        ...[/FONT]

(The above is an extract of my options.xml file.)

Kari

 

[DQScott95]

that worked it runs much better thank you

 

[Kari]

Good to hear that.

 

[DQScott95]

I love how much faster it runs nowe i dont have to wait forever for something to load but "Kari" your using windows 7 right, well is there any way to make it run as fast as windows 7 or no???

 

[Kari]

No. It is a virtual machine, using resources of the host computer, which makes everything takes longer.

Running XP Mode smoothly like host OS is not possible. XP Mode is OK when running legacy software in Win7, but because of this speed issue and emulated old S3 graphics it is not a good alternative for a gamer.

Kari