Windows XP Mode - Install and Setup

How to Install and Setup Windows XP Mode in Windows 7​

   Information

Windows XP Mode is 32-bit XP Pro SP3 virtual machine.

Windows XP Mode for Windows 7 makes it easy to install and run your applications for 32-bit Windows XP directly from your Windows 7 32-bit or 64-bit based PC. It utilizes virtualization technology such as Windows Virtual PC to provide a Virtual Windows XP environment for Windows 7. Windows XP Mode provides only Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate, or Enterprise users the flexibility to run many older productivity applications in a virtual Windows XP environment on a Windows 7-based PC.

UPDATE: Windows XP Mode now accessible to more PCs | Blogging Windows

   Note

Windows Virtual PC (step 1 below) is the latest Microsoft virtualization technology for Windows 7. It is the runtime engine for Windows XP Mode to provide a virtual Windows environment for Windows 7. With Windows Virtual PC, Windows XP mode applications can be seen and accessed from a Windows 7-based PC. For more detailed information about Windows Virtual PC, see Windows Virtual PC: Documentation

To find out whether your computer's CPU is capable of hardware-assisted virtualization. To check, download and run the Hardware-Assisted Virtualization Detection Tool.

• If you receive the message “This computer is configured with hardware-assisted virtualization,” you can run Windows Virtual PC and Windows XP Mode. See the instructions below.
• If you receive the error message "There is no hardware-assisted virtualization support in the system," your computer's CPU doesn't support hardware-assisted virtualization. You can still use Windows XP Mode by installing an update to Windows 7. See Why am I receiving errors about hardware-assisted virtualization (HAV) when I try to use Windows XP Mode and Windows Virtual PC?. Be aware that XP Mode will run much better if hardware-assisted virtualization can be enabled.

   Tip

• To Uninstall Windows XP Mode
  • Open Control Panel (icons view), click on Programs and Features, and select Windows XP Mode.
• To Uninstall Windows Virtual PC
  • Open Control Panel (icons view), click on Programs and Features, click on the View installed updates link in the left pane, then select Windows Virtual PC (KB958559).

   Warning

Windows Virtual PC Requirements:

• 1 GHz 32-bit / 64-bit processor required
• Memory (RAM)
  • 1.25 GB required, 2 GB memory recommended
• Recommended 15 GB hard disk space per virtual Windows environment
• Supported host (your computer) operating system:
  NOTE: Windows XP Mode can only be installed on Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Ultimate, and Windows 7 Enterprise.
  • Windows 7 Home Premium (32-bit or 64-bit)
  • Windows 7 Professional (32-bit and 64-bit)
  • Windows 7 Ultimate (32-bit and 64-bit)
  • Windows 7 Enterprise (32-bit and 64-bit)
• Supported guest (virtual machine) 32-bit only operating system:
  • Windows XP
    • Virtual Applications feature is supported only on Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) Professional
  • Windows Vista
    • Virtual Applications feature is supported only on Windows Vista Enterprise and Windows Vista Ultimate
  • Windows 7
    • Virtual Applications feature is supported only on Windows 7 Enterprise and Windows 7 Ultimate

EXAMPLE: Windows XP Mode

Here's How:
1. Go to the Windows XP Mode webpage, select your language, and click on the Continue button. (see screenshot below)

2. If you have not already, you will need to validate your Windows 7 first. Click on Install to install the Genuine Windows Validation Component, or follow on screen instructions. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: You will need to have Windows 7 activated and cookies enabled to be able to do this.

3. Download and Install Windows XP Mode
A) Select your language, and click on the Download button for the version (ex: WindowsXPMode_en-us.exe) you want to download. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: The "N" version of Windows XP is for the European version of Windows.

B) Save the WindowsXPMode_en-us.exe file to your desktop.
C) Double click on the downloaded WindowsXPMode_en-us.exe installation file to start installing it.
NOTE: The part of the name in red will vary for you depending on what language you selected (step 1).

D) Click on the Next button. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: If you like, you could click on Browse and select another location to save the VHD file for XP Mode to instead of the default location in the screenshot below.

E) Click on the Next button. (see screenshot below)

F) If prompted by UAC, click on Yes.

G) When Windows XP Mode is finished installing, click on the Finish button. (See screenshot below)

4. Download and Install Windows Virtual PC
A) At the Windows Virtual PC webpage, select your language, and click on the Continue button. (see screenshot below)

B) Select your language, and click on the Download button for either the Windows6.1-KB958559-x86-RefreshPkg.msu (32-bit) or Windows6.1-KB958559-x64-RefreshPkg.msu (64-bit) file for your same 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 7 version you have installed.

C) Save the Windows6.1-KB958559-x86-RefreshPkg.msu or Windows6.1-KB958559-x64-RefreshPkg.msu file to your desktop. (see screenshot below)

D) Double click on the downloaded Windows6.1-KB958559-x86-RefreshPkg.msu or Windows6.1-KB958559-x64-RefreshPkg.msu file to start installing it.

E) If prompted by UAC, click on Yes.
F) Click on Yes. (see screenshot below)

G) Click on the I Accept button. (see screenshot below)

H) When it is finished, click on the Restart Now button. (see screenshot below)
WARNING: This will restart your computer immediately. Be sure to save and close anything that you have open first.

I) When the computer is finished restarting, continue on to step 6 below.
5. To Open and Run Windows XP Mode
A) Open the Start Menu, then click on All Programs, expand the Windows Virtual PC folder, and double click on the Windows XP Mode shortcut. (see screenshot below)

6. Check the I accept box, then click on the Next button. (see screenshot below)

7. Type in a password and type it in again to confirm it, then click on the Next button. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: If you would like to be logged on automatically whenever you open Windows XP Mode (step 5), then check the Remember credentials box.

8. Select (dot) the Help protect my computer by turning on Automatic Updates now box, then click on the Next button. (see screenshot below)

9. Click on the Start Setup button. (see screenshot below)

10. You will now see this for a few moments while Windows XP Mode is being setup. (see screeshot below)

11. When setup is finished and you did not check the Remember credentials box in step 7 above, then you will need to enter your password entered and click on OK. If you did, then skip this and continue on to step 12. (see screenshot below)

12. The Windows XP Mode - Windows Virtual PC window will now open. You are now in Windows XP Mode. (see screenshot below)

13. Next, be sure to install Integration Components and enable Integration Features.
NOTE: Sometimes this will be enabled for you automatically during installation.

14. Set Windows XP Mode Settings
A) In the Windows XP Mode window, click on Tools (menu bar) and Settings. (see screenshot above)

B) In the left pane, select Close/Shut Down. (see screenshot below)

C) In the right pane, select (dot) Automatically close with the following action, then select Shut Down and click on OK. (see screenshot above)
15. To Close Windows XP Mode
A) Click on the X in the upper right corner of the Windows XP Mode window like you would any other window in Windows 7. (see screenshot below step 19)

OR

B) In the Windows XP Mode window, click on Action (menu bar) and Close. (see screenshot below step 16)
16. Installing a Program in Windows XP Mode
NOTE: You would install a program in Virtual Windows XP just like you would in Windows 7 with the same access to everything in Windows 7. For example, hard drives, DVD drives, USB drives, Windows 7 folders and files, etc.....
A) After you have installed any program (ex: CCleaner) in Windows XP Mode, you will notice that there will now also be a shortcut to it in the Windows 7 Start Menu in the Windows XP Mode Applications folder under Windows Virtual PC and Windows XP Mode. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: Double clicking on the program's shortcut (ex: CCleaner) in the Windows 7 Start Menu when Windows XP Mode is closed will open and run the program in Windows 7 but as if it you were running it in Windows XP Mode. You could also move or copy this Windows XP Mode Applications shortcut where you like in Windows 7 for easy use.




That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Change Virtual Machine Settings in Windows Virtual PC
• How to Create a Virtual Machine in Windows Virtual PC
• How to Create Differencing Disks in Windows Virtual PC
• How to Delete a Virtual Machine Created with Windows Virtual PC
• How to Copy a Virtual XP Machine in Windows 7
• How to Add Limited User Accounts to Windows Virtual PC XP Mode
• How to Boot from a CD or DVD in a Windows Virtual PC
• How to Connect Windows Virtual PC to the Network
• How to Install, Enable, and Disable Windows Virtual PC Integration Features
• How to Select Host Devices to Share with Virtual Machines in Windows Virtual PC
• How to Enable the Built-in Administrator Account in Windows XP Mode
• How to Speed Up Performance of a Virtual Machine

 

[Night Hawk]

Thank you for assistance, but unfortunately I can not install the software .. I do not know it because an error in Windows.?? Is there a solution to this problem ..?​

​

I readily agree with Ex_Brit on referring to the top of this thread for information on how to find out if your cpu offers support for virtualization as well as any need to see a few necessary change in bios settings. Another thing to go over carefully as well is the link for the tutorial Brink made up on this as well seen at the top of this page too. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/8247-windows-xp-mode-install-setup.html

Here everything went to work since the cpu was already supporting virtualzation as well as apparently the bios was already set to go there. But those two items have to be looked into first to see if the XP mode will work on the system you have there.

 

[alandiloon]

thank you ..

This my computer system..


i try to install Windows again..
Perhaps there is something wrong in the installation..
​

 

[Brink]

Hello Alandiloon,




It appears that you may need to enable virtualization in the BIOS first.

• Check at this website, and scroll down to the Step 2. Does my PC BIOS support hardware virtualization, and is it turned on? section.
• Expand the Sample instructions for your PC line.
• Using the examples as a guide, enable virtualization in your BIOS.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[Ex_Brit]

alandiloon, in your second image pull up the Processor ID Utility again and this time go to the middle tab - CPU Technologies.

See if what I've highlighted on the attached says "yes". If so then you may have to enable it in the BIOS as Brink has stated. If no, then you are out of luck (like me unfortunately).

 

[alandiloon]

hello >>
???

 

[Ex_Brit]

Then your processor doesn't support this technology. Same as mine, you can't do it.

 

[alandiloon]

What is the solution to this problem???

What to do now???

It is beautiful and wonderful>

Will there be a solution.??​

 

[Ex_Brit]

The solution is the same for me, wait until I have a new PC that has a processor that supports it.

Brink, any ideas?

 

[Night Hawk]

Unfortunately the option needed there is to upgrade from the Core Duo into a new dual or quad core model cpu that offers support for virtualization. Even a few of those are not able to either. This is why Brink was pointing to you to the MS page there for the downloading the utility to see if that supported this.

Unfortunately the link provided for the AMD utiliy brings you to a blank page where this is none. Technical Download Details

The explaination for that would be due to virtualization already seeing support on all recent and new dual and quad core models starting with the AM2 up.

 

[Brink]

What is the solution to this problem???


What to do now???

It is beautiful and wonderful>

Will there be a solution.??​

​

​

The solution is the same for me, wait until I have a new PC that has a processor that supports it.

Brink, any ideas?

Sorry, but the only thing that I can see to be done is to upgrade the processor to one that supports virtualization.

 

[Night Hawk]

I consider myself a little more fortunate here is not having to see any changes made since it all fell right together. The unfortunate side of things for alandiloon and many others on the other hand will be the need to upgrade the cpu and possibly the board itself if that also lacks the support needed.

Primarily that would be seen on the older model boards there however. Since this is a more recent item starting off with Virtual PC 2007 MS was looking at the newer cpus and boards that would see support over anything 4-5yrs. old in design.

 

[Ex_Brit]

Can one use the older Virtual PC ware in these situations? I've never used it so am totally unafamiliar with that.

 

[Night Hawk]

I still have the 2007 version stored in a folder here but never got around to seeing if I could get anything older even XP itself going there. I was comtemplating seeing if ubuntu or another would work at the time I downloaded it.

What I ran into when installing Vista in the latest sums up two problems in one image namely can't connect online or even see let alone access any of the other hard drives, second optical, or the usb flash drive in Vista. The XP mode simply adds those in as extras!

 

[vinai55]

My help.

 

[alandiloon]

Thank you for your >>

Return to the xp

To buy a new computer>
​

 

[Brink]

Hello Vinai, and welcome to Seven Forums.

You will need to read and check in the red WARNING box at the top of turorial to check and make sure that your computer's CPU and motherboard can support virtualizatoin. If it does, then you will need to enable it in the BIOS as instructed by the first item listed in the red WARNING box at the top of turorial. Hopefully yours will support it.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[vinai55]

thank you.

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Vinai. Were you able to get it running ok?

 

[Noles]

Is there a way to just completely start fresh with this? I guess I messed things up a bit when I tried to change my username/remove my password, and now I'm not even able to log in. I tried uninstalling and installing it, but it just gave me the same error that I had the wrong login information.

 

[Night Hawk]

What was found here when first setting up the XP mode along with the Virtual PC was the initial size of the virtual drive at 926mb. Once the installer detected the amount of free drive space available it set the maximum limit to just over 130gb as seen in the image here.

Once you start installing various programs or copying files over from an actual drive since the option to create any more virtual drives is disabled the virtual C drive grows in size until you reach the maximum already set. I thought I would clear that up a little.

Note that the max limit here won't be the same for anyone unless the same conditions are seen. A smaller drive or one having less space will see a smaller limit while those running the XP mode on a larger capacity can expect to more drive available.