Solved XP Mode - Needs Anti-Virus - Needs Browser (?) - Vulnerability

[baumgrenze]

I'm exploring using some legacy 32 bit programs in XP Mode.

The first thing I encountered was a warning telling me that XP Mode needs an Anti-Virus. It is straightforward to install one, I've been running the free version of Avast and could install it. One of the 'selling points' for moving from XP to Win7 is that XP is no longer supported. A system running it could be subject to an attack via a 'hole' found after the last official update. Is XP Mode any different? Isn't it just the same vulnerable XP running in a virtual machine? This seems like a "Catch 22." I can run XP under Win7 to use a legacy program, but in doing so my system is as vulnerable as though it were still running XP.

My first experience at installing and running a program, PhotoShop Elements 6, has been very confusing.
I installed the program in XP Mode. I opened the program. It asked for the S/N which I entered. It reported "[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]A problem was encountered while trying to send information over the internet." I tried changing the settings in the dialog box but it was unresponsive. Now if I open the program a box entitled "Registration Unsuccessful" opens. The only way to close it is to shut down the VM.

Was the "problem encountered while[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif] trying to send information over the internet" a result of a misconfiguration of the VM on my part?

Thanks,

baumgrenze
[/FONT]

 

[baumgrenze]

Now I see I should have approached installing and running x86 programs differently.

The problem with PSE 6 appears to be a serious server outage at Adobe. Rather than openly admit the problem, their response is one that clearly pleased the legal department. There was a problem "but it wasn't our fault". Why not graciously admit the truth?

It turns out that Autosketch 9, Office 2000, and PhotoShop Elements 6 all appear to run just fine in compatibility mode under Win 7/Pro x64.

I gather that XP running as XP Mode in a VHD is as exposed to exploitation as XP running as the primary OS on a system, i.e., it is no longer supported or patched and subject to exploit. For example, see:

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]http://windowssecrets.com/newsletter/what-you-should-know-about-windows-8-1-update/#story5[/FONT]

I've cleared out the applications I installed. My next task will be to uninstall XP Mode and the VHD software until I see a need for them.

Thanks for considering my question. I hope this reply may be of some use to others who find it before they go to the effort to install XP Mode.

baumgrenze