XP Mode slow -- try (Free) Unity from vmware

[jimbo45]

Hi all
I've posted before about how I thought the IDEA of XP Mode was great -- but its implementation is STILL HORRIFIC. Slow / poor graphics / needs 64 bit CPU's etc

To get almost the same integration as XP mode with FAR FAR better performance and graphics use the UNITY feature of the new version of vmware player (rel 7).

Another bugbear - in XPMODE printing is solved by using vmware player instead -- DRIVERLESS PRINTING -- no printer drivers needed - prints directly from your W7 / Linux box etc.

The main problem with vmplayer in the past was that it couldn't create virtual machine but only run them. (There was a trick using QEMU that could create VM's but that's another matter).

Anyway here's the link -- and you don't need to have the 64 bit VT feature enavled either so ordinary machines can run this.

VMware Player: Run Multiple Operating Systems with Free Download for a Virtual PC

Well worth a look.

While I am glad MS is thinking about virtualisation -- it still has almost a Universe to catch up with providers like vmware.

cheers
jimbo

 

[fseal]

Sun's "Virtual Box" is another great offering. It's newer than VMWare which I also use and had some teething problems in the past but I currently find it better supported than vmware on the linux distros I use it for now. (Though I haven't tried to print anything from them).

 

[jimbo45]

Hi fseal
Virtual box is fine -- I was only suggesting to people who are using the integration feature of XP MODE to switch to UNITY in vmplayer instead.

Virtual Box like vmware workstation is really for those who want to create, develop and test a load of different virtual machines. Integration is something else - mainly to allow "non technical" users to be able to run legacy XP applications directly from their desktops without having to configure / manage virtual machines.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[HughShaw]

Are you saying that this Unity from VMware has integration features? I don't use XP mode much, but I'd hate to lose integration. Things like cut a shortcut from the XP desktop and paste it on the 7 desktop immediately.

 

[pparks1]

Unity pretty much provides a second start button, that gives you access to the start menu from the VM. So, anything you can do on the VM...you can do right from the host with the second start button.

Here is a video demonstrating;

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
nice video -- saved me the trouble

It's actually even better in WKS 7 and the new vmware player.

Cheers
jimbo.

 

[HughShaw]

"Use VMware vCenter Converter to transform your existing Windows PC into a virtual machine and eliminate the need to re-install and re-configure your existing applications which is necessary with Windows XP Mode."

Here's a quote from the site. Can we transform our XP Mode virtual hard drive file into VMware without reinstalling everything? Also, what's the difference between VMware Player and VMLite XP Mode? (There's so many products out one wouldn't know which to choose)

 

[pparks1]

Yes, from within the VMWare Player, go to File and there is an option to convert your XP Mode hard drive right there.

 

[huisinro]

One big difference between VMware Converter and VMLite MyOldPCs is that MyOldPCs preserves hardware information from host, and no longer need to re-activate the vm, it will just work. VMware Conveter needs to reactivate the vm, which is very difficult from regular consumer users.

About VMLite XP Mode, no one else is closer to Microsoft XP Mode. It takes a few mins to setup the vm, no need to install additional plugins, etc. Everything is ready to go, with 3D acceleration in next release, and it also takes the same XPM package as input. If you use it, you will see how easy it is, especially for people that have never used vm before.

"Use VMware vCenter Converter to transform your existing Windows PC into a virtual machine and eliminate the need to re-install and re-configure your existing applications which is necessary with Windows XP Mode."

Here's a quote from the site. Can we transform our XP Mode virtual hard drive file into VMware without reinstalling everything? Also, what's the difference between VMware Player and VMLite XP Mode? (There's so many products out one wouldn't know which to choose)

 

[pparks1]

I didn't have to reactivate my Windows XP Mode VM when I used the File, Import feature from within VMWare Player 3.0 either.

 

[huisinro]

Most likely because you are using volume license, which does not require activation. For other cases, it will have to activate.

I didn't have to reactivate my Windows XP Mode VM when I used the File, Import feature from within VMWare Player 3.0 either.

 

[HughShaw]

Can VMPlayer convert my Windows XP mode virtual hard drive without any additional software? (VMLite seems to need additional software to do the job)

Edit: Nevermind, I think the answer is yes. It's kind of hard to choose when we have VMplayer, VirtualBox, and VMLite to choose from. I just want something exactly like Windows XP Mode but faster and better colors.

 

[HughShaw]

Hmm, VMPlayer also requires you to register for a trial. Which one is free for personal use?

 

[jimbo45]

Hmm, VMPlayer also requires you to register for a trial. Which one is free for personal use?

Hi vmplayer is FREE in perpetuity - no license needed.

vmware disk converter utilty (free) downlaodable works fine.

cheers
jimbo

 

[pparks1]

Most likely because you are using volume license, which does not require activation. For other cases, it will have to activate.

No, this was using the XP Mode VM which is already activated. Then, VMWare Player 3.0 convereted it and it remained activated. I used no licensing of my own and didn't load this from any software disk that I had.

Hmm, VMPlayer also requires you to register for a trial. Which one is free for personal use?

VMWare just has you register for an account...even though VMWare Player 3.0 is free. This way they can keep track of who has the software and make sure that customers are notified to update when new versions are available.

 

[HughShaw]

Things I don't like about VMware player 3.0:

1. It's not easy to import your Windows XPM hard drive. (or you can't) I clicked "File > Import Windows XP Mode VM" and that just makes a new copy w/o my installed applications. On the bright side, it seemed to be activated.
2. "File > Open Virtual Machine" can open my Windows XPM virtual hard drive, but the copy of Windows is not activated. However, I can see all of my programs installed.
3. You can't copy a file from the XP desktop to 7 desktop. Or I'm just too lazy to figure out how.
4. The window doesn't allow resizing. It's always the same small size. Windows XP mode can snap to the left-half side easily which is great for my widescreen. Or maybe I'm too lazy to figure out how. (It's not easy enough)

 

[huisinro]

Most likely because you are using volume license, which does not require activation. For other cases, it will have to activate.

No, this was using the XP Mode VM which is already activated. Then, VMWare Player 3.0 convereted it and it remained activated. I used no licensing of my own and didn't load this from any software disk that I had.

ok, i was refering to the general case of converting exsisting physical machines to vms. If you convert an existing xp machine to vm using vmware converter, the vm will need to be re-activated. on the other hand, MyOldPCs no need to do that.

 

[pparks1]

1. It's not easy to import your Windows XPM hard drive. (or you can't) I clicked "File > Import Windows XP Mode VM" and that just makes a new copy w/o my installed applications. On the bright side, it seemed to be activated.

Ok, that is because when VMWare Player does the import, it bases it on the base XP Mode vhd that was placed on your machine when you downloaded and installed XP Mode. This is the same starting point that XP Mode uses when you fire it up for the first time.

With XP Mode, when you launch it, during it's first boot, it configures a second .vhd file that makes up the virtual machine that you are actually using. Thus, when you install apps and customize it...you are customing this second .vhd file rather than the base starting point. (which is what VMWare Player 3 is importing from).

I'm working on converting the modified VM with the VMWare Converter 4.0.1 tool. To get that to work, you need to have the XP Mode VM running, change the network from NAT to using the actual adapter so it's gets a network accessible IP, turn off the Windows firewall, and disable Simple File Sharing (control panel, folder options, View tab, bottom checkbox).

Edit: After conversion, the XP box did throw the box saying that activation would be necessary. So, that somewhat explains why VMWare Player converts from the Base image as it doesn't need to then be activated.

2. "File > Open Virtual Machine" can open my Windows XPM virtual hard drive, but the copy of Windows is not activated. However, I can see all of my programs installed.

Haven't tried this...but you are probably right

3. You can't copy a file from the XP desktop to 7 desktop. Or I'm just too lazy to figure out how.

I will post back to this...you can do it....i just cannot write it up now.,

Edit: Ok, here is how you can setup "shared folders" between the guest and the host. From within the running VM, click on VM, Settings, Options tab. Click on Shared Folders. Select always enabled. Set the Host path to C:\ and give it whatever name you want. Then, open explorer. Click on Tools, Map Network Drive, click Browse for the share, and you will see under My Network Places an entry for VMWare Shared Folders. Pick your share. Say, reconnect at logon and you have your share as a drive letter.

There is an Easier way. You can simply copy and paste from the host to the guest. With the VMWare Tools installed, it works just like you would expect. No drive mappings and no shared folders necessary.

4. The window doesn't allow resizing. It's always the same small size. Windows XP mode can snap to the left-half side easily which is great for my widescreen. Or maybe I'm too lazy to figure out how. (It's not easy enough)

You have to update the VMWare tools on the machine. Then once the machine boots, wait for the VMWare Tools to load (you will notice the X over the icon in taskbar goes away), you can then easily resize the Window.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
I think (haven't tried it yet) that if you change to BRIDGED instead of NAT for networking the VM gets a unique separate IP address to the host -- with NAT - although the "perceived" IP address on the VM is different it actually shares the same IP address as the host. With Bridged mode it is actually aphysically separate address on your LAN.

This means you don't have to do anything with the network adapters - you can still use the VM's NIC.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[pparks1]

I installed the final released version of Windows XP Mode on my Windows 7 Ultimate box at work. It runs an Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 @ 3.0Ghz, 4GB of RAM and a Western Digital Caviar 500GB hard drive.

Windows XP Mode boot times: 48 seconds
Windows XP Mode boot time after conversion into VMWare Player 3.0: 23 seconds

This is the exact same image, after running through the VMWare Converter utility. As you can see above, it boots 2x as fast with VMWare over the XP Mode.

Unfortunately, doing it this way requires you to reactivate XP. So, starting from the base image and being pre-activated is your best option. The results above will still be applicable with a clean build..I have proven that before in testing.