XPmode or Virtualbox

[Bkelly]

Just a few questions regarding XPmode am I right in thinking that it's just a modified windows virtual machine with an xp licence? I'm needing a virtual machine to run some older programs needing 32bit XP. I also would like to be able to play some of my older games which have pretty low hardware requirements. Since virtualbox offers slightly better 3d support than the microsoft virtualpc and since I already have an XP licence is there any advantage to using xpmode over virtualbox? Does anyone know if virtual box can use the older directx like 3.0+

 

[Zidane24]

Just a few questions regarding XPmode am I right in thinking that it's just a modified windows virtual machine with an xp licence? I'm needing a virtual machine to run some older programs needing 32bit XP. I also would like to be able to play some of my older games which have pretty low hardware requirements. Since virtualbox offers slightly better 3d support than the microsoft virtualpc and since I already have an XP licence is there any advantage to using xpmode over virtualbox? Does anyone know if virtual box can use the older directx like 3.0+

That is correct...XP Mode also integrates into jump lists and the Windows Shell...to me that is what makes it stand out in from of VMWare/VirtualBox

 

[johngalt]

TBH, for the performance and configurability and stability I'd pick VBox over VPC every day of the week (and twice on Sundays).

 

[Bkelly]

Ok, I did a bit of research then I downloaded Virtualbox today, installed xp and the additions pack and it's just totally blown me away!

I used Microsoft Virtual pc During a course a few years ago and thought it was really only useful as a tool for learning how a network interacts with multiple machines and servers and for compatibility issues in older non 3d software like that.

I am amazed by virtualbox the 3d acceleration is fantastic.
I decided to aim slightly high with my first test just to see what the machine was capable of.

Gta san andreas - failed, didn't really expect this one to work since apparently running a directx 9 game is hit or miss not an issue.

Morrowind - Pass, not too surprised since other people have managed to play this on vbox. Shocked at the Performance! Better than my old Win XP laptop. The laptop was never brilliant but this sort of performance from a Virtual machine this is great!

Not really done much testing yet but this seems like an excellent way for me to run older apps especially some which don't support 64bit OSs.
I've used this as an excuse to remove XP from my system since I only needed to use it very rarely and have managed to install both Diablo and baldurs gate, Since most of my other older games have similar resources i'm pretty sure I'll be able to get most everything else working.

I've only been on these forums 2 days and found a wealth of knowledfge. If I hadn't looked at post http://www.sevenforums.com/virtualization/17326-help-new-xp-mode-virtualization.html I would have never discovered such a piece of software

Thanks sevenforums!

 

[pparks1]

Glad that you like VirtualBox. it's my VM environment of choice at home as well. At work, I use VMWare Server 2.0 on my desktop and VMWare ESX and ESXi in production.

I never did like Virtual PC a whole lot because of lack of good support for OS's other than MS.

 

[johngalt]

+5 to pparks' comments. In addition, I like that it is being actively developed.

 

[masterB]

TBH, for the performance and configurability and stability I'd pick VBox over VPC every day of the week (and twice on Sundays).

VBox ftw I use it on Ubuntu also. XP Mode just sucks.

 

[spydaz]

I would say that VirtualBOX is a GOOD contender. <<<< ALL ROUNDER

VMware Is a Good Lab Environment <<<< Good for packaging a machine and sending and reburning. Just Not happy with its networking at times(terrible). Lots of UnNecasy Baggae...

Virtual PC is Stable for mini Devlopments etc. XP MODE - Great For having individual devlopment envvironments, office environments, Installed into virtualized xP Desktops keeping your main environment clean, BUT "Cant use ADOBE" "CANT USE STUDIO STUFF," LOL. Microsoft and their restrictions... Just about useful as.....

Finally Virtual BOX . Seems to take a lot away from microsoft here.... AS in general Has no Problems Can do SOme of VMware STUFF.... SOME OF VPC STUFF....

Hyper-V.... Again Will not be as good as microsoft feels... as with citrix Xen server... The graphics capeabilitys are way higher... Im not too sure about the sound But i beleive they are still beatiing microsoft here... Hyper-V is a bit of a rip off of XenServer, A little more easier to use and set up..... But we will be seeing a lot more of Virtual PC2007 > over VPC2009..... alot mot HyperV over Citrix... VMware > Citrix...
Citrix may have to "Bring the prices DOWN" - "expand General public markets" introduce "much more Portable products"... Just to compete in the HOME USER MARKET....As microsoft remove these silly ideals and starts working towards what public want, and not what companys want... this virtual technology from microsoft will improve...

THE APP-V & MED-V (im still waiting to get my hands on MDOP) If Any one gets a link i will follow As this is the LAST Aspect of Windows 7+ I have not covered and mastered....lol

 

[SoLoR]

I use VirtualBox because of x64 support. VMWare seems to bloated and have no idea if "new" VPC already (VPC 2007 didnt) supports x64 bit virtualization, if it does i might consider it.

 

[LePoilu]

One word about XP mode:



The host integration of virtualized apps is not a specific feature of XP mode.

Indeed, it use application publishing of RDP6.x protocol.

So whatever is the VM you use, it's possible to integrate virtualized apps in your host system. The only thing you need is a guest OS that have RDP6.x service (Windows server, Windows Pro).



I have a good example of application publishing with my Windows Home Server. On the client you have a little app, the Home Server Connector. From this app you can directly access to the Home server Console. This one is open like a standonle app, but it's a remote access to the server, of course it works on XP, Vista and now 7. It's the same if you access to it trough the web access of Home Server.



So for those who miss apps integration of XP mode, know that you can do it with Virtualbox, free VPC or WMware

 

[johngalt]

No offense, LePoilu, but are you using Word / WordPerfect to generate your replies, or a translator to translate? The reason I ask is that your post above has font information for every line, including the font name as well as color - and the problem is that I am using the W7 dark theme and your color forcing makes it look horribly unreadable on this particular theme:



Before anyone asks why I am using the dark 0 b/c I want to - it is easier on my eyes.

To all users - please don't include font and color restrictions for the entire post you're making - highlighting words or phrase for emphasis is one thing - but posts like this (and this is not the only one - this is in fact the 5th time in 2 days I have run into a post like this that was completely and partially illegible due to the font color) b/c there are other themes on here that your colors will look horrid on....

Getting back on topic: VPC does support virtualization, but not as much as Vbox. VMWare 6.5 I helped test - it works well enough, but I had major issues (to no fault of VMWare - W7 and nVidia hardware drivers were making the virtualization of x64 hardware fail even though it was enabled in the BIOS - which I figured out just before VMWare 6.5 was released, and by which time I had fallen in love with VBox b/c of the price).s

 

[LePoilu]

No offense, LePoilu, but are you using Word / WordPerfect to generate your replies, or a translator to translate? The reason I ask is that your post above has font information for every line, including the font name as well as color - and the problem is that I am using the W7 dark theme and your color forcing makes it look horribly unreadable on this particular theme:

Yep sorry, Sometimes I use Outlook for writing messages. Because when I'm at work the "new mail" windows is more discrete than a browser windows (and it has spelling corrector ).
And the font informations are not visible unless you switch to advanced mode on the forum text editor. Then I did know that ..

I'll try to be carefull next time. Sorry.