Open Win 7 applications in XP Mode

RDWirr · 27 Dec 2010

I have installed VM-XPmode on a Win7Pro 64bit system. I am running an older CRM application which works very well in XPMode but I have the problem of accessing applications installed in the hosting Win7. The problem comes up because this is an email application and I want to be able to open file attachments directly from the XPMode Application without first having to save them over to the Win7 Side. So for example if I get a PDF attachment, double clicking it would open with the Acrobat installed on the host OS, likewise for MSOffice attachments. This application also provides mail merge capability which we use a lot and it would be nice to keep that functionality.

I understand I can install those applications (Acrobat, MSOffice) on the virtual machine but this seems a bit wasteful to have redundant installations on the same HD.

When I try to open the Win7 applications from within the XPMode window, I always get the message "This application failed to start because the configuration is incorrect. Reinstalling the application may fix this problem."

Does anyone know how to work around this issue without installing the applications in the virtual machine?

Thanks in advance,
RDW

logicearth · 28 Dec 2010

Consider XP Mode a separate computer, it is a separate computer that just happens to be running on another.

Kari · 28 Dec 2010

As Logiearth mentioned, what you want is not possible. XP Mode is and acts as any individual computer in your network. You need to install a PDF reader to it to read PDF-files, an office suite to open DOC- and XLS-files and so on. It's same with AV-software; as a "computer", XP Mode needs its own AV-protection and Firewall. It can not use those installed on host computer.

Some free downloads to install in XP Mode:

Foxit Reader is a good, fast PDF-reader.Can open all pdf-files. Download: Foxit Software - Foxit Reader for Windows
OpenOffice is a free office suite, open most of the MS Office files. Download: OpenOffice.org - The Free and Open Productivity Suite
Microsoft Security Essentials is a free antivirus application, works well together with XP's own Windows Firewall. Download: http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/

Kari

RDWirr · 28 Dec 2010

Thanks Kari and LogicEarth,

I was afraid of that. I had seen in another forum/discussion, with a Microsoft person that XPMode can open Win7 Apps in XPMode through the integration features but that thread dropped a year ago and apparently no resolution. I guess this is why...the application sharing only goes one way.

Thanks for your input,
RDW