Win XP Mode runs slow

Hi Guys,

I have a sony vaio laptop with the following config:

OS: Win 7 Pro
Ram: 6 GB
HDD: 650 GB
Processor: i7-2640M @ 2.8 GHZ

I have installed Windows XP using Microsoft Virtual PC. I run three programs in XP Mode and a couple of programs in Windows 7. I have allotted 1.5 GB ram to XP mode.

In the xp mode the performance is very slow. At times even opening my computer and navigating to a folder takes a while.

Is there anything I can do to speed things up? Can I overclock my laptop also?

Please advice.

Thank you,

Cheers,
Gr

Hi there
I'd never advise anybody to use XP mode. Simply run a proper XP system using free vm software such as vmplayer or vbox. So much better and faster.

The machine you've got should EASILY be able to run an XP VM at almost native speed without you even knowing it's running!!

Two choices here - if you have an old XP installation disc (retail version) install the GUEST OS just like you would install on a REAL machine - Use the create Virtual Machine wizard.

OR

You can IMPORT an XP mode VM to VMWARE (doesn't usually need activation either assuming you don't have really unusual hardware).

The second link is perhaps easier to follow -- note the versions of VMware player are LATER than those specified in the tutorial - but if you have to you can download the earlier versions. Forget the Hardware virtualisation bit in the title - it's irrelevant for this discussion as we are converting an XP mode VM to a stand alone XP VM which runs under VMware just fine whether or not VT is enabled in your BIOS.

Note this will also work for W7 HOME PREMIUM where you can't run XP mode in any case. !!!

VMware KB: Importing Windows 7 XP Mode as a virtual machine in VMware Workstation

or

Run XP Mode on Windows 7 Machines Without Hardware Virtualization


Don't forget after you've installed the GUEST to install VMWARE TOOLS after the first power on of the GUEST -- this will fix video / audio / mouse drivers etc.

Cheers
jimbo

Thanks a lot for your help. I installed Virtual Box and am running Windows 7 and guest os Win XP. The performance is much better also. Plus I checked bios and enabled VT which was disabled by default.

:)

Cheers,
Jack