The XP mode is intended for Professional editions, Enterprise and
Ultimate editions of the forthcoming Windows 7 operating system
developed by the Redmond company. As a reminder, this is an add-on to
download the form of a virtual machine to run directly under windows
seven and totally transparent, software provided the basis for Windows
XP ( see our file for more explanation). Free, this feature will mainly
aim to encourage businesses still reluctant to migrate by ensuring the
functioning of their applications.The news announced by the RC version
are the ability to connect USB devices in XP mode applications directly
from the taskbar of Windows Seven, the ability to access applications in
XP mode with a Jump List , the option to choose where images are stored
discs used by the XP mode, and the ability to disable file sharing
mode, and Windows XP 7.
Microsoft has posted a Release Candidate version of its tool "XP mode"
for Windows 7 . Much more successful and more stable, the installation
is possible for all those currently trying Release Candidate of the
system because it is configured Ultimate edition. Once the marketing of
Windows 7 launched Oct. 22, this mode is available only to XP
Professional and Ultimate editions. Microsoft has made available to
owners of professional publishing company and integral tool in Windows 7
Windows XP mode, it finds sufficiently successful and he wants to test
size before release.
Among other innovations, Release Candidate of Windows XP mode can now
allocate a USB device (like a key or a printer) to a virtualized
application directly from the taskbar without going into full screen.
The icon of the new taskbar also has a jump list to access the latest
Windows XP applications used. The shared storage between the two
operating systems can however be disabled, while a tutorial explains the
operation of the Windows XP mode at first start.
Overview :
Windows XP Mode for Windows 7 makes it easy to install and run many
Windows XP productivity applications directly from your Windows 7-based
PC. It utilizes virtualization technology, such as Windows Virtual PC,
to provide a virtual Windows XP environment for Windows 7. Windows
Virtual PC is the latest Microsoft virtualization technology for Windows
7. It is the runtime engine for Windows XP Mode to provide a virtual
Windows environment for Windows 7. With Windows Virtual PC, Windows XP
Mode applications can be seen and accessed from a Windows 7 desktop.
What’s new in Windows Virtual PC ?
With the release of Windows 7, we are introducing a number of new
features in Windows Virtual PC designed to make it easier for you to run
your legacy applications in a virtual software environment like Windows
XP Mode :
- Integration with Windows XP Mode setup (Windows XP Mode is a
benefit of Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate and Enterprise) - A
new approach that intuitively incorporates Windows Virtual PC
user interface (UI) into that of your Windows 7 desktop - The
ability to use many of your USB devices from within a virtual
Windows environment, such as Windows XP Mode - Seamless launching
of Windows XP applications from your Windows 7
desktop, Start Menu, or Taskbar - Clipboard sharing, which
enables you to cut, copy, and paste data
between the host Windows 7 desktop and the virtual machine - Printer
sharing between the Windows 7 desktop and the virtual
Windows environment - Drive sharing, which provides easy access
to all host data from
within the virtual machine - Folder integration between operating
environments
Features :
- Easy setup of Windows XP Mode : Once both the Windows
Virtual PC and the virtual Windows XP environment are installed, Windows
Virtual PC provides a simple wizard to set up Windows XP Mode with just
a few clicks. - USB support : Users can access USB devices
attached to the
host directly from virtual Windows XP. These devices include printers
and scanners, flash memory/sticks and external hard disks, digital
cameras, and more. - Seamless applications : Publish and
launch applications
installed on virtual Windows XP directly from the Windows 7 desktop, as
if they were installed on the Windows 7 host itself. - Folder
integration between host and guest : Access your
Windows 7 Known Folders: My Documents, Pictures, Desktop, Music, and
Video, from inside the virtual Windows environment, such as Windows XP
Mode. - Clipboard sharing : Cut and paste between your
Windows 7
host and any virtual machine. - Printer redirection : Print
directly to your attached
printer from your seamless application or virtual machine.
INSTALLATION –
QUICK INSTALLAION : If you
does not want to spend much time in reading this guide then go
below to the section of Quick Installation Summary to get some
quick steps to install XP mode on Windows 7.
How to Install : For now, installation is very simple. It
offers two solution here –
- An executable that will allow access to functionality
- A
disk image of Windows XP Service Pack 3
Steps :
Installation step 1: Opening Windows XP –
- To install applications in Windows XP Mode, you start by selecting
Windows XP Mode from the Windows 7 Start Menu.
Installation step 2: Adding your application –
- You can install applications in Windows XP Mode just as you
normally would on a physical PC. For example, you can install
applications via web, from storage devices, or from physical media such
as CD/DVD.
Running Windows XP Mode applications –
To run your application directly from the Windows 7 desktop, just go to
your Start menu. Once installed, you launch and configuration are simple
operations. It responds to a pair of questions, the virtual machine
starts up, all in a few minutes (depending on the speed of the hard
drive). Note also that the progress bar installation is reflected in the
icon in the taskbar in Windows 7.
Support cursor is assured and we can get out of the frame to perform
actions on normal Windows desktop 7. The workstation also displays a
network drive which in fact corresponds to each player from the host
machine. But the real advantage of virtual XP mode is that each
application installed on Windows XP will create a shortcut in the
Start menu of Windows 7, a specific sub-menu. For example, after
installing Firefox in Windows XP is complete, we obtain the following
What is the point. It is simply to launch an application directly to
Windows XP on the desktop of Windows 7. The virtual machine must be
closed (it closes automatically if called special shortcut) and you can
do the same for all applications. The integration is greater and does
not require the complete opening of the virtual machine
In a business, business application shortcuts for example may be placed
on the desktop to be executed simply by the user without the latter
requires a second office in a large window.
Setup Guide :
Setting up your Windows 7-based PC to run Windows XP Mode is a simple
and straightforward process. The first thing you’ll want to do is to
check All Programs in your Start Menu to see whether Windows Virtual PC
is already set up on your machine.
1. If you don’t already have Windows Virtual PC installed:
If Windows Virtual PC does not appear in All Programs, you’ll need to
download it, as well as Windows XP Mode, from the Microsoft website.
2. After Installation :
Select the edition of Windows 7 that matches your operating system and
then select your language in the right hand box. When you have finished
step 2, click on the blue Windows XP Mode button in step 3 and follow
the prompts to download and install. Once you have completed this, click
on the second blue button, Windows Virtual PC, and again follow the
prompts to download and install. Finally, click on the third blue
button, Windows XP Mode Update and download and install. Because Windows
Virtual PC is a system update, you will need to reboot your computer.
3. Installing Windows XP Mode :
When installation is complete, go to All Programs and click on Windows
XP Mode to begin the set-up of your Windows XP Mode environment. The
set-up process for Windows XP Mode will take several minutes. During
this time you be asked to accept the Windows XP License Agreement, as
well as to create a new password and whether or not to receive Automatic
Updates. Once the process is complete, you will see your new Windows XP
Mode environment as a window on your Windows 7 desktop.
An important consideration of working with virtualization technology is
the fact that the user has both the physical and virtual PC to maintain.
Every PC requires a degree of maintenance including but not limited to
keeping the operating system and applications up to date with patches,
virus and malware protection, and backup. Windows XP Mode is
pre-configured with the Windows XP firewall and to apply updates
automatically from Windows Update. It is not pre-configured with
anti-virus or anti-malware software, and both types of security software
are recommended.
You can install and run applications within this Windows XP environment
(known as Desktop Mode) exactly as if you were running them on a Windows
XP-based PC. If you like, you can expand the Windows XP desktop to
completely fill the screen (Full-Screen Desktop Mode) by clicking on the
Maximize button in the upper right corner of the window.
When operating in Full-Screen Desktop Mode, you will notice that there
is a small menu bar at the top of the desktop. This will enable you to
access certain Virtual PC functions that we’ll talk about later without
leaving the Full-Screen mode.
4. Using Windows XP Applications in the Virtual Environment :
Windows XP Mode for Windows 7 makes it possible for you to use many of
your older Windows XP productivity applications right on your Windows
7-based PC. As you’ll see, installing and running those applications is
accomplished exactly as you would in the Windows XP operating system
that you’ve become so familiar with.
5. Installing Windows XP applications :
Install your Windows XP applications exactly as you would on a Windows
XP-based PC. Click on the “My Computer” window from your Windows XP
Start Menu to access the CD/DVD, internal hard drive, or external device
on which your application resides. (If the external device does not
appear there, see “Accessing External USB Devices” in Section IV.)
Double-click on the file to be installed and follow the prompts. (Note:
in order to publish your applications to the Windows 7 desktop, they
must be installed for all users.). You can create a desktop shortcut for
your application on the Windows XP desktop, the Windows 7 desktop, or
both. You can also pin the application to your Windows XP Start Menu,
and, for added convenience, to the Windows 7 Start Menu as well. (See
“Running Windows XP applications in Seamless Mode” below.)
6. Running Windows XP applications in Desktop Mode :
Once you’ve installed your Windows XP application, it can be launched
from your Windows XP “All Programs” list or Start Menu. Create a desktop
shortcut to launch the app from the Windows XP desktop whenever you’re
operating in Desktop Mode (i.e., from within the Windows XP
environment). You can close application windows or minimize them to the
Windows XP Taskbar as desired.
7. Running Windows XP applications in Seamless Mode :
- Windows XP Mode for Windows 7 enables you to run your Windows XP
applications directly from the Windows 7 desktop in what is called
“Seamless Mode.” This means that once you’ve installed an application,
it will also appear in your Windows 7 All Programs menu, along with all
of your other Windows 7 applications. - Because of this, you
don’t have to open the Windows XP Mode desktop
environment in order to run these applications. Simply launch them
directly from the Windows 7 Start Menu (or from the Windows 7 desktop,
if you have already created a desktop shortcut there for the
application). Launching this application means also launching the
virtual machine, so it may take a moment or two for the application to
complete this process. - After it is launched, the application
will perform exactly like any
other application on the Windows 7 desktop: you can minimize it to the
Windows 7 Taskbar for future use, or close it if you prefer.
8. Hibernation vs. Log-Off :
When you are through working with the Windows XP environment (Desktop
Mode), you can put it into “hibernation” simply by clicking on the Close
button in the upper right corner. It takes only a few seconds to
complete this process.
If it’s the first time you’ve run a Windows XP application in Desktop
mode, you may be asked to log-off before the Windows XP virtual machine
completes the hibernation process. Once you’ve logged on again, you can
continue to work in regular Windows 7 mode, Windows XP Seamless Mode, or
Windows XP Desktop Mode whenever you like.
9. Working with Windows XP Mode :
Windows Virtual PC utilizes a number of “Integration Components” to make
it easy for you to access many of the same resources from within the
Windows XP virtual environment as those that are used by your Windows
7-based PC. This integration enables the two environments to share such
things as network connections, clipboard content, printers, USB
devices, Smart Cards, and external storage.
10. Accessing Your Windows 7-based PC’s Network Connections :
- When working in Windows XP Mode, you can use the network
connections of your Windows 7-based PC to access the Internet from your
virtual machine. This means that many of your older Windows XP
applications can access the Internet as needed, without any additional
effort on your part. - If your company has a corporate network,
you can domain-join the
virtual machine to that network just as you would the physical machine.
11. Sharing Files and Folders Between Environments :
Because the Clipboard is shared between physical and virtual machines,
you can copy and paste any data you want between Windows XP applications
and their counterparts in Windows 7. Although drag-and-drop operations
are not permitted between the physical and virtual machines, you can
access your physical machine’s hard drive from the virtual machine. In
addition, the physical machine’s My Documents folder will appear on your
Windows XP Mode desktop as well, for easy access to any files you may
require.
12. Accessing External USB Devices — Desktop Mode :
Windows XP Mode for Windows 7 supports the use of external USB devices
that are attached to your Windows 7-based PC. USB storage devices,
scanners, and Smart Cards whose drivers are installed on the Windows 7
host and the virtual machine are automatically shared with the virtual
machine if the integration features are enabled. You can also easily
access the host CD drive, and print on a local or network printer from
within your Windows XP applications.
If an attached USB device does not appear in the My Computer window, you
will need to make it available to the virtual machine. This is done by
going to the USB drop-down menu that appears either in the upper-left
hand corner of the Windows XP desktop window (Desktop Mode), or at the
top of the desktop (Full-Screen Desktop Mode). Click on the device’s
name to capture it for use by the virtual machine. To release the device
for use once again by the physical machine, click on the device name
once more in the drop-down USB menu. It is now ready for safe removal
from the host PC.
13. Accessing External USB Devices — Seamless Mode :
- When working with a Windows XP applications in Seamless Mode (that
is, launched directly from the Windows 7 Start Menu, desktop, or
Taskbar), you can access external USB devices through the application’s
regular File Menu commands, such as Open and Save As. - If a USB
device is not compatible with Windows 7, you can still use
it in Seamless Mode. To do this, simply attach the device in Desktop
Mode, as specified in the section above. Then when you run your
application in Seamless Mode, you will have access to the device.
Quick Installation Summary :
To use Windows XP mode, you
must first download and install Windows Virtual PC, a program that
performs virtual operating systems on your computer. You can then
download and install Windows XP mode, which is a licensed version
compatible Windows XP Service Pack 3.
To download and install Windows Virtual PC –
- Browse to Windows XP and Windows Operating Virtual PC (possibly in
English) , then click Get Windows XP and Windows Operating Virtual PC
now. - In the Type combo system Windows 7, click 32-bit or 64
bit
depending on the version of Windows 7 that you are currently running.
In
the Language drop-down Windows XP mode, click the language you want to
use for Windows XP mode, then Download Windows Virtual PC. - To
see if you have a 32 or 64 bit Windows 7, click the Start
button , Click the right mouse-click Computer, then click Properties.
The information appears under System, opposite type of system. - Click
Open to install the program immediately, or Save to save the
installation file on the computer, then double-click the file. - Click
Yes to install Update for Windows (KB958559). - If you accept
the terms of the license, click Agree. - Once installation is
complete, click Restart Now to restart the
computer. - When you restart the computer, Windows Virtual PC and
Windows XP
mode should appear in your list of programs. If you have not yet
installed Windows XP mode, you can click it to install the program.
To download and install Windows XP Mode :
- Click the Start button > Click All Programs > Windows
Virtual PC and Windows XP mode. - In the dialog box Windows XP
mode, click Download to return to the
webpage Windows XP and Windows Virtual PC mode. - In the Type
combo system Windows 7, click 32-bit or 64 bit
depending on the version of Windows 7 that you are currently running.
In
the Language drop-down Windows XP mode, click on the desired language,
then Download Windows XP mode. - Click Open to install the
program immediately, or Save to save the
installation file on the computer, then double-click the file. - We
recommend that you click Save and keep the file on the computer
in case you need to reinstall Windows XP mode. - In the Welcome
dialog box in Setup Mode in Windows XP, click Next. - Choose the location of the VHD file used by Windows XP mode,
or
accept the default location, then click Next. - In the
Installation Complete window, select the check box Run
Windows XP mode, then click Finish. - If you accept the terms of
the license, click I accept the terms
of the license agreement and click Next. - In the Installation
Folder page and credentials, accept the
default location where the files of Windows XP mode must be stocked, or
enter a new location. - Enter a password, enter it again to
confirm, and then click Next. - In the window Protect your
computer, decide if you want to protect
your computer by turning on automatic updates, then click Start
Installation. - Once installation is complete, Windows XP
Operating opens in a
separate window.
Running Programs in Windows XP Mode :
- When you install a program in Windows XP mode, it becomes
accessible to both Windows XP and Windows 7 mode. - To install
and use a program in Windows XP Mode - Windows 7, click the Start
button , Click All Programs, Windows
Virtual PC and Windows XP mode. - In Windows XP mode, insert the
disk to install the program in the
CD / DVD drive. You can also access the Setup program, open the file and
follow the installation instructions. - Install a
program in Windows XP Mode - Click the Close button the top of
the Windows XP mode. - Windows 7, click the Start button On
Windows Virtual PC on Windows
XP User Applications, then click the program you want to open.
System Requirements :
- Windows 7 Home, Business or Ultimate.
- A computer enabling
hardware virtualization. This means that your
computer has a central processing unit (CPU) with the virtualization
capabilities Intel-VT or AMD-V. - Virtualization capabilities
enabled on the system input / output
base (BIOS) of the computer.
Windows 7 :
- 1GHz or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
- 1GB
RAM (32-bit) / 2GB RAM (64-bit) - 16GB available disk space
(32-bit) / 20GB (64-bit) - DirectX 9 graphics processor with WDDM
1.0 or higher driver
Windows XP Mode with Windows Virtual PC Requires :
- Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Ultimate or Windows 7 Enterprise
- Additional
1GB of RAM - Additional 15GB of available disk space
Conclusion :
Windows XP Mode was designed for the small and medium business user who
doesn’t have a lot of resources to spend on IT or on revamping important
software. Windows XP Mode extends the lifecycle of many older Windows
XP applications to continue providing business value. Once you install
these applications directly in your Windows XP Mode environment, they
will be published to your Windows 7 desktop. With just one click, the
business user can run many Windows XP applications from a Windows 7
desktop just as if it were a Windows 7 application. There’s no need to
re-train the user, or to re-learn the application. Once you’ve
installed both Windows Virtual PC and the Windows XP Mode environment,
Windows Virtual PC provides a simple wizard to set up Windows XP Mode
with just a few clicks. It’s that easy!
Video Guide to Setup Windows XP Mode in Windows 7–
