Microsoft releases XP mode RC for Windows 7

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soumya

In the zone
*www.neowin.net/images/news/newlogos/ms_win7.gif​

Microsoft has released updated bits of Windows XP Mode for Windows 7.

XP Mode is a method to provide better compatibility in Windows 7, and to pull it off with as little trouble as possible. It's also dubbed XPM, or formerly Virtual XP. XPM is built on the next generation Microsoft Virtual PC 7 product line, which requires processor-based virtualization support (Intel and AMD) to be present and enabled on the underlying PC, much like Hyper-V, Microsoft's server-side virtualization platform.

XP Mode will bring a Virtual PC-based environment, as well as a fully licensed version of Windows XP SP3, free for all owners of Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate editions. XPM will provide 100% compatibility with Windows XP. So, for you IE6 users, you're in luck. XP Mode will integrate itself with the Windows 7 desktop, and so the older software will run just like a normal Windows 7 application. Essentially, this is two operating systems running under an updated desktop.

Microsoft has made the following changes from beta to RC:

* You can now attach USB devices to Windows XP Mode applications directly from the Windows 7 task-bar. This means your USB devices, such as printers and flash drives, are available to applications running in Windows XP Mode, without the need to go into full screen mode.

* You can now access Windows XP Mode applications with a "jump-list". Right click on the Windows XP Mode applications from the Windows 7 task bar to select and open most recently used files.

* You now have the flexibility of customizing where Windows XP Mode differencing disk files are stored.

* You can now disable drive sharing between Windows XP Mode and Windows 7 if you do not need that feature.

* The initial setup now includes a new user tutorial about how to use Windows XP Mode.


Windows XP Mode RC requires RC or RTM version of Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate or Enterprise. It also requires additional 1 GB of RAM, 15 GB of available disk space, and processor capable of hardware virtualization with AMD-V or Intel VT turned on in the BIOS. XP Mode RC is available from the Microsoft Virtual PC site.

neowin
 

NucleusKore

TheSaint
..........It also requires additional 1 GB of RAM, 15 GB of available disk space, and processor capable of hardware virtualization with AMD-V or Intel VT turned on in the BIOS..........

^Just wanted to highlight this important point^

So once you install XP mode RC, will your VM be "always on"?
 

cyborg47

Technomancer
can somebody explain me whats VT....in simple words, and where can check whether its on of off?
 

RCuber

The Mighty Unkel!!!
Staff member
so this means all the virus written for XP will work for Windows 7 as well ? :p just asking ;)
 

NucleusKore

TheSaint
can somebody explain me whats VT....in simple words, and where can check whether its on of off?

Both AMD-V and Intel VT are hardware virtualisation technologies from AMD and Intel respectively. Either you have it or you don't have it. Check your processor specifications to know the same. For example, my AMD Athlon X2 64 bit has AMD V, and has to be enabled form the bios.
 

otpsurvive

Broken In
XP mode must be the most important use of the virtualization technologies. And I presume that those who use XP mode must be either very pissed off with Vista or have the mid-end to low-end - basically the mainstream products. This places the consumer in a very critical position. Whereas AMD has the AMD-V in most of its mainstream offerings (mid-end and low-end except a few of its ultra-low end Semprons), Intel offers it only in its more expensive higher mid-end and high-end processors. This offers AMD users an advantage of implementing XP mode more efficiently.
 
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