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Microsoft removes XP Mode hardware requirements
Fortunately, Microsoft has removed that requirement, and anyone left confused or stranded with the original version of XP Mode should now be able to use it. "This change simplifies the experience by making virtualization more accessible to many more PCs for small and midsize businesses wanting to migrate to Windows 7 Professional or higher editions, while still running Windows XP-based productivity applications," Microsoft said today.
Users of Windows 7 Professional or higher can download XP Mode, or the latest update: 32-bit, 64-bit.
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User Comments (43)
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buendia
on March 19, 2010 8:24 AM |
This is great news! I can know try it. They should have done this in the first place. |
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Burty117
on March 19, 2010 8:27 AM |
I completely dissagree with every single comment above me. This now lowers performance of the windows XP mode which I use everyday for work. I will not be upgrading this and keeping hold of my current xp mode copy. |
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mattfrompa
on March 19, 2010 9:46 AM |
burty117 said: I completely dissagree with every single comment above me. This now lowers performance of the windows XP mode which I use everyday for work. I will not be upgrading this and keeping hold of my current xp mode copy. I agree with you...performance is my biggest complaint with XP Mode already, but I should note I didn't even expect to be able to use it for games as it seems many across the web have. I do see value in extending compatibility, but when there are so many CPUs with hardware virtualization, I predict this will only garner more bad reviews of this backwards compatibility mode. |
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Burty117
on March 19, 2010 11:14 AM |
mattfrompa said: burty117 said: I completely dissagree with every single comment above me. This now lowers performance of the windows XP mode which I use everyday for work. I will not be upgrading this and keeping hold of my current xp mode copy. I agree with you...performance is my biggest complaint with XP Mode already, but I should note I didn't even expect to be able to use it for games as it seems many across the web have. I do see value in extending compatibility, but when there are so many CPUs with hardware virtualization, I predict this will only garner more bad reviews of this backwards compatibility mode. Thank you! I would rather Microsoft put more effort into making the performance better with existing hardware which is more or less in most computers worth their salt or are capable of running Windows 7 Pro or higher in the first place. I'm running just a 2.0Ghz core2due proccessor which has the Virtualization function built-in and it runs perfectly fine and relatively quickly. I don't want it software based ortherwise its just going to slow down. I see this as a step back for microsoft, not forwards. |
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captaincranky
on March 19, 2010 11:41 AM |
Thank you! M$ is between a rock and a hard place in this case. I would rather Microsoft put more effort into making the performance better with existing hardware which is more or less in most computers worth their salt or are capable of running Windows 7 Pro or higher in the first place. I'm running just a 2.0Ghz core2due proccessor which has the Virtualization function built-in and it runs perfectly fine and relatively quickly. I don't want it software based ortherwise its just going to slow down. I see this as a step back for microsoft, not forwards. When I realized that I would need CPU VT to run "XP Mode" I set about investigating which Intel CPUs would. That said, CPUs now available for less than 80 dollars do have it. I'm going to take M$ original suggestion, and burn the hardware VT versions of "Virtual PC" and "XP Mode" to DVD, and use these if necessary for a reinstal, and also ignore the concomitant Windows 7 update. This is what M$ should have done, make both versions available simultaneously, but that would "confuse" people further. Once again, attempting to make something "***** proof", punishes even the only slightly more proficient user. |
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Docnoq
on March 19, 2010 12:08 PM |
I purchased Win7 Pro specifically so I would have the option to run XP mode should I ever need it. However, I have not found the need to run it yet. All of my applications/hardware works fine with Win7 (excluding my Audigy 4). I suppose it is comforting to know that I will be able to run virtual XP mode should the need arise. |
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SNGX1275
on March 19, 2010 12:38 PM |
i think they should include a more better backward compability in windows 7! many programs desgned for xp dont work with windows 7! The whole point of XP Mode is for backwards compatibility. |
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captaincranky
on March 19, 2010 12:41 PM |
I Think I Can, I Think I Can, I Think I Can,..............
i think they should include a more better backward compability in windows 7! many programs desgned for xp dont work with windows 7! Well, that's nice. WTF is "more better"?
The whole point of XP Mode is for backwards compatibility. Um, like duh-uh, I hope you're not suggesting you should think before you post. Cause that's like, um, expecting a lot. How else is a body supposed to reach the 50 post limit for the contest, if you're not allowed to post BS, nonsense, and doggerel in plain old bad English?.
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drasho
on March 19, 2010 5:16 PM |
I didnt even know there was a requirement... I guess ive been lucky and i met them =) This is a nice option, it good that everybody can use it now |
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Guest
on March 19, 2010 5:30 PM |
Once again Bill Gates proves you don't need any brains to be a Billionaire. To anyone with a brain it looks like Gates is actually TRYING to discourage the sale of Windows 7. Why would anyone in their right mind limit the XP Mode to only business users? I am one of probably millions and millions of home users who will never upgrade to Windows 7 because I have too much software that will not run on that OS. Bill Gates is an ***** that just got lucky. |
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captaincranky
on March 19, 2010 6:09 PM |
Once again Bill Gates proves you don't need any brains to be a Billionaire. To anyone with a brain it looks like Gates is actually TRYING to discourage the sale of Windows 7. Why would anyone in their right mind limit the XP Mode to only business users? I am one of probably millions and millions of home users who will never upgrade to Windows 7 because I have too much software that will not run on that OS. Bill Gates is an ***** that just got lucky. All this said, you could still make the move to Windows 7 Pro, with a token hardware purchase, at a cost of $140.00, which is less than a copy of Win 7 Home Premium at retail. I mostly agree with you any way, but keep in mind the M$ has cut into aftermarket software sales (I think) with their free anti-virus, "M$ Security Essentials. So in part this might be a bone thrown to software houses also. At the consumer level, these companies are trying to cash in on the new OS by not offering compatibility updates on their consumer oriented products. I still think that M$ should continue to make "Virtual PC" available in both versions, hardware dependent VT, and software VT ready. This wouldn't punish users who have thought ahead, and purchased CPUs (or have CPUs) with hardware VT. The main thing is with VT, you need a ton of RAM and a punchy system to run it. A user with 2GB of RAM and a lower end Pentium Dual core, might be just squeaking by. The Win 7 Pro user, with a 64 bit OS and maybe 4 GB of RAM, has it all covered. |
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tonylukac
on March 19, 2010 6:12 PM |
It's a shame that it doesn't run on lower than "pro" versions. Don't most home users and gamers use the "home" edition or lessor? |
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captaincranky
on March 19, 2010 6:14 PM |
It's a shame that it doesn't run on lower than "pro" versions. Don't most home users and gamers use the "home" edition or lessor? Well cheaper cars used to come without air conditioning, or for that matter power steering. With Windows 7, there is no lower version than, "Windows Home Premium". |
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Puiu
on March 20, 2010 3:06 AM |
Perfect! I wanted to install XP Mode on my laptop but i couldn't because my CPU didn't support it. Nowi can finally istall it!! Thank you! |
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Richy2k9
on March 20, 2010 9:29 AM |
hello ... i know some companies using a particular VPN software that could make use of such feature, LOL! will definitely test this out cheers! |
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Guest
on March 20, 2010 11:12 AM |
Really a nice move....This would be a boost in making WINDOWS 7 more popular and widely accepted OS...Good work Microsoft |
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pmshah
on March 22, 2010 1:28 AM |
levar said: There are so many ways to find out, but as stated end users stranded not knowing what to do. Well this is good and even more than enough reason why not to upgrade to Windows 7. Thanks for the news downloading the update. It is not all that easy. A case in point is newly released version of Compaq Presario with Intel G41 chipset motherboard and a 2.88 ghz Core2Quad CPU. The hardware was very attractively priced and a friend of mine bought it for use in his product design environment. By default it came with Windows 7 Home Basic installed. No other versions of Win7 were being offered. Neither were any upgrade options available. When I tried to install the design software on this machines it was futile. So he decided to install Win XP on this machine. Win XP - SP3 installed ok but there was no way I could get the Ethernet hardware or the SMBUS to be recognized. I tried to find suitable drivers on the net. I simply had to give up after close to 30 hours !!! Network connectivity is an absolute must for him. Now my friend is stuck with hardware he cannot use. Incidentally The design software runs quite well under Win 7 Ultimate edition. His only recourse is to buy this exorbitantly priced OS at a price which is close to the price of the hardware itself !!! At the moment his only option is to disable the on board Ethernet adapter and use a USB Ethernet adapter in stead. To top it he has to keep his fingers crossed and hope and pray that it does not keep bringing up the BSOD due to unrecognized/configured smbus hardware. |
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captaincranky
on March 22, 2010 10:42 AM |
It is not all that easy. A case in point is newly released version of Compaq Presario with Intel G41 chipset motherboard and a 2.88 ghz Core2Quad CPU. You do not have your location in your profile. (Or at least I didn't see it). That said, "Windows 7 Basic", is not available in the US. So says Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_7_editions However Windows 7 Starter is, but I thought that that was going into netbooks which don't have sufficiently robust hardware to run ; "Windows 7 Home Basic", mostly due to the "Aero" theme. The hardware was very attractively priced and a friend of mine bought it for use in his product design environment. By default it came with Windows 7 Home Basic installed. No other versions of Win7 were being offered. Neither were any upgrade options available. When I tried to install the design software on this machines it was futile.
Now my friend is stuck with hardware he cannot use. Incidentally The design software runs quite well under Win 7 Ultimate edition. His only recourse is to buy this exorbitantly priced OS at a price which is close to the price of the hardware itself !!! I frankly am having a bit of difficulty accepting that a particular software won't run on Windows 7 Professional, but will run on Windows 7 Ultimate. With all that said, sometimes you just outsmart yourself, especially when you try to save money. |
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