XP Mode

XP Mode

Although most applications written for Windows XP also run on Windows 7, there are still quite a few applications that do not. If a shim is not available, you can use Windows XP Mode to run older applications on your Windows 7 desktop. Windows XP Mode was primarily designed to help businesses move from Windows XP to Windows 7. It isn’t optimized for graphic-intensive pro- grams such as 3D games, nor is it suited for programs with hardware require- ments such as TV tuners.

Windows XP Mode enables you to run a virtual Windows XP machine in its own window. Much like a physical machine running Windows XP, you can still access the computer resources including drives and other hardware devices. In addition, when you install an application in Windows XP Mode, it appears within the Windows XP window and the Windows 7 application list.

To run Windows XP Mode, you need to be running Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, or Ultimate edition. You are also recommended to have 2 GB of memory and an additional 15 GB of hard disk space per virtual Windows environment.

CHAPTER 12: Working with Applications

When Windows 7 was introduced, Windows XP Mode required a computer that is capable of hardware virtualization (Intel-VT or AMD-V virtualization) and a BIOS that supports hardware virtualization. Virtualization must also be enabled in the BIOS Setup program. Since then, the Windows XP Mode components have been upgraded to allow Windows XP Mode to run without these requirements.

To use Windows XP Mode, you should first download and install Windows Virtual PC, which is the program that runs virtual operating systems on your computer. Then, you can download and install Windows XP Mode, which is a fully licensed version of Windows XP with Service Pack 3.

To download and install Windows Virtual PC, do the following:

1. Go to the Windows XP Mode and Windows Virtual PC website.

2. In the Windows 7 system type drop-down list, click 32-bit or 64-bit depending on what version of Windows 7 you’re currently running. In

the Windows XP Mode language drop-down list, click the language you want to use for Windows XP Mode and then click Download Windows Virtual PC. To find out whether you have a 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows 7, click the Start button, right-click Computer, and then click Properties. The information appears under System, next to System type.

3. Click Open to install the program immediately, or click Save to save the installation file to your computer and then double-click the file.

4. Click Yes to install Update for Windows (KB958559).

5. If you accept the license terms, click I Accept.

6. After installation is complete, click Restart Now to restart your computer.

After your computer restarts, you should see Windows Virtual PC and Windows XP Mode listed in your list of programs. If you haven’t installed Windows XP Mode yet, you can click it to install the program.

To download and install Windows XP Mode:

1. Click the Start button, click All Programs, click Windows Virtual PC, and then click Windows XP Mode.

2. In the Windows XP Mode dialog box, click Download to go back to the Windows XP Mode and Windows Virtual PC webpage.

Application Compatibility

3. In the Windows 7 system type drop-down list, click 32-bit or 64-bit depending on what version of Windows 7 you’re currently running. In

the Windows XP Mode language drop-down list, click the language you want to use and then click Download Windows XP Mode.

4. Click Open to install the program immediately; or click Save to save the installation file to your computer and then double-click the file. For best

practice, you should click Save and keep the file on your computer in case you ever need to reinstall Windows XP Mode.

5. In the Welcome to Setup for Windows XP Mode dialog box, click Next.

6. Choose the location for the virtual hard disk file that Windows XP Mode uses or accept the default location and then click Next.

7. On the Setup Completed screen, select the Launch Windows XP Mode checkbox and then click Finish.

8. If you accept the license terms, click I accept the license terms, and then click Next.

9. On the Installation folder and credentials page, accept the default loca- tion where Windows XP Mode files are stored or enter a new location.

10. Enter a password, enter it again to confirm it, and then click Next.

11. On the Help protect your computer screen, choose whether you want to protect your computer by turning on automatic updates and then click

Start Setup. After setup is complete, Windows XP Mode opens in a separate window.

When you install a program in Windows XP Mode, the program becomes available for use in both Windows XP Mode and Windows 7.

To install and use a program in Windows XP Mode, follow these steps:

1. In Windows 7, click the Start button, click All Programs, click Windows Virtual PC, and then click Windows XP Mode.

2. In Windows XP Mode, insert the program’s installation disc into your computer’s CD/DVD drive; or browse to the program’s installation file,

open the file, and follow the instructions to install the program.

3. Click the Close button at the top of the Windows XP Mode window.

4. In Windows 7, click the Start button, click Windows Virtual PC, click Windows XP Mode Applications, and then click the program you want to open.

Application Compatibility

For more information about XP Mode, visit the following website: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/install-and-use-windows-xp-mode-in-

windows-7

Cram Quiz

1. You have a customized accounting application that was written for Windows XP. Unfortunately, it does not run under Windows 7. What should you do?

❍ A. Run the application under XP Mode ❍ B. Modify the privilege level for the application to run as a standard user ❍ C. Run the MST transform on the application ❍ D. Run the application under 256 colors

2. What do you call a package of multiple shims bundled together by Microsoft?

❍ A. A MSI package ❍ B. XP package ❍ C. Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit ❍ D. Microsoft Application Reconfig Kit

Cram Quiz Answers

1. A is correct. You need to run the application under Windows XP Mode because the enhanced security in Windows 7 does not allow the application to run. Modifying the privilege level or running the program under 256 colors does not allow the program to run under Windows 7. Therefore, Answers B and D are incorrect. Answer C is incorrect because MST transforms are used to install executables that are not available as an MSI file using group policies.

2. C is correct. In new versions of Windows, Microsoft includes numerous “shims” or minor fixes that are used to improve compatibility with existing non-Microsoft software. Microsoft analyzed the application and provided an application com- patibility shim. These shims are bundled together with the Microsoft ACT are applied on a per-application basis. They are not bundled in an MSI package or an XP package. Therefore, Answers A and B are incorrect. Answer D is incorrect because there is no such thing as a Microsoft Application Reconfig Kit.

Software Restrictions