Enabling Windows XP mode (XPM) under Windows 7RC

David M Williams
Thursday, 07 May 2009 12:09

IT Industry - Development

One last-minute announcement before Windows 7RC came out was the introduction of an embedded virtual Windows XP environment. Yet, anyone who has installed Windows 7RC might be scratching their head wondering just where it is. Let me tell you. Microsoft announced that higher-end versions of Windows 7 would include a virtual Windows XP as part of the license, just prior to the end of April, and merely weeks before Windows 7RC (“release candidate”) was made available for public consumption.

This is a clever move by Microsoft. It assures absolute backwards compatibility with Windows XP even if a piece of software does not work correctly within Windows 7 itself.

This in turn, I am sure Microsoft sales execs are hoping, can persuade the Windows XP hangers-on to finally upgrade.

Anyone who has used virtual machine software in the past – such as Microsoft’s Virtual PC, VMWare, Sun Microsystem’s VirtualBox, to name three – will be familiar with the concept of running a computer within a computer.

The virtualised machine functions just as if it were running on real hardware, and not just within a window. It has its own disk space and does not interfere with the parent environment.

Microsoft have tweaked their Virtual PC so that any applications installed within it appear as if they are running natively. That is, they run in their own window on the Windows 7 desktop, and are not locked into the XPM window.

Similarly, the shortcut icons to launch these applications are embedded within the rest of the Windows 7 Start menu and icons.

Yet, if you’ve downloaded and installed Windows 7RC you may be left wondering just where this magical piece of virtual goodness is.

It turns out it’s not actually included! You need to download it separately. Happily, this is easy to do.
Download the latest beta of Windows Virtual PC and you’ll also find a beta of Windows XP Mode there too. Download both items and install and you’re in business!

Note that XPM requires Windows 7, and Virtual PC requires your computer has a processor with hardware virtualisation support. This requirement may be the show stopper for many people. You can verify your processor is suitable using instructions provided online.