Technology News And Reviews

Earlier, I wrote that Microsoft was trying to remove a roadblock to adoption of Windows 7 with XP Mode (XPM). More than just a setting, XPM consists of a Virtual PC-based virtual environment and a fully licensed copy of Windows XP with Service Pack 3 (SP3).

To be clear, XPM is not the only way to run applications written for Windows XP in Windows 7. However, it does serve as a last-resort for someone who can’t get an app to run on Windows 7 any other way. In general, stuff should “just work.”

BTW, since you’re running a “virtual PC” in XPM, Microsoft recommends you install security software in it (no surprise there, really).

Changes to XPM since beta:

• 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.

You can download the RC version, which requires Windows 7 RC or RTM to run, here.
It requires a CPU with HW virtualization, however, as well as turning it on in the BIOS.

If you’re unsure if your CPU supports HW virtualization, you can use the Intel Processor Identification Utility or the AMD Virtualization Compatibility Check Utility.