Application Support
Application Compatibility
XP Mode
- Some applications cannot be made compatible through compatibility settings or translation software alone. If these applications are required, then there may be no choice but to run them on an
older operating system, such as Windows XP. Windows 7 Enterprise, Ultimate, and Professional
Editions include support for XP Mode. XP Mode installs a second virtual operating system that
runs at the same time as Windows 7.
- The XP Mode is made possible by installing a free copy of Virtual PC and operating system
enhancements that integrate application interaction between Windows 7 and the virtual instance
of Windows XP. Microsoft allows you to download and install a free copy of 32-bit Windows
XP Professional SP3 and let it run inside a virtual machine. Other operating systems such as
Windows Vista and Windows 7 could run in the virtual machine, but that would likely defeat the
purpose of providing application support for older applications.
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Windows XP mode has specif c enhancements that link applications between Windows 7 and
Windows XP. Icons and links to start a program in the Windows XP virtual machine can be
embedded in the Windows 7 environment to hide the virtualization environment from the user
running the application. The Windows XP operating system has access to most of the same local
resources as the Windows 7 operating system. There may be some limits and restrictions as to
what hardware is accessible, which in turn may limit the applicability of this solution.
- The copy of Windows XP in the virtual machine still needs to be managed and protected; it is
a full operating system that requires the same care and attention as any other workstation. This
includes patches, backups, and anti-virus protection. It needs its own share of the computer's RAM to run; therefore, it is recommended that the computer have at least 2 GB of RAM before
XP Mode is installed and activated. When Windows XP reaches end of life, this virtual environment will no longer be supported. The goal is to provide short term functionality until problem
applications are replaced with versions fully compatible with Windows 7 and beyond. (Some
applications, however, will be "legacy" programs and not be updated.)