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Wednesday, July 25, 2012

How to Enable XP Mode in Windows 7 Using Microsoft Virtual PC


Part of the problem with the release of Windows Vista was that many apps (particularly corporate applications) simply did not work. In an effort to encourage the adoption of Windows 7, Microsoft developed XP Mode. XP Mode allows applications that run under Windows XP to run alongside Windows 7 applications. Unfortunately, this feature is only provided for the Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate Editions of Windows 7.

XP Mode can also be used to run different versions of the same application side by side. As a web developer this allows me to run IE8 (running in Windows 7) and IE6/IE7 (running using XP Mode) side by side for testing web site compatibility.

Lets see how to install and get started with XP Mode in Windows 7. i have divided to four parts that will be easy to understand step by step tutorials.


Part One: Downloading XP Mode and Virtual PC

Step 1. Navigate to the Windows XP Mode and Virtual PC download page, and select your edition of Windows 7 and desired language for installation. If you’re not sure what edition of Windows 7 you are running follow our guide to find out.
Select your edition of Windows 7 and desired language for installation
Step 2. Download XP Mode
Download Windows XP Mode
Step 3. You may be prompted to validate your copy of Windows. Click Continue to proceed.
XP Mode Windows validation
Step 4. Save the file to your computer and run it once the download is complete.
Windows Activation Update
Update installation succeeded
Step 5. Once the Windows update installation has finished, click Continue.
Continue with validation
Wait for the validation process to complete.
Validation in progress
If the validation was successful, then you should get a message similar to the following. If you get an unsuccessful message, then your copy of Windows may not be genuine and you will not be able to proceed.
Validation successful
Step 6. You should now be able to download Window XP Mode.
Windows XP Mode download confirmation
Step 7. Download Windows Virtual PC.
Download Windows Virtual PC
Step 8. Install the update to XP mode, if you are not on Windows 7 SP1 or later.
Update XP Mode if not running SP1 or later

Part Two: Installing XP Mode and Windows Virtual PC


Step 1. Install XP Mode.
XP Mode Installation Step 1
Specify where you would like the virtual hard disk file to be stored. (The default is fine)
XP Mode Installation Step 2
Wait for the setup to complete.
XP Mode Installation Step 3
Click Finish.
XP Mode Installation Step 4
Step 2. Install Windows Virtual PC.
Install updates
Install any updates it prompts you to install.
Accept Licence Agreement
Wait for it to complete.
Wait for updates to finish installing
Restart if prompted to do so.
Restart if prompted to do so


Part Three: Setting Up and Configuring XP Mode


Step 1. Launch XP Mode from the start menu.
Launch XP Mode
Step 2. Accept the License Agreement.
Accept Licence Agreement
Step 3. Specify a password. (You’ll also likely want it to remember your credentials, otherwise you’ll need to enter your password each time you launch an XP Mode application.)
Specify Credentials
Step 4. Enable automatic updates.
Turn on Automatic Updates
Step 5. Start setup.
Click to start setup
Step 6. When the installation is complete XP Mode will be running within Windows Virtual PC.
XP Mode up and running

Part Four: Installing Applications in XP Mode


Step 1. Using IE in the Virtual Machine, download an application.
Download an application
Step 2. Install the application.
Install the application
Step 3. Log off XP Mode via Start > Log Off.
Log Off XP Mode
Step 4. Launch the application you just installed via the start menu in Windows 7.
Launch installed application
Step 5. The application should now be running alongside your other Windows 7 apps.
Application runs alongside other apps
Step 6. If you want to run an application that was installed with Windows XP such as IE6, open XP Mode again from the start menu.
Launch XP Mode
Step 7. Create a shortcut to IE6 in the C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs folder.
Create shortcut to IE6
Step 8. Log off XP Mode via Start > Log Off.
Log Off XP Mode
Step 9. IE6 should now appear in the Windows XP Mode Applications folder in the Start Menu.
IE6 in Start Menu
Step 10. Launch IE6.
IE6 up and running
That’s it! You should now be able to run all your XP applications alongside your windows applications.

@ayyu 25 july 2012

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