Windows 7 XP Mode may seem like a good idea, but we think it's quite disappointing. Here's why.
Why Windows 7's virtualised XP mode is a flop
Microsoft recently announced that it will be providing a virtualised copy of Windows XP as a free compatibility add-on to Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate, and Enterprise editions.
The idea is to entice potential upgrade fence-sitters into taking the Windows 7 plunge by addressing one of the more widely cited concerns about the product: it will break legacy, Windows XP-era applications. And based on the amount of buzz surrounding this unexpected new feature, it would seem that Microsoft has hit a home run with its Windows XP Mode announcement.
Yet I fear that much of this excitement will turn to disappointment as IT shops begin to understand just what XP Mode really is and how limiting its Virtual PC-based underpinnings can be.
Simply put, XP mode is a bit of a half-measure of a solution cobbled together from various disjointed Microsoft technologies. Compared to something such as Mac OS X, which famously introduced one of the more elegant legacy compatibility solutions in the form of its integrated Mac OS 9-era application support, Windows 7's XP Mode is downright homely.
Before I dive into my reasons for disliking Windows XP Mode, it might be helpful to first review exactly what it is and how it works. Simply put, XP Mode is a virtual machine image file that contains a fully licensed and activated copy of Windows XP with Service Pack 3 installed.
The image is shipped in Microsoft's Virtual Hard Disk (VHD) format and is compatible with Windows Virtual PC 7, the company's new host-based desktop virtualisation tool.
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Comments
Adis said: OfficeBench show that applications run a full 30 percent slower under Virtual Windows XP than they do under Windows XP installed natively on the same hardwareGranted 30 is not great but you are running an OS on top of the OS so no matter what it wont be 100 and to a layman reader this can be misleading
PC Advisor said: That be a good spot that be Changed now
David Clark said: Was the writer of the article born in Cornwall First line Microsoft recently announced that it be providing a virtualisedI can just see a cornish man sucking a straw and saying That it be
Skidz said: Page 3 loads fine with XP
Geoff said: It does not work on my old machine even though I can run windows7 says does not support virtulisation technology Doesany body know of a way round this
Slim said: Peters probably running XP
LaurieP said: Apparently it doesnt work for Peter 3 times
Simon said: Peter Page 3 works fine for me
Peter Pipe said: Hi I cant access Page 3 of this article Have tried several times without success
Peter Pipe said: Hi I cant access Page 3 of this article Have tried several times without success
Peter Pipe said: Hi I cant access Page 3 of this article Have tried several times without success
Dave said: Windows 7 XP Mode if your CPU does not supportVirtualization Technology it will not work
Roy said: The personal finance package Quicken 2004 not supported anymore in the UK unfortunately doesnt work with Windows Vista BUT it does work with Windows XP mode running Windows 7 Release Candidate thank goodness Cheers