Windows 7 and running applications in Windows XP Mode

Windows 7 and Windows XP Mode

Windows XP Mode enables the user to run older Windows XP software on a Windows 7 system. The feature comes as a separate download and works only with Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate. Windows XP Mode also requires virtualization software such as Windows Virtual PC.

Windows XP Mode and Windows Virtual PC are available for free on the Microsoft website. To download Windows XP Mode and the required software, go to the Windows Virtual PC website. The basic steps for installation are:

On the Virtual PC download page, select the type of Windows 7 you're running - either 32-bit or 64-bit - and then select the display language for Windows XP Mode, for example English. Click the link provided to download Windows Virtual PC. Double-click the download to start installation and then stick to the prompts. Click the link presented to download Windows XP Mode. Double-click the download to start installation and then stick to the prompts.

Microsoft has added features to Windows Virtual PC to make it easy to run many older Windows XP applications in Windows 7. Its is fairly easy to setup Window XP Mode, and once you do, you can run Windows XP Mode applications with one click.

Older programs and Windows 7

If you attempt to use a program having a known compatibility issue, Windows 7 warns you and opens the Program Compatibility Assistant to help you resolve the problem. Sometimes, however, a program won't install or will install but won't run, and you won't know why. To get the program to install or run, you'll need to regulate its compatibility settings, and Windows 7 provides two ways of carrying this out:

Using the Program Compatibility Wizard to configure compatibility settings for you
Editing a program's compatibility settings yourself

Although both techniques work exactly the same way, the Program Compatibility Wizard is the best way you can change compatibility settings for programs that take presctiption shared network drives, CD or DVD drives, or other types of removable media drives. The capability to work with various kinds of media allows the Program Compatibility Wizard to install programs that otherwise wouldn't install.

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