Running xp programs on windows 7 home edition

You will need to have a full retail version of XP to install in the virtual machine which is not in use on any other computer. How satisfied are you with this reply? Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site. In reply to minibee's post on November 17, You have enough RAM. To find out if your processor supports virtualization, you can run Microsoft's utility.

You should check with its mftr. There's no point in spending extra money if the label printer won't work in a vm. This site in other languages x. For more information about how to use Windows Defender to scan for spyware and for other potentially unwanted software, visit the following Microsoft Web site:. Important This section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry.

However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:.

To do this, follow these steps:. If you do not want a program to run at Startup, find that particular program, and then delete its entry from one of these registry keys. You can add entries here also. But we recommend that you use the Windows Run at Startup policy setting to add programs that you want to run at Startup.

For more information about how to modify the startup programs for Windows XP Professional, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:. Need more help? Expand your skills. I'm getting ready to upgrade my XP system to Windows 7. What exactly is XP Mode and which programs will need it? Yes, Windows 7 will have an available feature called XP Mode, which will allow users to run a virtualized Windows XP, either in a separate window, or on the Win7 desktop.

XP Mode is aimed primarily at business users who have programs that run on Windows XP, but will not work properly on Vista or Windows 7, due to the new system architecture and improved security measures. If you'll pardon a little geekiness, the problem results from programmers bending the rules of writing Windows code. Instead of using the documented, official programming interfaces API , some programs have hooks directly into the operating system, or they rely on certain undocumented side effects of using the API calls on Windows XP systems.

One specific example is programs that write temp files in restricted folders, instead of to the designated folder for temp files. These shortcuts and sloppy techniques worked fine on XP, but they will cause some programs to work improperly or fail on Windows 7. Windows XP Mode gives users with "XP-only" programs a way to run those older application on the Windows 7 desktop, without making modifications to the source code.

Keep in mind that most of the software currently running on Windows XP systems will work fine on a Windows 7 machine. But there are some exceptions to the rule. Here are a few of the "bad boys" that will not work on Windows This is not an exhaustive list, by any means. Although the problem will mostly affect business users, I've read that some consumer-level software such as games and personal information managers may also have problems on Windows 7.

In some cases, the only way to know for sure will be to try running the program on a Windows 7 system. But even then, there may be subtle problems that can go unnoticed. So when in doubt, run your older mission-critical software in XP Mode. When I was a newly-hired programmer at IBM in the early s, I heard a speech given by one of the company's top salesman. And one quote from that day has stayed with me. The salesman said, "People always ask me 'How do computers work?

But in this context, I suppose I should give a few more details. XP Mode will not ship with Windows 7, but it will be available as a free download. But there's a hitch. Most home users will have the Home Premium version, because it will be pre-loaded on PC solds to the consumer market.

If you run a small business, or you have older peripherals that you can't part with, be forewarned and buy one of the Windows 7 editions that supports XP Mode. Actually, there might be another hitch. Older PCs with Celeron or Pentium processors will not cut it. And even on newer machines that DO have the chip-level virtualization feature, it might well be turned off by deafult. Check your BIOS to see if chip-level virtualization is supported and enabled.

I should mention that there are alternatives to using XP Mode. Virtualization tools such as VMWare and Parallels will allow users to run a virtual XP environment, in a window on the Windows 7 desktop. It won't be quite as slick or tightly integrated, but it will work, even for those with Windows 7 Home Edition. And if you're looking for adventure, you can even run XP on Linux or put Windows on your Mac using the same virtualization tools.

Are you planning to use XP Mode on a Windows 7 system? Post your comments and questions below This article was posted by Bob Rankin on 10 Jun Posted by: Rosalie 13 Jun This article is most interesting, as I am currently running Windows XP Pro 64 bit, Server , and there are quite a few programmes that don't have support.

I had been waiting for Win7 in the hope that these problems will be solved. I have 4GB. I really enjoy your newsletter and articles.