Microsoft removes “hardware virtualization” requirement for XP Mode in: Professional, Ultimate, and Enterprise editions of Windows 7

Microsoft removes “hardware virtualization” requirement for XP Mode in: Professional, Ultimate, and Enterprise editions of Windows 7

http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/191938/windows_7_xp_mode_loses_hardware_requirement.html

http://windowsteamblog.com/

A new functionality that came with certain versions of Windows 7 (not all of them?) includes an “XP Mode” which comes with a full rendition of Windows XP. This was great for those that still like Windows XP or have a real reason to run XP because of Legacy Applications (Programs) that won’t run in Windows Vista or Windows 7.

Now grant it there are some persons, like myself, Alan Spicer, that require Operating Systems Virtualization not for legacy applications purposes, but for being able to “run” many different OS’s for educational and support (of my customers) purposes.

Anyway this XP Mode of Windows 7 only worked on hardware that could perform the “hardware assisted virtualization” which lots of PC Hardware (computers, laptops, desktops) does not have. I’m not even sure how you would shop for that. I don’t think it’s one of the “features” on a lot of the web sites or price / features sheets in stores. You’d almost have to be a geek (not that there’s anything wrong with that) to recognize that you would need that and know how to ask for it while computer shopping. Here’s a link that explains what this is all about.

http://www.desktop-virtualization.com/2008/05/14/what-hardware-virtualization-really-means/

Anyway, I for one, wanted to try the XP Mode out in Windows 7 - but I didn’t have hardware VT in any of my CPU’s in any of my computers. I was happy for a few seconds when I read the above linked post that the hardware requirement would be gone… only to be saddened a few seconds later when I realized that it was only for a few versions of Windows 7 … and definately not for Windows Home Premium, which I run on my main Windows 7 Desktop machine.

Now grant I have another machine around here (somewhere) that I think is running Windows 7 Professional 64-bit, I’d sure like to be able to do this on my main PC that’s hooked up to the big screen all of the time. I could get another Windows 7 Pro 64-bit at a discount … but I ‘ve already done upgrade on this machine from Windows Vista 64-bit to Windows 7 64-bit (it was a free upgrade) and going to Pro wasn’t supported in that free upgrade. Well at least I’m in the 64-bit class which lets me test 64-bit and 32-bit “stuff” on this class and see how well things work. And in general it has been working out *rather well* - thank you.

Soooo I’d like to see Microsoft bring this XP mode, with hardware VT requirement removed, brought down one more level to Windows 7 Home Premium. So we can all get a taste of it. Maybe the XP Mode wasn’t even in this version at all anyway? So maybe we’re asking for more than Microsoft is willing to give? But hey, we’re singing your song … we’re praising your Windows 7 OS release, how about throwing us a bone? ehhh?

* What’s all the fuss over XP Mode?

http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=896 

—

Alan Spicer (Radio Amateur KA4UDX)

Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom

http://www.marinetelecom.net - http://www.wifiyacht.net

+1 954 683 3426

communications (at) marinetelecom.net

This entry was posted on 25. March 2010 at 05:45 and is filed under General Computer onboard Sail and Motor Yachts. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.