Windows 7 Ultimate and XP virtual PC: must have VT processor

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rv

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#52938 7-Dec-2009 19:53

Hi
Just some general info for people like me whos main intension of upgrading to windows7 pro/ultimate-was to have xP mode also...(to be able to run some 'older" programmes)-make sure your processor supports hardware assisted virtualisation (Virtualisation technology-VT). If you are intending to do so...have to go through a whole list of processors and choose which ones support VT. I have been told by Toshiba that only option is to get a machine which has VT-so I'm left with a brand new A500 running win7 ultimate. still would prefer win7 as much faster than vista but won't mind XP (actually need XP).
any ideas anyone?

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#280116 7-Dec-2009 20:00

You have a couple of options

1) You can get someone to downgrade your PC to Windows XP. Honestly though, I wouldn't recommend it. Windows 7 seems to be getting good reviews and is "the future" so you'd probably only find yourself upgrading in a couple of years anyway.

2) You could install a Virtual Machine (VM) on your computer. There's quite a few to pick from. There's VM Ware Player which is free, Virtual Box which is free and Microsoft offers some product as well.

This will allow you to run an instance of Windows XP inside your Windows 7. It's not ideal, as it'll use a lot of memory, but if you have a specific app you NEED XP for, it's probably better than option 1.

Hope this gives you a few ideas.

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#280124 7-Dec-2009 20:10

muppet: 2) You could install a Virtual Machine (VM) on your computer. There's quite a few to pick from. There's VM Ware Player which is free, Virtual Box which is free and Microsoft offers some product as well.

I think the point the OP made was that to do this you need to be aware of the capabilities of a machine and whether it supports virtualtisation in the processor and motherboard.

You can run some older virtualisation software without this but Hyper V in Windows 7 needs hardware virtualisation to work.

rv

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Master Geek

#280127 7-Dec-2009 20:17

thanx...clearly my processor does not support VT

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muppet

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#280129 7-Dec-2009 20:20

Yea, I was just saying what other options are available. Both VirtualBox and VMWare will work regardless of VT Support.

Or did I misunderstand the question "Any ideas anyone?" ?

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#280156 7-Dec-2009 21:35

This hurdle changes things slightly with your original issue and your requirement for Windows XP. I'll see what I can find out about running your particular application in other virtual environments. Although now moot, it looks like I'll finally get the chance to try out the application in question under XP mode this weekend.

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#280163 7-Dec-2009 21:50

rv: Hi
Just some general info for people like me whos main intension of upgrading to windows7 pro/ultimate-was to have xP mode also...(to be able to run some 'older" programmes)-make sure your processor supports hardware assisted virtualisation (Virtualisation technology-VT). If you are intending to do so...have to go through a whole list of processors and choose which ones support VT. I have been told by Toshiba that only option is to get a machine which has VT-so I'm left with a brand new A500 running win7 ultimate. still would prefer win7 as much faster than vista but won't mind XP (actually need XP).
any ideas anyone?

Do the programmes you want to run in XP not work in Windows 7?

as you've found Windows Virtual PC (Virtual PC 7) with XP Mode requires Hardware Virtualisation

Microsoft provides a tool for end users to check this capability on their PCs http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx and we are doing our best to encourage OEMs that ship machines with Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate on their hardware to have that hardware/chipset/CPU/BIOS support VT out of the box

the WVPC blog is here http://blogs.technet.com/windows_vpc/

Consider running Virtual PC 2007 SP1 which although is not supported on Windows 7, it runs fine, and does not require VT

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=28C97D22-6EB8-4A09-A7F7-F6C7A1F000B5&displaylang=en

You won't have all the same XP mode WVPC features with application publishing and remote applications integrated locally/seamless windows, but at least VPC will start

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Stu

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#280167 7-Dec-2009 21:56

The program which is the issue is Interbase 7. With Medtech32. Interbase 7 is bad enough under XP, and hasn't been supported for quite a while. An upgrade of Interbase will cost a bundle so trying to go down the virtual machine avenue, which isn't supported by Medtech but can work anyway.

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rv

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Master Geek

#280205 7-Dec-2009 23:48

Thanks Nathan and bighammer, it originally had windows vista home premium...so upgraded to win7ultimate ..so i could get xp..but only later found processor does not have VT.
I wonder if I could try the virtual pc 2007 ...will check it out

I fix people (or try to) not computers! (but trying to!)