Virtualbox

[papajuliet]

Does anyone have experience of the above ?
I want to use a program on Win7 home edition which worked fine on XP but won't in Win7 ( the compatibility mode is no use ).
The plan is to install XP into Win 7 by use of Virtualbox but I'm concerned that it might upset existing programs on the Win 7 PC.

[PJD1]

If you want to run XP as a virtual machine within Win 7 (or any other OS for that matter) then Oracle Virtualbox will do that https://www.virtualbox.org/


It is free open source software and any OS installed within Virtualbox is entirely self contained from your main operating system and will have no adverse effect on existing software.

[papajuliet]

Thank you PJD.

[Saab Dastard]

Two points to be aware of:

1) it's XP, it's extremely vulnerable having not had any updates for over 3 years, so should not be connected to the internet.

2) using anything other than Windows XP Mode (an XP VM), you will need to have a fully licensed copy of XP to install into the VM you create. Windows XP Mode is only available with Win 7 Pro, Ultimate & Enterprise, so not licensed for Home editions.

SD

[Octane]

Saab,

Your point 2) got me. I was all excited thinking I could use XP VM to run the software that controls my cars programmable ignition. But I only have Win10
home..:{
Still looking for an old abandoned XP laptop.. :(
A friend did offer me an old XP desktop PC, might be a bit difficult setting that up in the Mini! :}

[HowardB]

I think Octane comments (2) is referring to the capability of Win 7 to run XP by itself. Oracle Virtualbox is a separate "program" that runs within the original operating system (in my case Linux Mint) that allows me to load another operating system so the main requirement is that you must have a legal licensed copy of the software you are loading - in your case you need an original disc with XP on it + the license number.

It took me a morning to get the installation working plus another 12 hours while the new OS automatically loaded all the updates, and this was the very first time I attempted it. I recommend you have a search on the Internet for how to install Virtual Box in Win 7 to avoid any problems. For me everything worked without to much trouble including linking to the very temperamental USB comms link for my Garmin.

Virtual Box is free to use so give it a try.

PS Back up all your data before you attempt this since it a serious PIA if anything gets corrupted

[Mac the Knife]

Depending on your mobo/CPU you may have better answers than VirtualBox (nothing wrong with VirtualBox).

See: Windows 7 and 64-Bit Virtualization | Windows 7 and 64-Bit Virtualization | Pearson IT Certification (http://www.pearsonitcertification.com/articles/article.aspx?p=1692564)

and: https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/schadinio/2010/07/09/installing-hyper-v-manager-on-windows-7/

Mac

PS: As SAAB has said, XP is very insecure now unless it is completely isolated from the WWW - funnily enough, if your software will run on it, you may be safer with Win98 SE! There is an excellent UNOFFICIAL service pack available at: http://www.htasoft.com/u98sesp/ that is worth installing.

[Octane]

Hello Mac,

Does that help me in any way with my problem? (I'm only half computer savvy..)
Or do I need to keep searching for an XP laptop?

Thanks,

Michael

[Mac the Knife]

The quick answer is to keep searching for an XP laptop.

If you are running Win7 Home then my suggested reading may not help (Win7 Home has all sort of useful stuff disabled/not-installed) - but do have a look at them.

Can you divulge what app you are trying to run? Compatibility mode normally copes pretty well with even very old stuff. You may be able to get it to run in DosBox (q.v.)

Send me a PM if you don't want to air it all here.

Mac :-)

Edited to add: Checkout https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/virtual_pc_guy/2010/07/07/installing-windows-virtual-pc-on-windows-7-home-editions/