View Full Version : MS unveils "Virtual XP Mode" in Windows 7
Blighter
26-04-2009, 18:07
http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2009/4/25/1240694721396/WindowsVPC7.jpg
Microsoft Corp. will unveil an add-on to Windows 7 that lets users run applications designed for Windows XP in a virtual machine, the company confirmed Friday — the first time Microsoft has relied on virtualization to provide backward compatibility.Dubbed “Windows XP Mode,” the add-on creates an XP virtual environment running under Virtual PC, Microsoft’s client virtualization technology, within Windows 7, said Scott Woodgate, the director of Windows enterprise and virtualization strategy. In a post to a company blog (http://windowsteamblog.com/blogs/business/archive/2009/04/24/coming-soon-windows-xp-mode-and-windows-virtual-pc.aspx), Woodgate said the add-on is part of the pitch to convince businesses to migrate to Windows 7. “All you need to do is to install suitable applications directly in Windows XP Mode,” said Woodgate. “The applications will be published to the Windows 7 desktop and then you can run them directly from Windows 7.”
Details of Windows XP Mode (XPM) were first reported Friday afternoon by Rafael Rivera and Paul Thurrott, two prominent bloggers who are also collaborating on a book, Windows 7 Secrets, due out this fall. Windows 7 Enterprise is available only to companies with volume licensing agreements. Windows XP Mode (XPM) requires processor-based virtualization support and is based on the next-generation Microsoft Virtual PC 7 virtualization technology, said Rivera, who also disclosed that Microsoft will include a fully licensed copy of Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) with the add-on. That, in effect, gives Windows 7 users a way to run older applications without having to pay for another operating system license. Rivera also touted, as had Woodgate, the ability to run Windows XP applications directly from the Windows 7 desktop without having to first open a separate virtual machine window.
This looks VERY promising.
I love Windows 7 as it is at the moment, this will just make it better :D
So far so good for 7. Looks like Microsoft might be finally learning what users need/want after the whole Vista shambles.
I bet there's a measurable overhead on that though. Mind you, power is cheap these days. Waiting to hear if we can test that in the RC.
Sounds very handy! Rather looking forward to Windows 7. If I had a spare box, I'd have tried it out by now.
Briggykins
26-04-2009, 18:48
Anyone else think this just might make some of the lazier or greedy devs just rehash old XP code? I can see for compatibility it's a good thing, but running under a VM is always a lot slower than using native software.
Mind you, I'm a complete Vista lover. 7 does look promising, but I'm hoping there'll be some sort of upgrade path for it, otherwise I'm going to hang on to little unloved Vista.
It's not that much slower on modern kit. It is an utter memory hog though.
I'd assume this is primarily aimed at software that was sufficiently badly written that it just doesn't work on Vista/Windows 7, or requires old drivers or other stuff that just don't work any more.
Not a bad solution to that particular problem IMO. Most well-written software should work without emulation, especially now that Vista has been around a few years.
Sounds very handy! Rather looking forward to Windows 7. If I had a spare box, I'd have tried it out by now.
You could always stick it on a seperate drive or partition and have it as a dual boot. It's how I've got it setup on my laptop. :)
You could always stick it on a seperate drive or partition and have it as a dual boot. It's how I've got it setup on my laptop. :)
True, forgot about partitioning :o I've only got a laptop now but partitioning could be a plan. Might see if I can find some time spare to get it set up.
Tempted to have a go at that myself. I have a 20GB partition set aside for OS testing on the laptop - hopefully that's enough.
Blighter
26-04-2009, 19:37
I'm a complete Vista lover.
OXYMORON ;D
Briggykins
26-04-2009, 19:47
OXYMORON ;D
Most people omit the 'Oxy' :)
w7 is running on both my netbooks so stupidly fast that I've ditched sloppy XP SP3 for the OS. Installed w7 on my main desktop earlier today but my Auzentech Meridian soundcard drivers just weren't working well with it so it's back to Vista x64 I go...for now.
Build 7100 is just rock solid and really shines on netbooks.
Hmm. Wonder if it'll do that on my old PIII ultraportable. Save for graphics and memory bandwidth, it's not that far behind Netbooks benchmark-wise (PCMark05 950 vs 1450-ish).
Only got 1GB RAM though (well only 512MB but an upgrade is on the way from the States).
Keep in mind that RC1 is being released to all and sundry on May 5th, I'm looking forward to the updated build.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/04/26/windows_7_release_candidate/
I'll be able to get it on Thursday then, and I'm sure it'll be leaked to the masses before May 5th. :)
Blighter
26-04-2009, 21:22
How are people finding the new taskbar?
Streeteh
26-04-2009, 22:21
Haven't tried 7 yet, looking forward to it though, i'm one of the idiots that bought Vista and really want to move on to better things asap.
On the whole resource issue when running VM, surely any software that requires XP in order to run shouldn't really be that much of a resource hog? All i can think of is older games really and obviously newer systems running 7 will walk all over them.
It's not the software itself, it's the extra resource to run and maintain a guest operating system in parallel with your host OS.
Streeteh
26-04-2009, 22:23
Oh i get that, but surely those resources won't be required unless you're running an app that requires windows XP to run? If so then the resource issue is a... non-issue i guess :p
In ubuntu i can start and stop a VM as i please, to me it sounds like the same sort of thing except more streamlined with less need of interaction from the user. When you need the VM windows 7 will just launch it, when you finish with the application it'll shut it down thus freeing up resources.
Either way, from what ive read windows 7 is very resource light in comparison to vista so it's got some headroom for expansion before it outdoes it's ugly step child.
Tempted to have a go at that myself. I have a 20GB partition set aside for OS testing on the laptop - hopefully that's enough.
Plenty, the install footprint is relatively small. Used about 9GB on my main machine (including anything in prog files etc.) having installed a few things on it.
Oh i get that, but surely those resources won't be required unless you're running an app that requires windows XP to run? If so then the resource issue is a... non-issue i guess :p
The resources will be loaded, and the resources/dependencies for an entire OS are numerous - Mark's right, memory's where you get hit these days, and IO potentially depending on what you're doing. The chips do a lot more to help with the CPU resource overhead.
GSXRMovistar
26-04-2009, 22:59
Big fan of Windows 7 so far, been running it (Beta) on my little netbook for about a month or so now and had no problems at all. Seems very stable, quick, and more importantly easy to use. Thumbs up!
Keep in mind that RC1 is being released to all and sundry on May 5th, I'm looking forward to the updated build.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/04/26/windows_7_release_candidate/
Cool, I'll wait for that then and maybe give it a shot :) I'm bored computer wise, in the mood for tinkering ;D
Briggykins
27-04-2009, 15:01
Gizmodo have an interesting article (http://i.gizmodo.com/5226696/windows-7-release-candidate-1s-best-surprise-new-features) about some stuff coming up in the RC, which I'm actually looking forward to now. One bit of unwelcome news tho is that the XP mode isn't going to be free in Home Premium, which seems rather mean.
I still dislike Windows' tiered options for their OS. Can't they make it simpler, with a standard and premium version? Or if possible, just one version like OSX? At the moment, to get everything you have to hunt for the "Ultimate" version, but even then, you hope there isn't something like "Ultimate Omega" version waiting in the wings.
Looks like it's worth it for the wallpapers alone. Bonkers! ;D
I've got to agree, this is a much better solution to the backwards compatibility than the very buggy backwards compatibility mode currently used by XP and Vista. Hopefully this will mean from Windows 8 they'll be able to completely scrap all the unneeded bloat that provides such abilities.
I'm really baffled by their insistence on providing umpteen dozen versions of their software, at most I would expect to see an Enterprise and a Home version of the software, with an appropriate selection of default packages and additional features built into each; e.g. no games and reduced multimedia stuff in enterprise, but maybe some other productivity tools.
The really stupid idea is the stripped down lite version of windows that they're aiming at developing countries and netbooks. It just proves that they have no clue about their markets at all. Linux has a strong presence in the poor markets because it'll do everything windows can, for free. Why are they going to pay for an OS that'll only allow them to run 3 applications? Heck, I've got more than that running as TSRs.
The Netbook market is even more savvy. They've got to want to keep those guys onside, surely?
Cool, I'll wait for that then and maybe give it a shot :) I'm bored computer wise, in the mood for tinkering ;D
It's out: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/download.aspx
Big fan of Windows 7 so far, been running it (Beta) on my little netbook for about a month or so now and had no problems at all. Seems very stable, quick, and more importantly easy to use. Thumbs up!
Here's a nice piece of stupidity by MS. Currently they're only going to be providing Windows 7 Starter Edition for use by netbook companies. If you're not aware of it, Starter Edition restricts you to using just 3 applications simultaneously.
So not only will you have to pay extra for a netbook to come with Windows rather than Linux, they'll gimp you for the privilege.
Del Lardo
05-05-2009, 08:22
Downloading :)
They must have a big fat pipe, 10% ~200mb in a couple of minutes!
Briggykins
05-05-2009, 09:27
Do you need a key or anything? I downloaded a copy from Usenet a couple days ago which I never got round to installing (checked the MD5 against a known good copy tho) but there's no point in downloading it again from MS if it'll work as is.
It's out: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/download.aspx
Thank you :D
Downloading now :)
Do you need a key or anything? I downloaded a copy from Usenet a couple days ago which I never got round to installing (checked the MD5 against a known good copy tho) but there's no point in downloading it again from MS if it'll work as is.
Any w7 beta key will do. Hell thousands of us will most likely be using the same set of keys anyway.
If you go through the webby, you can just refresh the 'Download Now' page and it generates keys :p
All up and running and completely painless. Trying to work out what's changed...
Reckon I'm just going to format and install Windows 7. Saves the faffing about with partitioning and dual booting (every time I've ever dual booted, I've always settled on one OS leaving the other redundant), and gives me something to tinker with :D
Just be aware that if you do that, some things don't work with Windows 7 yet (mostly things that dig deep into the OS like some anti-virus products, Punkbuster and so on).
No problems there :) I really have very basic uses for PCs now :p As long as I can go online and use Word, that's all I need really.
Done a bit of research and can't see anything affecting me really, touch wood!
Go for it then. :)
I just need to find somewhere to install it. Looking like it'll be one of the two laptops - either my old netbook-like one or the Dell.
I even ended up using the beta version as my main OS and have no qualms recommending this version as you'll be using it in a similar vein to me (internet, word, mp3s etc).
Also I don't think many people have reported problems with antivirus software and aVast is working great for me.
Cool, Avast is my AV of choice :D
Might do that later on then, see what time I get.
Admiral Huddy
06-05-2009, 11:02
Very handy.. It's a nightmare keeping 3 or 4 OSs running so this will make things easier.
Flibster
06-05-2009, 12:56
This is going to be support hell...
Also - lazy coders will take advantage of it.
Damn...
Well that was one of the smoothest fresh OS installations I've ever done. Took about 25mins and all I really had to do was type in the key and tell it my wireless network passkey. Everything else was done for me.
So far no problems so I'm happy :)
If I want to play with this on my laptop (Macbook Pro), should I grab the 32 bit or the 64 bit version?
To be fair if we ignore the XP virtualisation, which i really don't think would extend to 3d video. Windows 7 is pretty much the same as Vista at its core isn't it? I'm not a fan of people Vista bashing and hailing 7 as something new when it clearly isn't its just a polished version of vista, which needed some polish agreed but thats all really...
OK, so that's quoted from another thread but I think it's valid here.
I've just spent an evening with Windows 7 on my laptop and I have to agree with what Alex has said. Personally I liked Vista, I had no problems with it at all but I put that down to the fact that I specifically built a top of the range PC to run it.
But anyway, back to Windows 7. I installed it, got everything working on the lappy and it had a very respectable performance index. It all ran, but all I could see was Vista with different themes.
So I feel a bit 'meh' towards Windows 7. I've now removed it and really can't see myself reinstalling it.
It's quite simple - Windows 7 is what Vista should have been. It's leaner and faster, and that can only be a good thing. It's not groundbreaking though. I never bought a copy of Vista (preinstalls excepted), but I might with Windows 7.
Exactly, it's Vista but finished properly.
Massive list of small improvements, big improvements and everything in between here - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Features_new_to_Windows_7
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