Windows XP Compatibility Mode

Martin | Apr 25, 2009 | Comments

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Remember the bag of surprises that one Microsoft executive mentioned a few weeks ago (Major Windows 7 Announcements upcoming) ? Everyone was speculating from that point on which included final release date predictions to major interface changes. One of the things that most interested users did not think of was the introduction of the Windows XP compatibility mode in Windows 7 which will be included in Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate.

You may be asking why this is considered a major feature: It basically adds Windows XP compatibility to Windows 7 meaning that companies do not have to fear that their applications will not run in Windows 7 if they are working fine in Windows XP. This can be a huge incentive for companies to make the switch to Windows 7.

Paul Thurrott provides an in depth description of the feature:

XP Mode consists of the Virtual PC-based virtual environment and a fully licensed copy of Windows XP with Service Pack 3 (SP3). It will be made available, for free, to users of Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate editions via a download from the Microsoft web site. (That is, it will not be included in the box with Windows 7, but is considered an out-of-band update, like Windows Live Essentials.) XPM works much like today’s Virtual PC products, but with one important exception: As with the enterprise-based MED-V (Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization) product, XPM does not require you to run the virtual environment as a separate Windows desktop. Instead, as you install applications inside the virtual XP environment, they are published to the host (Windows 7) OS as well. (With shortcuts placed in the Start Menu.) That way, users can run Windows XP-based applications (like IE 6) alongside Windows 7 applications under a single desktop.

virtual windows xp

The interesting aspect here is that the applications will run on the same single desktop. This is good for the end user who can concentrate working on one computer system. Microsoft can now not only claim full compatibility to Windows Vista but also to Windows XP which should make a huge difference in the perception of the new operating system.

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About the Author: Martin Brinkmann is an Online Journalist from Germany who discovered his love for technology in high school. He is currently working as a freelancer for several publications and runs his own Internet website Ghacks

  • Michael
    Thats an awesome little feature. I know it was going to be something good, bot not like this. This will really help buisness's migrate over.
  • Jan
    That is actually great! But will it allow compatibility for 16-bit applications? And wouldn't that slow the PC down considerably as well as enlarge the OS itself (since it's basically 3 OS's in one - 7, Vista and XP)?
  • Ryan
    This is a great....
    I think It would slow down the computer to.. but I guess if companies do upgrade they need to spend a little more money for the computers to be able to run this Virtual PC but in the long run it will be great...
  • naruto007
    omg yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! now ill be able to play fiesta online without waiting those lazy devs to make it compatible.
  • Chris
    Hmm. From the software developer point of view id does not look too great.
    1. Microsoft can now remove old 'baggage' of API creating new OSs claiming that it is fully compatible with older ones anyway using VirtualPC
    2. Older programs will be immediatelly moved into virtualPC domain which means that they will run way slower and will be more cumbersome to be used effectively forcing developers to release quickly for each new OS... :-(
  • Saii
    Actually i just tried playing Fiesta using this, after pressing login you get two x-trap errors and the game closes. T_T
  • jnrdavo
    how do you get virtual xp to run?

    There are no menus to enable you to run virtual xp (I'm assuming it's the same as Virtual PC) in the RC1 candidate.
  • Arleen
    What if we have Vista Home Premium and are upgrading to Windows 7 Home Premium will we not be able to get this fix to have Windows Virtual XP? I have an older embroidery machine that requires XP to run. It also requires a parellel port for the card reader. I did contact Husqvarna about a patch and they basically told me I had to purchase the $2500.00 new software, that they were not going to do any patches for this machine. I purchased a new laptop which doesn't have a parellel port. If I purchased a cord to try and connect to a USB if it will even recognize the card reader which has a dongle attached. If anyone has any clue on how to help or where I can go to ask for help, I would greatly appreciate any comments.
  • Slimboy
    If you get the Windows 7 Professional (or higher), you will be able to download the Windows XP Virtual Environment for free. This simply represents a seamless virtual environment for XP applications. For any version, if you already have a copy of Windows Vista on your PC, you can create a dual-boot setup on your hard drive for when you want to use the embroidery machine with Windows XP. Here's an illustrated guide:
    "http://apcmag.com/how_to_dual_boot_vista_and_xp_with_vista_installed_first__the_stepbystep_guide.htm"

    (copy/paste the url, I don't like hotlinking - leads to viruses)
  • Jerv
    So basically you can either pay Microsoft more money OR kiss all of your old apps goodbye.
    If I wanted to dualboot Windows, the other OS would not be an earlier version; it would be Linux. Heck, Linux is more compatible with Windows that Windows is!

    Smooth move, Microsoft.
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