VMLite (a virtualization technology based on VirtualBox ) can run XP Mode in Windows even if your processor is not capable of Hardware Virtualization.
Its a tweaked version of VirtualBox and can run XP Mode even in Windows Vista. The XP Mode in VMlite does not require activation.(You have to download XP Mode from Microsoft and install it with VMLite).
How to run Windows XP Mode in Windows 7 using VirtualBox when hardware virtualization is not available.
Migrating your operating system to Windows 7 is attractive to many XP users for no other reason than XP has bugs, limitations and after all...is nine years old. Windows 7 really is very stable and pretty smooth even on four-year-old hardware.
I'm running Windows 7 on a Dell Optiplex GX280 with a 3.4GHz Pentium P4 and 3GB of RAM and it has pretty good performance.
But XP doesn't actually upgrade to 7. Instead, you must overwrite or install a fresh copy of 7, perhaps on a new hard drive. And after installing it, you will discover some applications you used with XP are incompatible with 7.
My older applications like Act! 2008, QuickBooks 2002 and others will not run on Windows Vista or 7.
So Microsoft's Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate include a license which allows users to run a virtualized copy of Windows XP, SP3 "on top of" Windows 7 at no additional cost. This way, you can run your older applications in a real XP environment.
Find instructions and download it here.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx
Microsoft provides two tools - Windows Virtual PC and Windows XP Mode. XP Mode is actually a .vhd file with a copy of XP preinstalled, ready to license and run. A KEY.txt file containing an installation key is included in your C:Program FilesWindows XP Mode folder.
However there's one very big "gotcha" here which can quickly sour your enthusiasm.
Windows 7's version of Virtual PC will only run on systems with hardware virtualization capability, found only in the newest processors with Intel VT-x or AMD-V designs. Most older PCs do not have this, and believe it or not many new PCs don't either! Some systems have the feature, but you must enable it in your system's BIOS before it will work.
This means, even though your system may be new, and has Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate installed, you might not be able to run Windows Virtual PC or Windows XP Mode. Bummer.
But don't let that slow you down because there is a solution.
It turns out Windows XP Mode's license is carefully worded to allow its use on alternative virtualization products such as VMware, Parallels, Xen and Sun's VirtualBox. And interestingly, these products can open the .vhd file either natively, or by converting it. While these products can use the hardware virtualization feature, they don't require it.
Excellent news!
So my old Dell would not run Virtual PC, but does run VirtualBox very well. VirtualBox opens .vhd files as easily as it does it's own .vhi files.
The only problem I had the first time I tried it was an error message saying VirtualBox could not open the file for read/write. Then I copied and changed the new file's security to "Full" for "Everyone" and bang - it took off immediately.
The XP Mode virtual machine presented itself as an expand-on-demand 127GB hard disk image, taking up less than 1.4GB when configured.
Virtual machines require some special drivers and extensions to talk to your desktop through the virtual environment. Since Microsoft created the .vhd, only their own drivers were preinstalled, requiring me to install VirtualBox's extensions to fully support the display, keyboard and mouse. But that is required anyway when creating a Virtual Machine in all these products.
Sun's VirtualBox, free for personal use, is available at
http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads
Enjoy!
I am running Vista 32 bit and Seven 64 bit (dual boot) with a Core 2 Quad Q9550. Im am Trying to get XP mode to work in Seven. Microsoft says you need hardware virtualization in order to do that.
In Vista, I ran Intel's Processor Identification Utility and the processor does in fact have hardware virtualization. However, in Seven, both the Intel Processor ID Utility and Microsoft's Hardware Virtualization Detection Tool say that it does not.
Does anyone have any insight as to what the problem is?
If you need more info on my hardware specs feel free to ask.
EDIT: I can run virtual machines fine in Vista and there is no BIOS setting for VT, its always on.
I started thinking about our computers.. why we cannot run two operating systems on the same computer at the same time - without virtualization. We have plenty of Ram these days and often 2 or 4 Central Processing Units.
View 1 Replies View RelatedDo you guys use a third party VM ware or do you use virtualization for windows XP?? Also is virtualziation really vm ware?? I am looking to put some vm ware on my workstation to test files for accuracy and viruses before loading them to my server. I have thought about doing a VPNing to an old machine but after weeks of research I found out that you can still obtain a virus through VPN.
View 2 Replies View RelatedWhile trying to get an external HD (SATA-to-USB) to be recognized again after it disappeared, I read a suggestion to uninstall the USB drivers. After a reboot they were to reinstall automatically. Well, I also uninstalled the USB Virtualization driver (since it said USB...) and it did not reinstall.
I have uninstalled and reinstalled the XP Compatibility Mode, and tried to do the same with Virtual Machine, but it's an update and not a program. I read on a thread here that I can remove it and reapply it. Would that solve my problem?
(I'm trying to use a USB scanner and when I try to attach the USB with the tab in XP Mode I get an error that the USB Virtualization Driver is missing.)
I cant find the option to set Virtualization in my bios.
View 2 Replies View Relatedrunning Windows in a Virtual Machine on my Windows 7 PC. However I have 7 home premium and XP mode is not available for me. Are there any free tools I can use to Run a Virtual Machine in Windows 7 Home? Preferably running Windows 7 within Windows 7.
View 5 Replies View Relatedin my bios is no option for turning on virtualization .
securable showing that my vt locked off .
can i still run xp mode ?
ive looked in the bios and i cant find the option to enable it
View 2 Replies View RelatedI just ran SecurAble and found out that "Hardware Virtualization" is locked off.
Anyone know how I can turn it back on? I heard If It's on it would give me better performance.
My Bios is Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG on a GIGABYTE GA-Z68MA-D2H-B3 motherboard. i want to do this so i can have 2 or more of the same game up with a hack shield on it.
View 5 Replies View RelatedI'm not entirely sure if this possible and if it some help with it would be greatly appreciated Basically i have a webcam that has drivers soley for 32bit systems my Windows 7 ultimate is a 64bit system and windows wont install the drivers no matter how much i try and force it to. So i setup XP mode and it all works fine, i can run the video capturing software, Windows live messenger etc in XP mode with the USB webcam attached and it works a treat.
However it gets rather odious to have to keep running WLM via XP mode, so i was wondering if there was a way that the webcam's drivers will run in XP mode with it being in the background and then work on windows 7 so that i can use the applications in 7 instead of XP mode. Im not even sure where to start with something like this so if someone could point me in the right direction it would be nice.
Just to clarify as i do know that my written communication skills can be severly lacking sometimes :P, i just want the drivers to run and no applications for XP mode so that windows 7 can recognize the hardware, is it possible or is it not a realistic thing?
i have laptop, model: gigabyte w566N with intel T7250.
my Virtualization hardware locked on/
how can i open it in my bios?
I downloaded the untility provided by Intel as advertised on the Microsoft website for XP mode which says my processor does support virtualization. However I cannot find a way to enable it, it seems my OEM hasn't provided any option in the BIOS to do this, is there any other way?
View 3 Replies View RelatedI want to setup my laptop with VMWare or something similiar so that windows is running virtually, and every boot-up i am running a "fresh" windows install (sorta how most colleges have their systems setup), as well as have the option of booting into Ubuntu or Fedora as a dual boot option. BUT... i have not setup VMWare since WinXP days and they have so many products im not sure which one to go with.. i only see VMWare workstation for $250? that is too expensive. I use graphic heavy applications. Or, is there another option that will work just as good or decent?
View 2 Replies View RelatedAs some around here, I have a problem and hope that you might help me.
I installed Windows virtual machine, Virtual XP with virtualization activated in BIOS and when I launch it, I get the message:
"Virtual XP couldn't be started. Activate Virtualization in BIOS and try again"
any ideas?
After you save your settings please follow this important step below in order for VT to work properly.
1. Enable VT in bios (where the option is, depends on your MoBo manufacturer)
2. Save BIOS Settings
3. Exit BIOS
4. Shut Down PC (some PC's will shut down automatically for about 3-4 seconds when you save the BIOS. Some will NOT)
5. Leave PC off for about 5-10 seconds
6. Boot PC
you should be all set.
I think this should save a lot of the posts where folk have enabled VT in their bios but it is still not working.
sticky maybe?
how to turn on hardware virtualization in my biosmy model is:Manufacturer:Intel Corporation Model:DG41RQ Chipset Vendor:Intel Chipset Model:
View 5 Replies View RelatedI have a program which tries to write data to %windir%. I can make this program work if I open Windows Task Manager, right click the program's process and check the "UAC Virtualization". However, I dont want to do this every time I run the program, so is there a way to auto-enable the virtualization for this program?
I'm running Windows 7 pro/enterprise 64bit.
how to turn on hardware virtualization in bios ?. my mobo is Gigabyte MA780UD3H and my cpu is amd 7750 BE
and i want to know instructions to enable virtualization in my bios .
so, I've just installed Linux via VPC
everything works only. the MAX resolution is 800x600 and there are NO options to set this higher.
Maximizing the screen does nothing at all. anyone have any solutions?
p.s I'm using kubuntu
easy to use virtualization software that is able to run linux/ubantu. I am NOT using this for any important work at all. I am just using this to try it out and to show off to my friends thats all. So I just need a virtualization software to run ubantu.
System spec:
i7 2600k stock
gtx 560
8gb g.skill ripjaws X
fsp 500watt 80plus gold
crucial m4 64gb
1tb seagate barracuda
where to the disable hardware virtualization option is in BIOS.I have looked upon all the sections, and there is no option that lets me disable this feature. For example in the section named Security I am allowed to set some passwords (3 passwords in total - don't remember for what they were exactly) but pretty much nothing else is there. The first section is called Information and you are not allowed to change anything on that page.Finally, I have also verified that my processor has the option of hardware virtualization technology through the Intel Processor Identification Utility. My CPU is Intel Core i7-2670QM (2.2Ghz)(Extra Note: I need to disable this feature in order to run Mac OS X on VMWare)
View 2 Replies View RelatedWhat is the easiest and safest way to enable hardware-virtualization on my laptop? [code]
View 3 Replies View RelatedMicrosoft has released a program to detect if you hardware supports hardware assisted virtualization and if this is enabled in the bios. Download Details - Microsoft Download Center - HAV Detection Tool
View 4 Replies View RelatedDiscovered after several fresh installs after playing with virtualization that is was blocked by webcam install..
The webcam works okay (s8850i by sonix) in 7/64 and good in skype..but stops virtualization dead till it is disabled or uninstalled.
From my experience with it so far Virtualization seems very easily disrupted.
I just seem to get over one thing and something else plays up...having real second thoughts as all these things go great in xp now.
Anyway thought this info might help someone if they find the virtualization installed ok but wont run, check by disabling drivers, webcams seem to be a real issue in the win 7 64.
I have purchased and downloaded both 32 bit and 64 bit Windows7 Professional (no CDs or media here only download version)
I sucessfully upgraded from Vista 32 to Windows 7 32
Then I upgraded my hard disk (140Gb 500GB) and RAM (3GB to to 4GB)
Now I would like to go from Windows 7 32bit to 64bit
When I try and run the Windows 7-P-retail-en-us.x64.exe file it upacks the box then stops with this error:"We are unable to create or save files in the folder in which this application was downloaded. Please check the folder properties to make sure that you have security permission on the folder to write flies and that that folder is not read only".
I am the System Admin and I have full rights, and have moved the exe and the setup box files to My Documentsand I have modified the directory properties/attributes but I still get the same error over and over.
I searched the posts and some people stated one needs a clean install others say you can upgrade from any version so I am trying the upgrade here especially since the upgrade from Vista 32 to Windows 7 32 was smooth and did require all the extra work of a reinstall.
Is it possible to upgrade in place from Windows 7 32bit to Windows 7 64bit.
Is it better to do a clean new 64bit install?
I purchased the Win 7 Pro Upgrade 32bit via digitalriver, but I've been doing some reseach and probably should have selected the 64bit version.
- Any ideas how I can get the 64bit version?
- For those who ordered the 32bit back-up disc kit for the extra $15 and have received it, does it come with both 32bit & 64bit?
- I've already installed and activated the 32bit version, but when I go to install the 64bit version, will I need to / is there a way to deactivate my initial 32bit install or will this not matter?
I'm currently running 32-bit Windows 7 (Professional, full version) on my laptop, and want to use this machine to create a bootable USB drive with 64-bit Windows 7 (also Professional, full version). I tried going through the steps that are available on various tutorials online, but I'm always tripped up while attempting to use bootsect to make the drive bootable; basically I get an error saying that I need to be using a 64-bit OS.
I don't have convenient access to a computer with 64-bit Windows Vista/7 (I work at an academic institution where all pubic computers have XP or Linux), so I'm wondering if there's any way to get around this and create a bootable USB for 64-bit Windows 7 via a 32-bit OS.