Run XP Mode on Windows 7 MachinesUsing VMware (Without Hardware Virtualization)One of the neatest new features in Windows 7 Professional and above is XPMode, but not all machines are capable of running it. Today we show you how touse VMware to run XP Mode on machines without Hardware Virtualization.Key LinksHow does this work?Even if your computer doesn’t have hardware virtualization, you can stillinstall XP Mode but just cannot run it as you can’t run Virtual PC. EnterVMware Player. This free program lets you create and run virtual machines,whether or not you have hardware virtualization.
And, it can directlyimport XP Mode so you can use that copy of XP for free. A couple featuresare different, but it’s still a great replacement since you otherwise couldn’tuse it at all.Note: XP Mode does not work on Home Versions of Windows 7 and you’ll needVMware Player 3.0 Getting StartedFirst, download and install XP Mode (link below). There is noneed to download Virtual PC if your computer cannot run it, so just download theXP Mode from the link on the left.Install XP mode; just follow the default prompts as usual.Now, download and install VMware player. The download is free, butrequires registration.You may see some prompts about installing drivers; simply approve them.We didn’t see them on our latest test, but have in the past.
When you arefinished installing VMware Player, you will have to restart your computer.Add XP Mode to VMware PlayerNow that your computer is rebooted, run VMware Player. We can import XPMode by clicking File, then click 'Import Windows XP Mode VM.' VMware Player will simply start importing your XP Mode. Converting XPmode to VMware format may take a couple minutes depending on your hardware, sojust be patient.When this is done, you should see a new virtual machine in VMware Playercalled XP Mode! Click 'Play Virtual Machine' to run XP Mode.XP will run through it’s first-run setup process.While it is loading, you may be prompted to install or update VMwareTools. This is required to integrate XP Mode into your computer, so clickUpdate Tools or Install Tools depending on you situation.The tools will automatically download and install, though you may have toapprove an UAC prompt.Now you can proceed with your XP setup.
Accept the licenseagreement,Choose your locale and keyboard settingsEnter a name for the virtual machine and an administrative passwordAnd enter the correct date, time, and timezone. It usually gets thecorrect time and date from your computer itself, but the time zone is oftenincorrect.XP will now finalize your changes, and then reboot.When XP Mode restarts, choose your settings for updates.Windows may ask to search for drivers. Simply press cancel, as VMwareTools will contain everything we need.After a short delay, you should see your XP desktop in VMware Player!There’s one last thing that needs to be installed – VMware Tools. Thisshould automatically open in XP Mode; if not, click Start, then My Computer, andfinally double-click on the CD drive which should say VMware Tools.Now, simply run the Tools installer with the Typical setup type, and rebootthe XP Mode when it’s finished.Now VMWare is setup and we’re ready to start integrating it with Windows7.Integrate XP Mode in VMware Player with Windows 7The real advantage of the default XP Mode in Windows 7 is that the XPprograms are fully integrated with their Windows 7 counterparts. You canrun them seamlessly with other programs, copy between them, and even open andsave files to the same folders.Let’s set this up in VMware. Copy and paste from Windows 7 to XP Modein VMware is activated by default.
To use your XP programs seamlessly withWindows 7, click VM on the top of the VMware window, and click 'EnterUnity.' You can easily access any program or file in XP mode through a dedicated XPMode Start Menu. When you hover over your Windows 7 Start button, a newbutton called 'Windows XP Mode' will above it. Click there to access afull start menu from XP Mode right in Windows 7.Here is an IE 6 window from XP running side-by-side with IE 8 in Windows 7,thanks to VMware Player!By default, the virtualized windows will have a border and the VMware logo ontheir edge.To remove this logo, click VM in the VMware player window, thensettings. Click on the Options tab, and choose Unity on the left.Now uncheck the boxes that say 'Show borders' and 'Show badges.' Without having the VMWare borders and badges give everything a more authenticXP Mode look and feel.You can even use removable devices, such as flash drives, in XP Mode inVMware Player. Whenever you connect a new device to your computer, VMwarewill remind you that you can add it to XP Mode.Simply click VM, then Removable Devices.
Select your device name, andclick Connect.Save Files in XP Mode to My Documents in Windows 7You may want to share the entire 'C' drive of the Windows 7 with the virtual XP computer.By default, files created in XP Mode in VMware Player will be saved insidethe virtual machine. It’s more convenient if they’re saved directly to theMy Documents folder in Windows 7, so let’s change this. Click VM, thenSettings.
Integrate Into Or Integrate With
Click the Options tab, and then choose Shared Folders on theleft. Now click the bullet for 'Always enabled' and check the box for 'Mapas a network drive in Windows guests.' Now click Add at the bottom of that window. This will let us add ashared folder.Let’s add the My Documents folder from Windows 7. Click Browse, andthen select your My Documents folder. Click Ok, and then click Next.Make sure the box is checked that says 'Enable this share' and then clickFinish.
You can now close the settings window as well.Back in XP Mode, click Start, then right click on My Documents, and selectProperties.Click Move to find the new My Documents folder.Find the folder we just shared from Windows 7 by clicking My Computer, thenthe drive that says 'Shared Folders on ‘vmware-host’' or somethingsimilar. Now select the folder we shared, Documents, and click Ok.Click Ok in the main properties window. It may offer to copy the filesfrom your old My Documents folder to the new one; choose Yes to make sure youhave all of your documents in Windows 7.Now, whenever you go to save a file in XP Mode, it will automatically save inyour My Documents folder on Windows 7.
You can repeat the same process forany folder you wish, such as your My Pictures and My Music folders.ConclusionThat’s all now you have your full XP Mode running on your computer withouthardware virtualization. Almost all the same features are there; the onlything you’re missing is the Start Menu integration, but VMware’s menu is thenext best thing. In our tests using VMware worked as good or better as actual XPMode on a machine that supports hardware virtualization. If you’re frustratedthat the Windows 7 machine(s) you have don’t support XP Mode, using our VMwaremethod works, and allows you to use it on whatever machine you want.Using Virtual Windows XP with MegaDotsVirtual Windows XP will allows you to run applications within the Virtual PC window.Install MegaDots in the Windows XP window.