XP Mode no longer requires VT

[SpywareDr]

Windows XP Mode now accessible to more PCs
http://windowsteamblog.com/blogs/win...-more-pcs.aspx

Posted by: Brandon LeBlanc 09:00 AM Thursday Mar 18, 2010

We’re announcing an update to Windows XP Mode today that will make it a more accessible to PCs in small and midsize businesses who want to migrate to Windows 7 Professional but have applications that still require Windows XP. Windows XP Mode will no longer require hardware virtualization technology to run. This change makes it extremely easy for businesses to use Windows XP Mode to address any application incompatibility roadblocks they might have in migrating to Windows 7. Windows XP Mode will of course continue to use hardware virtualization technology such as Intel VT (Intel Virtualization Technology) or AMD-V if available. You can find more information and download the update which will go live later today here.

[SuperSparks]

I imagine it will be a bit of a dog on CPUs that don't have VT though. TBH, virtualisation wasn't that great an experience even on some of the older processors that did have VT. It's only with my latest build, a Core i7-920 with 12 gigs of RAM, that virtual machines finally feel like they are actually running on native hardware.

Still, judging by the comments it has made some folks happy.

[Steve R Jones]

Great News for many...Too bad they didn't fix it so Win 7 Home Pro people could use it.

[SpywareDr]

Straight from the horse's mouth ...

Windows XP Mode and Windows Virtual PC frequently asked questions
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/vir...pport/faq.aspx

(Q) Is hardware virtualization a must-have to run Windows XP Mode?

(A) No. Windows XP Mode can be run on a CPU without hardware virtualization.


(Q) Is hardware virtualization better?

(A) For Windows XP Mode the performance will be more than acceptable with or without hardware virtualization. For developers using Virtual PC with Windows Vista or Windows 7 virtual machines we recommend HAV as the non-HAV is only tuned for XP Mode.


(Q) Why is Windows XP Mode not available in Windows 7 Home Premium?

(A) Windows XP Mode is best suited for older business and productivity applications such as accounting, inventory, and similar applications. Windows XP Mode is not aimed at consumers because many consumer applications require extensive use of hardware interfaces, such as 3-D graphics, audio, and TV tuners, that do not work well under virtualization today.

[DVOM]

Great News for many...Too bad they didn't fix it so Win 7 Home Pro people could use it.

XP Mode runs fine in VMware Player.

[HAN]

Well, it proves someone in Redmond is alive and listening. Not to mention realizing that they can make more money by selling Win 7 to XP oriented businesses that were still holding out...

[SuperSparks]

Except I'm bit baffled by exactly who has been clamouring for this Hardware virtualisation has been available on the majority of AMD and Intel processors since mid 2006. I was using virtual machines back then, and although it was still quite useful, it was a pretty painful experience, performance wise. I find it hard to believe that there has really been a big demand from people wanting to run Win7 and XP Mode on 5 years or older machines. Especially when the virtualisation experience is sooooooo much better on recent hardware.

[DVOM]

Sparks, a lot of new Intel powered laptops don't have VT capability. I think MS realized that by requiring VT technology, they were either somewhat discouraging businesses from buying new laptops with Win7 (if they wanted Intel), or worse, people would buy the laptop with Intel then use VMware to power XP Mode.

So really, they were cutting their own throats 2 different ways.

I've read that one business use of virtualization is to provide a secure environment for laptops accessing the company servers. So for this use, MS was literally forcing companies to use the VMware competition. And, I would imagine, most companies would rather use one standard product rather than mixing and matching differing products. So they might have a tendency to go with the VMware competition throughout their company.

[SuperSparks]

Ah, that's a good point DVOM, I was thinking of Desktops. I must confess to being a bit desktop-centric, having never really felt the need for a lapper.