Secret No More: Revealing Windows XP Mode for Windows 7

[Singh400]

Pretty nifty idea

Over a month ago, we were briefed about a secret Microsoft technology that we were told would be announced alongside the Windows 7 Release Candidate (RC) and would ship in final form simultaneously with the final version of Windows 7. This technology, dubbed Windows XP Mode (XPM, formerly Virtual Windows XP or Virtual XP, VXP), dramatically changes the compatibility story for Windows 7 and, we believe, has serious implications for Windows development going forward. Here’s what’s happening.

http://community.winsupersite.com/bl...windows-7.aspx

http://www.withinwindows.com/2009/04...for-windows-7/

[Infinite]

I will probably never use or need it. But it is good to know that it is there.

[directhex]

if this technology works, then Microsoft have opened up the possibility for writing a new OS without all the legacy crap - and having an "embedded" old version for running the old, bad apps. they've needed this for so long

[Saracen]

It'll be interesting to see if this actually materialises in a shipping version, and if so, which versions, and more importantly, how well it lives up to the possibilities.

If it fulfils all that, it'll negate one of the reasons I haven't moved most of my machines to Vista. Not all of the reasons, but some one of them.

[Hicks12]

It'll be interesting to see if this actually materialises in a shipping version, and if so, which versions, and more importantly, how well it lives up to the possibilities.

If it fulfils all that, it'll negate one of the reasons I haven't moved most of my machines to Vista. Not all of the reasons, but some one of them.

I think this answers your question...

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

[Saracen]

I think this answers your question...

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

If it proves to be accurate about what really happens at retail, it answers part of the question, yes. But with this kind of early, unofficial info, it may well not prove to be accurate, and even if it is dead accurate now, it may well change by shipping date. So nope, it doesn't answer it, I'm afraid.

[Agent]

If this literally just is MS Virtual PC then I'm not all that fussed about it as it'll still be limited to the 'hardware' that the VM is set to.

Can I run games in it, at good frame rates with proper 5.1 Direct3D sound? If not, I barely see it's use.
Sure, there were problems with program compatibility with Vista at launch but the RTM was in 2006 - how many people are running XP only programs with no Vista fix?

Granted, the 'not in desktop' mode is nice though.
If it had been in Vista, that would have been a different matter though - but the compatibility issues going from Vista to Windows 7 are going to be minimal compared to the last round.

[arthurleung]

If this literally just is MS Virtual PC then I'm not all that fussed about it as it'll still be limited to the 'hardware' that the VM is set to.

Can I run games in it, at good frame rates with proper 5.1 Direct3D sound? If not, I barely see it's use.
Sure, there were problems with program compatibility with Vista at launch but the RTM was in 2006 - how many people are running XP only programs with no Vista fix?

Granted, the 'not in desktop' mode is nice though.
If it had been in Vista, that would have been a different matter though - but the compatibility issues going from Vista to Windows 7 are going to be minimal compared to the last round.

Half of my games don't work in a 64bit environment due to copy protection check. I wonder if the VM use the same bits as the host system.

[TheAnimus]

if this technology works, then Microsoft have opened up the possibility for writing a new OS without all the legacy crap - and having an "embedded" old version for running the old, bad apps. they've needed this for so long

They always had a compatbility mode.

The downside of running an OS in an OS should be obvious, configuration hell etc.

[pauldarkside]

Isn't that just a restricted version of MED-V? I was hoping Microsoft would lower the requirements for MDOP, i.e. not just for enterprise/volume license users, as there's a lot of functionality which would help me when dev testing.

[Phil_P]

If this literally just is MS Virtual PC then I'm not all that fussed about it as it'll still be limited to the 'hardware' that the VM is set to.

Can I run games in it, at good frame rates with proper 5.1 Direct3D sound? If not, I barely see it's use.
Sure, there were problems with program compatibility with Vista at launch but the RTM was in 2006 - how many people are running XP only programs with no Vista fix?

Well, this probably isn't aimed at people like you, but more enterprise who are reluctant to upgrade from XP given 1) the cost implications, and 2) compatibility concerns. I assume this is supposed to address the latter for that mission critical legacy application most organisation's are dependent upon.

Microsoft's revenue stream is being seriously diminished, as demonstrated by their first ever quarter of slowed growth (only 2bn profit last quarter!), due to the lack of existing customers upgrading and new systems being purchased. Most of their revenue still comes from Windows/Office so they need a steady stream of customers upgrading which hasn't happened with Vista.

I agree though, they are not really offering anything new with this that isn't already out there for free.

[Singh400]

Rafael Rivera has posted Part 1 of his detailed look at WXPM...

...

To start, Windows XP Mode (XPM) is a new tight-knit solution of several already-available-today technologies. At the core of XPM are Virtual PC 7 (VPC) and the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) protocol. While VPC’s purpose is pretty clear, RDP’s may not. XPM makes heavy use of RDP features such as Remote Applications Integrated Locally (RAIL), compositing, and multi-monitor support.

...

[autopilot]

I for one am very pleased with this development. I don't think i am in an unusual position - i have a few older devices that wont work with vista, most notably my old Sony HandyCam and my Freeview PVR. This would negate the need to have a dual boot system that i use maybe once every 3 months at best. I think there could be a lot of people in this position.

[Singh400]

I for one am very pleased with this development. I don't think i am in an unusual position - i have a few older devices that wont work with vista, most notably my old Sony HandyCam and my Freeview PVR. This would negate the need to have a dual boot system that i use maybe once every 3 months at best. I think there could be a lot of people in this position.

Yup yup. Excellent idea by Microsoft. I have some programs that don't quite work properly with Vista, this'll fix that

It's going to be included in Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate editions. Which is pretty much everyone covered. Serious home users will either have Pro or Ultimate SKUs where most businesses will have Enterprise.

[aidanjt]

Well, this probably isn't aimed at people like you, but more enterprise who are reluctant to upgrade from XP given 1) the cost implications, and 2) compatibility concerns. I assume this is supposed to address the latter for that mission critical legacy application most organisation's are dependent upon.

Microsoft's revenue stream is being seriously diminished, as demonstrated by their first ever quarter of slowed growth (only 2bn profit last quarter!), due to the lack of existing customers upgrading and new systems being purchased. Most of their revenue still comes from Windows/Office so they need a steady stream of customers upgrading which hasn't happened with Vista.

I agree though, they are not really offering anything new with this that isn't already out there for free.

Not all software utilising DirectX or indeed, OpenGL are games. Think of propitiatory modelling/design software. How is an engineer suppose to use Win7 when their primary production software doesn't work with it?

Accelerated host hardware should be exposed to the VM guest. Agent's point is valid.

And this *really* should be offered to home premium customers as well. Just because they're more likely to go with the flow, it doesn't mean they should have to pay to upgrade their existing software to 'vista compatible'.

[Phil_P]

Not all software utilising DirectX or indeed, OpenGL are games. Think of propitiatory modelling/design software. How is an engineer suppose to use Win7 when their primary production software doesn't work with it?

Accelerated host hardware should be exposed to the VM guest. Agent's point is valid.

And this *really* should be offered to home premium customers as well. Just because they're more likely to go with the flow, it doesn't mean they should have to pay to upgrade their existing software to 'vista compatible'.

Absolutely agreed - as someone who spent years working with modelling software on SGI IRIX you don't need to tell me that

Again, agreed it would be nice if accelerated host hardware were exposed to the VM guest but I'm not aware of any mainstream VM software that does (not sure about stuff like VMware on bare metal/Xen/KVM etc)

That said, as I said this probably isn't aimed at that market, as that's not Microsoft's core market. It's more likely aimed at Enterprise who has some legacy accounting package or whatever.