SHP Forums

Collector wrote:Try the knowledge base update part of XP Mode

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download ... px?id=6906

Download. Tried to install.

"This update is not applicable to your computer."

Guessing this virtual XP thing may not work on Home Editions.

Download and install Windows Virtual PC.
Download XP Mode (just select Windows 7 Ultimate and the desired language in the drop down boxes for people who download from Download Windows XP Mode – genuine Windows validation required, else you will be prompted that you’re not eligible to download Windows XP Mode).
Install the pre-configured and pre-activated XP Mode. During installation, the following error will occur on Windows XP Home Basic and Premium edition:
Windows XP Mode cannot be set up
Windows XP Mode is not available on this edition of Windows
?
or,
You are not using the correct version of Windows 7 to install Windows XP Mode. Please click this link to upgrade.
?
Ignore the error. The Windows XP Mode is still been installed.
Restart the computer.

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/wind ... 1cbbd63bf2

Collector wrote:

Download and install Windows Virtual PC.
Download XP Mode (just select Windows 7 Ultimate and the desired language in the drop down boxes for people who download from Download Windows XP Mode – genuine Windows validation required, else you will be prompted that you’re not eligible to download Windows XP Mode).
Install the pre-configured and pre-activated XP Mode. During installation, the following error will occur on Windows XP Home Basic and Premium edition:
Windows XP Mode cannot be set up
Windows XP Mode is not available on this edition of Windows
?
or,
You are not using the correct version of Windows 7 to install Windows XP Mode. Please click this link to upgrade.
?
Ignore the error. The Windows XP Mode is still been installed.
Restart the computer.

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/wind ... 1cbbd63bf2

I never got the error stated above. It appears to go all the way through the initial set up. But I never get a configuration or anything. Rebooted. Still the same.

Finally got it to show - launched it and... and this was after the reboot.

So yeah. You can get it to run if you follow those entire steps:

Despite Microsoft claims that Windows XP Mode cannot run on Windows 7 Home Premium and Basic edition, the VHD (Virtual Hard Disk) of Windows XP Mode is installed to the following folder nonetheless: C:\Program Files\Windows XP Mode\

Navigate to the above folder.

Take ownership and grant full control permissions to the Windows XP Mode base.vhd file.

Right click on Windows XP Mode base.vhd file, then select Properties. Uncheck the Read-only opiton.

Start Windows Virtual PC from Start Menu (Start -> All Programs -> Windows Virtual PC -> Windows Virtual PC).

Click on Create Virtual Machine at the command bar.

Name the new virtual machine as Windows XP Mode or any other preferred name.

Continue the new virtual machine creation wizard, until “Add a virtual hard disk” window. Choose the Use an existing virtual hard disk option, then click Browse to select the location of Windows XP Mode VHD (e.g. C:\Program files\Windows XP Mode\Windows XP Mode base.vhd).

Finish the create new virtual machine wizard.

Windows XP Mode is not install on the Windows 7 system.

So now that it's working... what Sierra games would be ideal for XP?

The main thing is the 16-bit Win only games like Shivers 1 if you have x64. There might be a few games that might run better in XP than Win 7, but really it is the mostly to get access to the 16-bit stuff.

One other thing that I use it for is that I have a good scanner that has no 64-bit drivers. I am able to use the scanner after I installed the drivers in the XP VM. I also installed a photo editing program in it. I have an XP Mode shortcut to this editor that I can start. After it has started I can right click on the button on the Taskbar > Manage USB devices to attach the scanner. I can then scan into the program and save the scanned image to my Win7 desktop.

Another thing that I use XP Mode for is to install 32-bit games that shipped with a 16-bit installer. With TrackWinstall to track changes from an installer to find any registry changes and or system files added. Sometimes You can simply copy a game's installed folder from the XP VM to your Win7 hard drive and have a functional game. It is one of the best ways to get around 16-bit installers.

Tawm, when you get some time, would you mind creating a new stickied thread with step by step instructions on installing XP Mode on Home versions of Win7, including Download links?

Collector wrote:The main thing is the 16-bit Win only games like Shivers 1 if you have x64. There might be a few games that might run better in XP than Win 7, but really it is the mostly to get access to the 16-bit stuff.

One other thing that I use it for is that I have a good scanner that has no 64-bit drivers. I am able to use the scanner after I installed the drivers in the XP VM. I also installed a photo editing program in it. I have an XP Mode shortcut to this editor that I can start. After it has started I can right click on the button on the Taskbar > Manage USB devices to attach the scanner. I can then scan into the program and save the scanned image to my Win7 desktop.

Another thing that I use XP Mode for is to install 32-bit games that shipped with a 16-bit installer. With TrackWinstall to track changes from an installer to find any registry changes and or system files added. Sometimes You can simply copy a game's installed folder from the XP VM to your Win7 hard drive and have a functional game. It is one of the best ways to get around 16-bit installers.

Tawm, when you get some time, would you mind creating a new stickied thread with step by step instructions on installing XP Mode on Home versions of Win7, including Download links?

Scanner! OMG! You may have saved me some money! I have the same situation!

And yes, will create a sticky thread.

Tawmis wrote:Scanner! OMG! You may have saved me some money! I have the same situation!

There are not that many 16-bit Win only games that have no other solution. If I were as big of a Shivers fan as BBP, that might be a different story, but XP Mode does work for Shivers, too.

The two things that I use XP mode for the most is being able to keep using my scanner (that I am still very happy with) and for reverse engineering 16-bit installers and patches to create 32-bit versions. I can launch my old copy of Photopaint in XP Mode as easily as any natively installed program on my Win7 machine.

Tawmis wrote:Windows XP Mode is not install on the Windows 7 system.

Did you mean "now installed"?

Collector wrote:

Tawmis wrote:Windows XP Mode is not install on the Windows 7 system.

Did you mean "now installed"?

Yes.

When this is done, we can delete any proofreading/editing posts. One other thing. It might be worth mentioning is that this will probably will not work for Starter, which is blocked from download Virtual PC, which is the heart of XP Mode. XP Mode is the integration of Virtual PC with the Win7 interface to give seamless access to programs requiring the x86-XP environment to run.

You use it like any other application installed on your Win 7 machine. You just have to start up the virtual XP machine to install the application that does not run in Win7. Once installed, it will "publish" a shortcut to it on the Win7 host that will open the XP window without the XP desktop. Here is an XP Mode app running:

By all means, you brought this to our attention! Change it up, add, delete, whatever!

Collector wrote:When this is done, we can delete any proofreading/editing posts.

We can move it (the comments) to the original XP Mode thread.

Sigh... I was going to request for Tawm's instructions to be kept separate, so they don't get lost in the original thread - but it looks like I'm too late. =(

Anyway, Tawm, I have a question... I tried to follow the instructions, as I have some games that will only work in Windows XP (or XP mode). I downloaded GenuineCheck, it ran fine, I got to the stage where I can download WindowsXPMode_en-us.exe... I choose it, and Microsoft tells me "If your download does not start after 30 seconds, Click here". I wait - and wait - and wait - but it doesn't proceed with the download.

I "Click here" and try again, but again, no go. I try again... but again... no go.

Am I doing something wrong?