Running XP Mode in Windows 7 does not require CPU support for virtualization

Without the need for CPU to support virtualization technology and RAM up to 2GB, you can still easily run XP Mode in Windows 7, even Windows 2003/2008 / Vista, with the help of VMLite Workstation.

Creating a Windows XP environment with Windows XP Mode and Windows Virtual PC to run incompatible applications right in Windows 7 is a user-expected feature, but unfortunately only for computers with public CPU support Virtualization technology and RAM of 2GB or more. Fortunately, there is still VMLite Workstation utility to help you experience this ' top ' feature without requiring the hardware configuration above.

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Select the Windows XP Mode installation file downloaded from the Micorsoft website

Unique : not only Windows 7, VMLite Workstation also allows you to run XP Mode on Windows 2003/2008 / Vista by taking advantage of data from the Windows XP Mode file downloaded by Microsoft website, or available Windows XP virtualization file. VHD, VMDK, VHD, VDI, HDD formats.

With VMLite Workstation, the computer has 1GB of RAM, the 2.4GHz CPU also runs Windows XP Mode well (no need for CPU to support virtualization technology), but requires a minimum 3GB of installation drive.

You download VMLite Workstation for free (56.29MB in size). Then download Windows XP Mode according to the version of Windows 7 you are using here (capacity 469MB).

Note : you need to remove the VirtualBox program from the machine before installing VMLite Workstation, otherwise there will be a conflict between VMLite Workstation's built-in virtual machine and VirtualBox's virtual machine, making it impossible to run XP. Mode in Windows 2003/2008 / Vista / 7.

In the VMLite XP Mode window that appears when the VMLite Workstation installation is complete, you will see three options: Specify the path of the XP mode package or a virtual disk file (specify the downloaded Windows XP Mode file to install above, such as WindowsXPMode_en-us.exe), Download from the Internet (download Windows XP Mode from the Microsoft website, but the speed is not as fast as downloading with a dedicated downloader like Internet Download Manager), Specify the folder of the package if already installed . (specify the Windows XP Mode installation directory, default is C: Program Files Windows XP Mode, in case you have run WindowsXPMode_en-us.exe file).

Here, keep the option Specify the path of the XP mode . , then press the three dots button and select the WindowsXPMode_en-us.exe file downloaded above. Then, click the Next button to extract all the data in the WindowsXPMode_en-us.exe file to the folder C: UsersUsernameVMLitesvxp-downloadextracted , including the most important file, Windows XP Mode base.vhd (about 1.12GB) .

This process takes a long time, so please wait patiently. Complete, click the Next button.

Switch to the Windows XP Mode License Agreement window, check the box I accept . then click Next .

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Set admin password

In the Specify the password for VMLite next XP window, enter the Windows XP admin password in the virtual machine into two Password and Confirm password boxes, keeping the Remember credentinals ( recommended ) box unchanged, and then clicking Next .

In the Help protect your computer dialog box, you can select Help protect my computer by turning on Automatic Updates now . if you want to enable automatic patch update mode for Windows XP in a virtual environment, or mark the option Not right now to temporarily disable this mode, then click Next .

The process of transferring Windows XP Mode base.vhd file to VMLite Workstation's built-in virtual machine will take place later. Complete, click Finish to activate XP Mode for the first time. You have to wait until the Windows XP interface appears in the VMLite Workstation virtual machine window to start Windows XP right in Windows 7.

Note : in addition to Windows 7, you can do the same to run XP Mode in Windows Vista / 2003/2008.

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Run Windows XP in Windows 7

VMLite Workstation virtual machine window is identical to the virtual machine window of VirtualBox with three Machine menu commands, Devices , Help . To work more comfortably, press the virtual machine window zoom button.

- Because the system drives of real machines (also known as servers) connect to Windows XP in a virtual machine, installing the test programs or running portable software is not compatible with Windows 7. very easy.

Press Windows + E key combination to open Windows Explorer , click on the sfs on '.host' icon . on the left directory tree (or open My Computer from the Start menu and then click the sfs on '.host' icon .) ) to see the system drives on the server (each drive corresponds to a folder), access the corresponding drive, open the subfolder containing the application installation file or portable software executable file, then install or run as usual.

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Installing and running software in XP Mode is easy

If the server is connected to the Internet, you can surf the web normally in a virtual machine with the Internet Explorer 6 browser available in Windows XP or with Firefox, Opera, and Google Chrome installed.

According to the test, Windows XP in the virtual machine is a Pro SP3 version and is available with 256MB of RAM, but still runs smoothly on a Windows 7 server with 1GB of RAM. Of course, you can switch the Start menu to a classic style, correct important settings, or use the system optimization software to make Windows XP in a virtual machine run faster ., just as you would with Windows XP on. server.

The applications you install for Windows XP of the virtual machine will appear in Start menu > All Programs > VMLite Workstation > VMLite XP Mode Applications of Windows 7 on the server.

When you close the virtual machine window by going to the Machine menu > Close , all edited settings as well as the software installed in Windows XP of the virtual machine are automatically saved. Of course, the drive installed on the server will consume a considerable amount of space.

Note : If you later want to re-enable Windows XP in a virtual machine, simply double-click the VMLite XP Mode or Internet Explorer (Secure) shortcut on the server's Windows 7 desktop.

Three advanced tricks

1. Access CD / DVD on the server

After inserting the CD / DVD into the optical drive, simply go to the Devices menu, select CD / DVD Devices , then click on the " Drive drive letter". Immediately the CD / DVD content display window will appear.

When you want to eject the disc from Windows XP on the virtual machine as well as the optical drive, also on the CD / DVD Devices menu, select Unmount CD / DVD Device.

Access CD / DVD

2. Access the USB drive on the server

First, go to the Devices menu and select Shared Folders . In the dialog box that opens, click the Add Shared Folder icon on the top right, click the box to the right of the Folder Path field and select Other , browse to the USB drive you want to retrieve from the dialog box that opens, and then click OK three times. consecutive. Next, click on the sfs on '.host' icon . in Windows Explorer, then click on the folder corresponding to the label of the USB drive to access the contents.

Select the USB drive you want to open in the virtual machine

3. Configure Windows XP virtual machine

Go to Start menu > All Programs > VMLite Workstation > VMLite Workstation . In the interface that appears, click the Discard button, click the Settings button to open the virtual configuration window such as: Increase the RAM allocated to Windows XP in the virtual machine at the System > Motherboard tab to work faster (however , then Windows 7 installed on the server will run slower); increase the video card memory for the virtual machine at the Display tab> Video ; adding / removing default drives will display in Windows Exporer sfs on '.host' on the Shared Folder tab; change the execution mode when closing the virtual machine window at the Close tab. Done, press OK to confirm.