Windows 7 "XP mode" won't work on some PCs
Thu May 7, 2009 1:48PM EDT
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One of the most recently added features to Windows 7 -- a feature which has a lot of people awfully excited -- is the introduction of what is being called "Windows XP Mode." In reality, the already-acronymed XPM, which will be a component of Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate, will let users run applications in a "virtual machine," akin to how Mac users can run Windows apps inside the MacOS environment by using the add-on software Parallels. The idea: XPM will let you run older applications which may not be compatible with Windows 7 or even Windows Vista by using this virtual mode as an alternative, avoiding the incompatibility headaches many complained about when Vista was released.
Now it looks like there's a catch (as there always is), as XPM won't run on dozens of chips. We're not talking about your decrepit 386SX PC, either, but a whole range of processors that even includes some versions of the Core 2 Duo.
The full list of chips includes all Celeron, Pentium Dual-Core, Pentium M, and Atom 270 and 280 CPUs, as well as certain versions of the Pentium D, Core, and Core 2 Duo. Many if not most AMD chips are also bound to be problematic with XP Mode. ZDNet has the complete list here; you can find your CPU model by looking in the System Control Panel if you're curious if it's supported.
Of course, many who are not familiar with the way virtualization technologies work are going to be disappointed with XPM anyway: Essentially you're running one operating system on top of another operating system, and the resulting performance is about as zippy as you'd expect. As PC World notes: XPM is not built for video games; don't even bother trying.
That said, it'd be nice to be able to run XPM on a wider range of CPUs just in case that odd, incompatible app shows up -- after all, older machines are the ones most likely to need to run old software -- but the way it was designed means that won't be possible. That's because XPM relies on a key feature built into the hardware design of a relative minority of CPUs.
If your rig is compatible, you can try XPM with the Windows 7 Release Candidate by downloading it here.
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2 Posted by jammer2k@sbcglobal.net on Thu May 7, 2009 5:12PM EDT Report Abuse
RE: XP Mode v Games I would hazard that if you are talking about a game that will not work on a Win7 system you are probably talking about an older game (5 or so years old maybe). In that case a modern Core 2 Duo system would have far more power to run it even with the overhead of a virtual environment. Try to run Crysis in that mode and yeah it will stink, run Red Alert (the first one) in that mode and it probably will run just fine.
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3 Posted by alexgannis on Thu May 7, 2009 7:16PM EDT Report Abuse
What the the point trying to make a video game or any other software old or not run on Window 7, Only if company like EA and others brand name would just update their software to run on Window 7 that was the main problem people had on window vista.
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4 Posted by alexgannis on Thu May 7, 2009 7:18PM EDT Report Abuse
Sooner than later window xp will be nothing but the past.
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5 Posted by alexgannis on Thu May 7, 2009 7:24PM EDT Report Abuse
certain versions of the Pentium D, Core, and Core 2 Duo. Many if not most AMD chips are also bound to be problematic with XP Mode. Duh !!!!!!!!!! With faster and better chip and faster OS coming you would think so.
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6 Posted by therez0 on Thu May 7, 2009 10:54PM EDT Report Abuse
AMD Chip users have some help in this matter: support.amd.com/us/Pages/dynamicDetails.aspx?ListID=c5cd2c08-1432-4756-aafa-4d9dc646342f&ItemID=172 AMD put out this tool that checks your system compatibility with virutalization on Vista. Since Windows 7 is using similar root structure, running the test tool on your Vista installation before you upgrade to RC1 may be an indication if XPM would work after W7 is installed. I have not had the time to upgrade to 7 yet, so I can't say for certain.
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7 Posted by fate469 on Fri May 8, 2009 7:50AM EDT Report Abuse
Windows 7 raises complaints from rivals. I like to take a minute to take about that. i am getting tried of these tech companies ripping micro soft off.If they can not make a better product that everyone that everyone wants .I have heard the makers of netscape cry and oprea these browers suck in my opinion and sum of these other companies just want to make money off someone else hard work, without tring to make a better product themselves. The way i see it these companies have to stop sounding like whiny little girls and get back to the business of making a great product. Or just go away.
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8 Posted by johnkermott on Fri May 8, 2009 5:24PM EDT Report Abuse
Chris, did you even check out AMD? AMD's entire current line (above Sempron) supports hardware virtualization, thus XP Mode. Same was actually true at Intel until about a year ago.
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9 Posted by johnkermott on Fri May 8, 2009 5:41PM EDT Report Abuse
It's actually a shame XP Mode requires hardware virtualization when the technology is not ubiquitous - Virtual PC does not require it. The best setup currently is 64-bit Vista (6.0) or "7" (6.1) with a 32-bit XP VM. I've known that since before Vista even came out.
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10 Posted by gregor_eisenhorn2003 on Sat May 9, 2009 4:25AM EDT Report Abuse
I'll likley just keep my old machien for XP or if possible duel boot my system much easier far less hassel.
1 Posted by rogueist on Thu May 7, 2009 4:01PM EDT Report Abuse
XPM does not work with video games? Then XPM is useless. Switch to a MAC instead.