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Windows 7 To Include "Windows XP Mode"

Z80xxc! writes "Paul Thurrott's WinSuperSite reports that Windows 7 will include a built-in virtual machine with a fully licensed copy of Windows XP Professional SP3. The VM runs in a modified version of Virtual PC, and applications running in the VM can interact directly with the host operating system as if they were running on the Windows 7 installation itself. While details are scarce for now, it looks as if this feature will only be available as a (free) addon for Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate editions of Windows 7. Also, a processor supporting hardware virtualization will be required, indicating that this is perhaps aimed more at power users and corporate users, rather than consumers. Microsoft confirmed the feature last night."

16 of 364 comments (clear)

  1. Had that for awhile now... by downix · · Score: 5, Funny

    Altho I call it Kubuntu with XP running in QEMU....

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    Karma Whoring for Fun and Profit.
    1. Re:Had that for awhile now... by spud603 · · Score: 5, Funny

      XP! Pre configured, fully loaded with rootkits, fully patched, and pre hacked. Please seed!

      fixed that for you

    2. Re:Had that for awhile now... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Excellent, that will make this easier.

  2. Also has a "Vista Mode" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    aka BSOD.

    1. Re:Also has a "Vista Mode" by houstonbofh · · Score: 4, Funny

      No it is just a file requester that says "Are you sure you want to do this? Confirm or deny" over and over...

  3. Re:I knew it! by palegray.net · · Score: 4, Funny

    So, can I run DOS software via emulation inside XP inside Window 7? It's time for some Jazz Jackrabbit; I just knew Microsoft was still good for something.

  4. Microsoft wants to say Sup Dawg by rolfwind · · Score: 2, Funny

    We heard you like BSODing, so we put Windows in your Windows so you can crash while you crash.

  5. All features are vaporware until released IMO by Atraxen · · Score: 3, Funny

    By "confirmed the feature last night", did you mean:

    "confirmed their intention to include an interesting feature, which in all likelihood will be dropped in the last quarter before release because other issues critical to the fundamental infrastructure of the OS have been discovered and will require 110% of effort in order to result in an acceptable basic release?"

    I've been trying to learn Spanish lately - my corpspeak is seeming pretty fluent.

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  6. Re:I knew it! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    don't forget that you're installing Windows 7 inside VMWare, xVM or pick your favorite virtual machine software...

    although I'd be willing to bet that the *feature* required "hardware vm support" isn't emulated inside the VMs...

    I once knew someone who loaded linux, installed bochs, loaded windows inside bochs, installed bochs, loaded linux within bochs, within windows, within bochs, within linux..

    after he got about 6 layers deep he stopped... his system was out of resources...

  7. Re:I knew it! by master5o1 · · Score: 5, Funny

    You dawg, I heard you like Windows, so we put Windows in your Windows so you can BSOD while you BSOD.

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    signature is pants
  8. Re:I knew it! by Elektroschock · · Score: 4, Funny

    I didn't know Win7 was that broken...

    Unbelievable, poor Microsoft.

  9. Re:What about win 9x or even dos vm in windows 7 by PRMan · · Score: 2, Funny

    You know, they could use VMWare or VirtualBox, but this would require the educators to LEARN something.

    --
    Peter predicted that you would "deliberately forget" creation 2000 years ago...
  10. Re:I knew it! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    I once knew someone who loaded linux, installed bochs, loaded windows inside bochs, installed bochs, loaded linux within bochs, within windows, within bochs, within linux..

    Yo Dawg! I heard you like operating systems...

  11. What if.. by TigerTails · · Score: 2, Funny

    My only wonder is.. what happens if I run a Windows 7 VM from within XP.. and then XP in that VM.. and 7 in that VM... I want to make an infinite XP/7 paradox and DESTROY THE INTERWEBS!.. or just have a bit of a laugh, screenshot it, and add motivational text about how I have too much time on my hands..

  12. Re:I knew it! by dunezone · · Score: 2, Funny

    The only way to convince people to switch to Apple was to allow it to run XP!

  13. CARDFILE.EXE by Nom+du+Keyboard · · Score: 2, Funny

    Great! This means that I can continue running CARDFILE.EXE from my Windows 3.1 installation. This program has migrated successfully from 3.1 to 95OEMB, 98SP1, 2000, and XP. I've not gone to Vista since I've yet to find a simple, free replacement that would have run under Vista and (hopefully) imported the .CRD files. (Also Vista is full of DRM, and would run like crap on my Vista Ready embedded Nvidia 6150 graphics desktop, and likely break other applications as well.)

    Sometimes you want a program to just do one simple thing well. CARDFILE is one of those programs. Now it looks like it ought to run under the right -- read expensive -- version(s) of W7.

    If there's a better replacement, feel free to point it out to me and I'll appreciate it.

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