Windows 7's XP Mode to be Disabled on Sony Laptops
Windows 7's XP Mode to be Disabled on Sony Laptops
Posted 08/10/2009 at 1:33pm
| by Andy Salisbury
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For those of you that are looking to get a Windows 7 Vaio from Sony, don’t plan on using the Windows XP mode to run applications, because it won’t be included with the systems.
According to Sony’s Xavier Lauwaert Windows 7’s XP mode will be disabled due to security reasons. According to one of Sony’s engineers, they’re “very concerned that enabling VT would expose our systems to malicious code that could go very deep in the Operating System structure of the PC and completely disable the latter.”
Apparently Sony still plans to enable XP mode on some machines, but as to which models they choose or when it’ll be available, nobody knows.
Image Credit: Sony
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Ace of Spades
August 10, 2009 at 4:26pm
I think it might be a security risk with their Playstation 3. Sony is very careful at trying to cover security inside the PS3. Just an idea though.
QUINTIX256
August 10, 2009 at 3:51pm
Virtualization Technology, a security risk. That's special.
This just begs the question. Why would the creators of rootkits from the Sony BMG "lets require them to sign up for bulk email to uninstall" DRM to inSecurom care a bit about security?
You can have your recession. I'm not participating.
wolf17
August 10, 2009 at 2:39pm
If they disable it in the hardware (say taking the option to enable hardware accelerated virtualization out of the BIOS), then this also means no vm ware or virtualbox?
"Life is about living, not stressing" - a very smart girl :)
Danielw719
August 10, 2009 at 1:53pm
Whats stopping me from installing a retail copy of Windows 7? Is XP Mode being disabled on a hardware basis?
SEALBoy
August 10, 2009 at 2:10pm
Unless they somehow crack open the CPU cores and disable the virtualization technology, I don't see how they could disable it in the hardware.
Torrent an OEM fresh copy of Win 7 and use the license key on the bottom of your laptop... no need to bother with Sony's restrictions and bloatware.
Pentium 0
August 10, 2009 at 2:16pm
They disable it right in the Bios. For example my laptop has an option to disable VT in the Bios but if they take away this option your out of luck.
SEALBoy
August 10, 2009 at 2:34pm
I stand corrected.
Still... all it will take is someone to mod the BIOS and for everyone else to flash it.
lunchbox73
August 11, 2009 at 4:14am
And void your warranty. On a brand new notebook. That's overpriced for some reason.
nekollx
August 10, 2009 at 1:51pm
Hi Apple!
------------------------------
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Caboose
August 10, 2009 at 2:37pm
Right, because you were going to buy a Sony Vaio laptop?
Yes, one company disabling a feature is reason enough to throw your arms in the air, cry foul and run crying to Apple...
Honestly...
-= I don't want to be dead, I want to be alive! Or... a cowboy! =-
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