Posted 04/27/09 at 05:13:29 PM by Mark Edward Soper

Once Windows 7 ships, Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate edition users will be able to download a free Windows XP Mode upgrade from Microsoft, WinSuperSite's Paul Thurrott reports. What Thurrott calls XP Mode will enable these versions of Windows 7 to be almost perfectly compatible with Windows XP applications. Essentially, Windows 7 will have "Windows XP inside" when XP Mode is installed.

What is XP Mode? Officially known as Virtual Windows XP, it combines a hardware-accelerated host virtualizer based on Virtual PC with a fully licensed copy of Windows XP Professional SP3 which the user must supply [updated 4-29-09]. While, at first glance, this might sound like little more than a more convenient replacement for downloading a copy of Virtual PC 2007 and scrounging up a Windows XP Pro disc and license from a dead PC, there's a lot more to Virtual Windows XP.

As the WinSuperSite screenshow reveals, Virtual Windows XP will be able to share your system's USB drives, and when you install apps to Virtual Windows XP, your Windows 7 menu will automatically be updated with shortcuts, enabling you to run Windows XP programs in separate virtualized windows on your desktop. Although the virtualizer used by Virtual Windows XP is a host-based virtualizer, these features put it miles ahead in usability compared to Virtual PC 2007 plus Windows XP. And, because Virtual Windows XP's virtualizer requires hardware virtualization support, it won't bog down your system the way an unaccelerated virtualization host will do.

Are there any downsides? For a couple of potential gotchas, and for your chance to sound off, join us after the jump.

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Posted 07/02/08 at 09:53:57 PM by Mark Edward Soper

Microsoft has always recommended disabling antivirus programs before upgrading Windows. Most of us have smiled, nodded, waved, and done whatever we pleased. Unfortunately, some Windows XP SP3 installs failed because antivirus was running - and some installs "worked," but caused big problems with Device Manager and Network Connections.

To find out why it happened and how to fix your system, catch us after the break.

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Posted 05/12/08 at 05:56:11 PM by Mark Soper

If you (or someone you love or work with) is suffering through an SP3 upgrade, take two aspirin and click these solutions.

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Posted 04/29/08 at 07:40:02 AM by Mark Soper

It's been a long, looong wait for Service Pack 3, but the waiting's over (but not officially). Here's what happened (and didn't happen) today.

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Posted 04/28/08 at 09:07:06 PM by Mark Soper

Virtually all Windows XP users can't wait to put Service Pack 3 on their systems. However, some experts are advising a "wait-and-see" attitude. Here's why.

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Posted 03/23/08 at 10:42:55 PM by Mark 'Marcus_Soperus' Soper

Microsoft's website displays unmistakable signs that Windows XP SP3 is about to go live, and offers more background information for Windows Vista users. Grab some jelly beans and dig in.

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Posted 02/04/08 at 11:18:18 PM by Mark 'Marcus_Soperus' Soper

Find out why Vista SP1 "RTM" doesn't mean "ready to download" - and why you might see the wearin' of the green before the downloadin' of the code.

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Posted 01/28/08 at 10:02:42 PM by Mark Soper

Can't wait for the official release of Windows Vista SP1 or XP SP3? You may (or may not) be in luck!

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