Open VirtualBox and under the Machine menu, click New.Download VirtualBox from the website link above.A processor that supports hardware virtualization.A copy of Windows (Disk image or physical CD) with license key.The upside of this method is that you can technically install just about any version of Windows, not just XP. With this method though, you will need a copy of Windows and a license key as one isn’t included with Windows 8. Other virtualization programs such as VMware Player also work. Unfortunately, Windows XP Mode was not designed to work with Windows 8, so we need to go with a third party program such as Oracle VM VirtualBox. Oracle VM VirtualBox (Windows 7 & Windows 8) You will now have Windows XP Mode added to your Start Menu under the Windows Virtual PC folder. Run setup and restart your computer when it finishes.If Windows 7 64-bit is installed, download the 64-bit version. Select either the 32-bit or 64-bit version, depending on your Windows 7 installation.Next, download Windows Virtual PC from the Microsoft Download Center.After installation has been completed, click Finish.Run the installer after the download is completed.Choose a version to download and click Next to begin the download.Select your language and click Download.Go to the Microsoft Download Center page for Windows XP Mode.A processor that supports hardware virtualization.A Professional, Enterprise, or Ultimate edition of Windows 7.It goes beyond compatibility mode, as the necessary hardware to run Windows XP is emulated to ensure your legacy software runs the way it was programmed to. This method allows you to run an installation of Windows XP from within Windows 7.

Select editions of Windows 7 ( Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate) include a Windows XP license key, though XP is not installed with Windows 7 by default. For those situations, there are several other methods we can use to run legacy software. However, it does not always work or run the program perfectly. It could be an in-house program developed years ago for a Windows XP environment or freeware from the days of Windows 98.įor those apps, we often default to using Compatibility Mode found in the right-click menu. But these constant upgrades can cause problems over time with older, legacy software. Computer hardware is regularly upgraded or replaced in an office, which allows for better performance, tighter security, and support for newer software.

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