Win7 XP Mode Drops Virtualization Hardware Need

One of the more interesting technologies inside Windows 7 that should ease all sorts of upgrade and application compatibility worries is XP Mode – a virtual Windows XP that can operate inside Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate.

Up until today, those who wanted to run XP Mode in their modern OS would be required to have hardware virtualization support through Intel VT or AMD-V. Now that requirement has been lifted, though those with virtualization hardware will still see better performance.

Microsoft announced the change in a press release dealing with new virtualization initiatives: "Windows XP Mode no longer requires hardware virtualization technology. This change simplifies the experience by making virtualization more accessible to many more PCs for small and midsize businesses wanting to migrate to Windows 7 Professional or higher editions, while still running Windows XP-based productivity applications."

Check out the updated software here.

Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam served as Tom's Hardware News Director during 2008-2014. He entered tech media in the late 90s and fondly remembers the days when an overclocked Celeron 300A and Voodoo2 SLI comprised a gaming rig with the ultimate street cred.
  • bison88
    Hey thats good news, but for whom? Windows 7 is the future my friends. Don't fear it, embrace it and overcome all issues the upgrade may cause its okay everything is going to be OK!
    Reply
  • nukem950
    Hey thats good news, but for whom? Windows 7 is the future my friends. Don't fear it, embrace it and overcome all issues the upgrade may cause its okay everything is going to be OK!
    The reason I like is xp is because of older softer. That includes games. I have had all sorts of issues under vista and now with DX11.

    That is why I keep XP.
    Reply
  • False_Dmitry_II
    On the other hand I have an XP install that just sits there doing nothing cause it's just in case.
    Reply
  • jrharbort
    nukem950The reason I like is xp is because of older softer. That includes games. I have had all sorts of issues under vista and now with DX11.That is why I keep XP.Please forgive me, but isn't that what virtualization and XP mode is supposed to help fix? It allows you to run your apps within a Windows XP environment.

    I admit when I got my current notebook I went for XP instead of Vista, but I'm getting Windows 7 for sure this year. It wont be much longer before Microsoft and game developers drop Windows XP support all together.
    Reply
  • haha49
    ahh... I manged to get it to work in the basic windows 7.. all I had to do was install it wouldnt install the windows file but I installed it like a new os and then bam it worked few updates to sp3 then windows had a vm update and its the same now :p
    Reply
  • ALANMAN
    jrharbortPlease forgive me, but isn't that what virtualization and XP mode is supposed to help fix? It allows you to run your apps within a Windows XP environment.I admit when I got my current notebook I went for XP instead of Vista, but I'm getting Windows 7 for sure this year. It wont be much longer before Microsoft and game developers drop Windows XP support all together.
    This doesn't work for games (no support for a real GPU). This is something businesses and such are more likely to need as they hold off on writing new software for the new OS.
    Reply
  • apache_lives
    Who actually uses Windows 7 *WITHOUT* a VT enabled processor - hell it came with the Pentium D's and there garbage - what do people still use? Pentium 4's? Time to move on!
    Reply
  • Lutfij
    very very good news indeedy! i now can migrate to the 7 on my E4300 :)

    ok now to find the softwares which werent compatible on 7...
    Reply
  • Zomby
    bison88Hey thats good news, but for whom? Windows 7 is the future my friends. Don't fear it, embrace it and overcome all issues the upgrade may cause its okay everything is going to be OK!
    From a home user standpoint, it's a no-brainer. But for a business whose operation might depend on older software that don't work correctly in a newer OS, this is invaluable.

    apache_livesWho actually uses Windows 7 *WITHOUT* a VT enabled processor - hell it came with the Pentium D's and there garbage - what do people still use? Pentium 4's? Time to move on!
    A business with a few hundred computers might not have the financial capability to change all of their computer as often as they would like to. So they often end up with older PCs that could still run the latest OS. They are tha main target for this update.
    Reply
  • judeh101
    apache_livesWho actually uses Windows 7 *WITHOUT* a VT enabled processor - hell it came with the Pentium D's and there garbage - what do people still use? Pentium 4's? Time to move on!I own a C2D E4300 and it came without VT. Several of my friends own a C2Q Q8200, and it comes without VT. This would be very helpful if xp mode drops VT.
    Reply