XP Compatibility

[RobertG]

Hi, I'm new here. I just got a new Windows 7 laptop with the 64-bit version Home Premium installed.

I have software that was written for XP and it won't even install on the new system, much less run with the XP compatibility function.

Do I need to install the 32-bit version of Windows 7 to be able to use this software? Before anyone suggests it, the software is industry specific and there is no Windows 7 version available or even on the drawing board. I'm not beyond formatting and installing XP but it would be nice to have the advantages of the newer system and be able to use all the RAM I have.

Thanks for any input offered.

[Boris]

You can use XP Mode to run Windows XP with Service Pack 3 as a virtual environment inside Windows 7.

This allows you to run XP-specific programs on a Windows 7 machine, but you have to have either the Professional or Ultimate Win 7 versions to do so - not Home Premium.

You could also try dual booting with both O/S (XP Home 32bit + Win 7 HP 64bit)? That way you can run your special applications in XP, but also use the benefits of 64bit Win 7 on the same laptop.

If so - use METHOD 2 here :-
/>http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/8057-dual-boot-installation-windows-7-xp.html

To do a dual boot of Win 7 + XP with Win 7 already installed.

P.S. - I do like the yellow trike :)

[RobertG]

Thanks for the quick reply, Boris. I've done dual boots in years past but only got the benefit of one at a time. I would need everything to work simultaneously. Does the virtual machine allow all applications to run that way and get moved from one monitor to another like any other application (I run two external monitors when at my desk)?

Thanks for the link for the dual boots. That will be helpful even if I just start over with XP since I'll need the SATA drivers installed. I'm leaning more toward that right now, anyway.

Thanks about the trike. It was a lot of fun. Did I leave photos of it up or are you the guy I sold it to?

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

I have software that was written for XP and it won't even install on the new system, much less run with the XP compatibility function.

According to this article, XP programs should run fine on Windows 7 in XP compatibility mode:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/features/windows-xp-mode.aspx

(Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate only.)

[Boris]

Thanks about the trike. It was a lot of fun. Did I leave photos of it up or are you the guy I sold it to?

Saw it on your abc dot com site :)

[RobertG]

ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb, obviously the first step is to upgrade to Win 7 Pro first. I'm a total newbie to 7 but the learning curve is sharp. After I try Pro, I may add XP if needed. Fortunately, I am not dead in the water while I figure this out. I still have the old machine to work on.

Boris, I forgot about that post. It was a fun project.

Thanks for all the help. I may need to ask a few questions as I go along, but I'll be sure to post what works after I have it done.

[RobertG]

OK, I upgraded to Win 7 Pro. Then I downloaded and installed Windows XP Mode, Windows Virtual PC and the Windows XP Mode Update. My computer doesn't show them as installed programs, either by listing them in "All Programs" or in the Control Panel under "Programs and Features" so I can't even uninstall them to try it again. If I try to install over them, I'm told the programs are already loaded.

I guess if someone knows the program file names, I can search for them and make links to them.

I can do a system restore, but then it's out-of-the-box and everything starts over, including all the drivers, programs and my $90 "Anytime Upgrade".

Anyone know how to handle this? I really don't look forward to a call to Tech Support. The last guy I talked to was almost unintelligible and I had to have him keep repeating himself until I got it.

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

See if this article provides you with some information: http://help.unc.edu/6037

[RobertG]

See if this article provides you with some information: http://help.unc.edu/6037

There aren't any icons. I'm supposed to talk to Tech Supp today. We'll see where that goes. If no joy there, I'll just do a factory restore and start over. Thanks for the link. When it finally works work, I'll be able to use that information.

[RobertG]

OK, I talked to MS Tech Support. Even though I had installed all the Windows 7 upgrades and security updates, there were evidently a couple of updates needed to make it install. The tech fiddled with my comp behind the scenes where I couldn't see what he did for a while. Then he downloaded and installed WGA (I thought that was hidden in Windows 7 these days) and a couple of upgrades. After that he installed XP Mode and Virtual PC. Everything went in fine. Anyway, it works now. Thanks for your help on this.

[bludgard]

OK, I talked to MS Tech Support. Even though I had installed all the Windows 7 upgrades and security updates, there were evidently a couple of updates needed to make it install. The tech fiddled with my comp behind the scenes where I couldn't see what he did for a while. Then he downloaded and installed WGA (I thought that was hidden in Windows 7 these days) and a couple of upgrades. After that he installed XP Mode and Virtual PC. Everything went in fine. Anyway, it works now. Thanks for your help on this.

If you haven't already,please consider creating image bakups of your disk(s).

Happy Holidays.

One

[MANEMAN]

"Kindly" PM me a few more information

Just post a question like everybody else. PM's cut down the amount of computer knowledge available to a wide number of people.

(Looks as though someone has spammed your post with a load of really, really, crap links)

Suggest you run anti-virus on your machine Search24.

Merry Christmas, and wishing great failure in the New Year for the companies to whom the links refer to.

That's me done with being "Kindly" for Christmas.

John.

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

Spam post & poster removed.

[MANEMAN]

Tried it liked it ! ;)

Now ? - I wont have to do like you said right ?

But I'd like to do again though. Just gotta talk the wife around.

That was the first time in over 40 years of marriage. - Thanks ander, stick around we really could do with less posts like yours.

I May try the metric thread version with some vaseline in the New Year. Time'll tell.

"They walk amongst us."

John.

[bludgard]

OK,ander.Work with me here.

What is it that I should try and how much is it gonna set me back?

The other part reeks of an ultmatum.That my friend is a little spooky.

One thing I did try was booting Win 7 install media from a 300GB USB hard drive by creating a 5GB primary partition at the beginning of the drive and marking it as active then copying the files from Win DVD .ISO to the 5GB partition.At next boot I hit F12 to change my boot prefferences,chose the Seagate,Windows started loading files.Runs great and fast too.

Pic included...

Balls in your court,ander....