News MS confirms Windows XP Mode RTM

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/bits/2009/10/05/ms-confirms-windows-xp-mode-rtm/1

Microsoft has announced that the Windows XP Mode virtualisation system for Windows 7 has hit Release To Manufacturing status, and will be launched on the same day as Windows 7.

 

I have enough licances to get XP virtualised on any machine I need at work regardless of processor. And yes, we have loads of software that causes issue!

 

Using the RC? now. Had to use it so I could configure my Matrix Orbital MX223 sadly.

 

Slighty OT here but does Win7 allow you to change to visual style to something similar to XPs 'classic' mode?
I'm not really up to date with Windows (I bought a Mac when Vista was released)...hell, even in XP I switch everything back to classic mode (that redesigned Control Panel did my head in, I hated the 'new' Start menu and those weird tab things on the left pane of Explorer windows bugged me too!)
I have used Vista a little; mainly when I have to wipe/reinstall customers PCs at work, but I just hate the new design and the way things are laid out. I am really interested in Win7, mainly just to keep up to date with PC OS's, but Vista just feels so alien to me that I don't like using it.

 

Wasn't this supposed to be a feature included in the Windows 7 box?

 

Have been using the RC version since it's last release and so far Windows 7 has taken everything I have given it and simply worked, XP Games, Drivers and a handful of software, mostly open source mind and it has simply worked, still need to check a few more commercial apps, but for me so far, it's looking like a real gem and am already planning my next PC build to put Windows 7 on it, but am waiting to see what is happening with the current AMD/ATI 58xx series cards and Nvidia's new potential cards, at the moment AMD/ATI cards have my vote, though an all-in-wonder version would be an instant, guaranteed, must have purchase for me.

 

I'll be making sure any future CPU I buy supports this.

 

Its a useful feature for those why cant get applications to work but I have to be honest I have had it installed since the beta was available and am yet to find a use for it. Then again I don't use commercial software so it all just works.

 

They could always go with VMWare and Unity mode. VMWare has the option to run without any CPU virtualization technology. It will be slightly slower but it works. I don't know why MS couldn't do the same. They are just being MS as usual I guess.
Of course VMWare costs money and Virtual XP Mode is free.

Also the new Virtual PC software uses technology from Hyper-V, the older Virtual PC 2007 and 2004 used a different virtualization engine and did not even support Intel VT or AMD-V technologies.
And the way it provides support for Aero (if virtualizing Windows Vista/7) is to connect to the VM via RDP (Remote Desktop). This is really cheap way of solving it. Meanwhile VMWare's next Workstation 7 product has support for WDDM driver model and Aero without resorting to RDP. Performance via RDP will never match performance of a real console display.

 

never used RC once since i installed my win7.

really don't see much point, especially considering i have to shutdown VMware's folding to launch XP mode.

 

Its a complete waste of time - I am using Virtual Box to get Windows XP (32-bit) application support within Windows 7 RC (64-bit). I don't need a hardware accelerated (CPU) virtualisation support (currently have dual Opteron 285's - socket 940). Another Microsoft fail (* Windows XP mode). Can't see the point of forking out 80.00GBP (or whatever it is this week) for this 'feature'.

Don't get me wrong Windows 7 OS is nice in it's self. Having briefly had to endure Windows Vista (before upgrading back to Windows XP) I have found the increased compatibility with older games a godsend in Windows 7. Still waiting for a decent filesystem though...

 

Dam I was hoping that it would be a basic feature and included on the base install of those win 7 versions. Oh well...

 

Beware of the security implications of running XP Mode.

 

if you can keep your old xp secured, updated and virus free, alot of people wouldnt really be concerned about xp mode, and besides xp mode is only for the oldest incompatible software your company has currently, if your company can't even protect your old xp infrastructure, then that would a real threat for them,lol, xp mode is more of a no-choice solution to those old apps imho