Microsoft is trying to make it easier to sway users of Windows XP onto the latest version of its operating system.
For some time now, the company has been quietly building a 'Windows XP Mode' that uses virtualisation to allow Windows 7 to easily run applications designed for Windows XP. According to sources familiar with the product, the application compatibility mode is built on the Virtual PC technology that Microsoft acquired in 2003, when it scooped up the assets of Connectix.
By adding the compatibility mode, Microsoft is aiming to address one of the key shortcomings of Windows Vista: its compatibility issues with software designed for Windows XP and earlier versions of the operating system.
Details of the Windows XP Mode, previously known as Virtual Windows XP, were first published earlier on Friday by the Windows SuperSite blog.
The technology has not been part of the beta version of Windows 7 or previously disclosed by Microsoft, but is expected to be released alongside the upcoming release candidate version. Microsoft said on Friday that it will release it to developers next week, and publicly from 5 May.
According to the SuperSite report, written by bloggers Paul Thurrott and Rafael Rivera, the XP Mode will not come in the box with Windows 7, but will be made available as a free download for those who buy the professional, enterprise or 'ultimate' versions of Windows 7. The site also has some screenshots of the mode in action.
There had been rumours of a secret user interface but, until Friday, no mention of the XP Mode.
Late on Friday, Microsoft confirmed XP Mode in a blog posting. "Windows XP Mode is specifically designed to help small businesses move to Windows 7," Microsoft's Scott Woodgate said in the blog. "Windows XP Mode provides you with the flexibility to run many older productivity applications on a Windows 7-based PC."
According to the post: "All you need to do is to install suitable applications directly in Windows XP Mode which is a virtual Windows XP environment running under Windows Virtual PC. The applications will be published to the Windows 7 desktop and then you can run them directly from Windows 7."
Microsoft said it "will be soon releasing the beta of Windows XP Mode and Windows Virtual PC for Windows 7 Professional and Windows 7 Ultimate".
Talkback
Will they be releasing an update to incorporate XP mode in Vista I wonder? So many xp programmes do not run correctly in this platform.
...why not use Linux and VirtualBox to run XP?
It's a lot cheaper, and probably a lot more stable.
Better still, if you're a business, just stick with XP until you need to fully migrate up to Linux.
Given that hardware is driven by software, will this resolve the issue of incompatible hardware, scanners for instance?
This is a poor solution where you effectively run a windows XP VM within windows 7. I can hardly believe what I'm seeing here, it's like something you would expect to be announced on April 1st. This is not a mode its a VM same as any other VM with all the extra resources required. MS can't be bothered with backward compatibility so they bundle a VM of an old version of the OS.
If they want to ditch the legacy stuff then come out and say it, like apple did with OSX. Trouble is that would dent the monopoly position they hold and allow competitors in. Windows is loosing ground to the competition and another incompatible product will just make things worse. It also has to catch up with the competition
This is the logical solution. I have a friend who has done this for the small company he works for. They run Ubuntu Linux, with XP on a virtual box, and it makes everyone happy, except Redmond.