Virtual XP

[FrankSG]

My OS is Vista Home Premium. Since I have recently bought the computer I will be getting a free upgrade to Win7 Home Premium. The processor in my machine is an E5200. Since I've had my computer I did some research on this processor and have found out that it does not support virtualization. When I install Win 7, I would like to install Virtual XP. However, if I'm understanding things right, since my processor does not support virtualization, there is no way that I can install virtual XP on here. Does anyone know if I am correct when I say that there is no way I can install virtual XP? I hope that I am wrong because I would like to have it. Thanks
~Frank~

[mjc]

A processor that supports virtualization basically allows some of the tasks of running a 'virtual machine' to be done without consuming much in the way of resources. In other words there is less of performance hit, but any modern processor should be able to handle an OS running 'virtually'.

[123456]

Yeah, I used to run Windows 2000 on a virtual PC on a 1GHz 512mb RAM PC.. it ran fine. Chances are, XP will run fine too.

[classicsoftware]

I don't think they are the same thing. Windows 7 has an XP mode and it is processor dependent. Please run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/get/upgrade-advisor.aspx)

[Paul Komski]

I agree with CS. To use the W7 XPmode (http://lifehacker.com/5245396/set-up-and-use-xp-mode-in-windows-7) the hardware is of relevance. There may be or there may come to be a range of VM software that will be supported by W7 and if so many operating systems would then be capable of being run within W7.

[123456]

Worst case scenario, just use Virtual PC.

[Paul Komski]

I think it's an astute move by MS for those with the hardware that supports it and it fairly obviously stems from having got their fingers burnt with Vista and the slow uptake of that OS from businesses.

With XP mode (unlike a full installation of MS or 3rdParty VM) you don't even need to install Win XP. Win XP applications can be installed directly from the Start Button (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/get-started.aspx).