Microsoft Windows Enterprise and virtualization strategy director Scott Woodgate (Scott Woodgate) Tuesday said that although Microsoft has decided to support next-generation operating system Windows 7 "virtual XP mode", but if users want to successfully use this service required to first determine whether your hardware configuration of the machine meet the requirements, in particular, be sure to use the machine CPU (central processing unit) supports the technology itself. Woodgate last Friday in an official blog, Microsoft confirmed that Microsoft's upcoming Windows 7 RC version (ie the "release candidate" of Italy), the will support "virtual XP mode" service, to facilitate major corporate customers After upgrading to Windows 7, still run under XP that can only be used in the old section applications.
Microsoft acquired Connectix in 2003 have been technology companies, and received the latter's Virtual PC technology; and Windows 7 provided in the "virtual XP mode" service, using Virtual PC technology it is. It is reported that "virtual XP mode" and were not integrated into Windows 7, users buy Windows 7 Professional Edition (Professional), Enterprise Edition (Enterprise) and Ultimate (Ultimate), the can to the Microsoft website for free download "virtual XP mode" service pack, and then self-installation.
Hardware support
Woodgate Tuesday revealed Windows 7 virtual XP mode for more details, saying that if users want to successfully open this feature, you must make a higher PC, hardware configuration, such as memory should be at least 2GB. The most important condition is: the machine used by CPU must support virtualization technology. However, for most computer users, they do not know whether they are using CPU support virtualization technology.
Woodgate said: "Some of the PC, the hardware has to support virtualization technology, and some still does not work." He then said, Windows 7 virtual XP model is actually composed of two parts: First Virtual PC technology engine, the second is to have the legal authority The Windows XP SP3 and as a virtual machine. But these two parts are not integrated into Windows 7 installation CD-ROM which.
Woodgate Tuesday once again stressed that the virtual XP model is to facilitate small and medium enterprises easier for users to upgrade the XP to Windows 7, "some of our customers, there may not be able to run Windows 7 in normal applications, but a model of the virtual XP to solve this problem. "
Background
Woodgate also said that the biggest advantage of the virtual XP model is: Windows 7 users to install and activate the virtual XP mode, the service itself is running in the background, users simply through Windows 7 desktop environment, you can realize the application of the old paragraph XP software operation, so as to solve the multi-Desktop handling.
Woodgate stressed that the mode of virtual XP running in the background process, must also pay attention to their security. In other words, the user to the Windows 7 install firewall and system patches, while also running in the background needed to make the corresponding virtual XP security.
Because of this, leading U.S. market research firm Gartner analyst Michael Silver (Michael Silver) Monday said, Windows 7 supports virtual XP mode, will bring a lot of technical support problems, "Windows 7 to open the virtual XP mode, equal to appropriate technical support required for the two operating systems simultaneously. had to install each operating system, firewall, marked with a patch. If the business users to install a 1000 Windows 7 machine, the technical support workload will be equivalent to 2,000. "
Microsoft has confirmed that last Friday, starting from April 30 to participate in Microsoft's TechNet and MSDN subscribers will be two projects can be downloaded to Windows 7 RC version, the RC version for public release date for May 5. Woodgate also revealed that Microsoft will soon release Professional Edition for Windows 7 and the flagship version of the "virtual XP mode" testing the service pack.