Get ready for Window 7 Microsoft Office, PowerDVD, and Photoshop - these are just a few examples of programs on which CHIP readers have spent lots of money. Many have even customized and optimized these applications, since they spend lots of time on them. Their effort should not go to waste if they have to start all over again with a new operating system. Those who skipped Vista clearly hardware continues to function, and if their personal settings do not need to be saved for a second time.
Windows 7 is now supposed to be able to do all that. The switch is not only promised to be more comfortable and simpler than any other Windows version upgrade before, but it should not give rise to any additional costs for new hardware and software either. While XP in its day needed "only" a lot more system processing power and memory than its predecessor, Vista changed the entire driver model, which hardware vendors sometimes didn't bother to update to. The result -from scanners to sound cards, a host of peripherals and components had to retire prematurely. Compared to that, Windows 7 is promised to not need more resources than Vista and even the driver architecture has not changed. Therefore, every device that worked with Vista will also work with Windows 7. Should there however be problems, then these can easily be overcome by working with Vista drivers. Windows 7 basically has XP and Vista compatibility modes ready for such cases.
Windows 7 vouchers are already being given out free to those buying new PCs or notebooks, saving them the cost of the upgrade which is just weeks away. The cherry on the icing is that Microsoft promises that in Windows 7, all the existing software can be used just like it used to be. In a special XP-mode, it is in fact also supposed to make programs which failed in Vista work too. Sounds too good to be true? It is. Over several days, CHIP tested dozens of applications and ascertained that the brand new XP-mode is actually a deceptive marketing tool. In the end, we finally developed a free, more efficient alternative for you. With this, you can use all applications in the new Windows 7.
XP Mode: Expensive fake padding.
Before we present our alternative, we will have a look at the original and show where the faults lie in Microsoft's new XP mode. The first trap is that Microsoft only provides this luxury for a price. XP mode is included only in the Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate versions of Windows 7. Users of the less expensive Home Premium version, which will be preinstalled on most PCs, go empty handed. The second trap is that in a test using the Windows 7 Release Candidate, XP mode program worked with only 65,536 colors. This was apparently important to prevent programs from consuming too many system resources. The third trap is that you might even need a new CPU andl or motherboard, because technically, XP mode is implemented with the help of Microsoft's Virtual PC 7. This tool runs in a special mode in the background, giving you the feeling that you are still working with Windows 7 when you actually launch a virtualized instance of Windows XP. This, in turn, requires hardware-based virtualization through the CPU (AMD-V or Intel VT) and also needs the correspondirig option to be activated in the BIOS. If this is not available, a BIOS update usually helps. Using the Tool SecurAble, which is given on this month's CHIP DVD, you will be able to find out whether your system is capable of running a virtual machine. The program works with Intel and AMD processors. Start it by simply double-clicking its icon. If you get a "No" as the result of "Hardware Virtualization", then the only thing that caQ help is changing the CPU-or our CHIP alternative for the XP-mode!
A Way out: The homemade XPmode
With the help of VirtualBox, which is also available on the issue CD/DVD, you can simply create your own XP mode. The advantages: our solution also runs on the Home Premium version of Windows 7, a new CPU is not required, and you get the full 1.6 million colors at whatever resolution you need. And if your PC does support hardware virtualization, you will not experience any loss of speed. You only need a valid license for Windows XP, which you might have since you are upgrading. First install Virtual Box. After starting it, create a virtual PC through the "New" button. In the wizard, select "Microsoft Windows" as the operating system under Version 'Windows XP". In addition, you must name the virtual machine, e.g. "XP Mode", As the working memory, assign at least 512 MB; more if you have enough. The virtual hard disk can make do with 30 GB. After closing the wizard, insert your XP setup disc in the drive and enter its letter in Virtual Box through "CD/DVD-ROM". Alternatively, you can also specify an existing XP ISO file here. Now "Start" the virtual PC and install XP as usual.
Once this process is over, it is time for the real trick. Select "Devices I Install Guest Add-ons" in VirtualBox and follow the instructions of the set-up wizC!rd. Once that is done, you can switch, between the virtual PC and Windows 7 using the mouse cursor. Now select "Machine I Wireless Mode". That is what will let you really simulate the Windows 7 XP mode. Once the virtual PC is active, above the Windows 7 taskbar you will see the taskbar for Windows XP. You can open Start menu from there as usual and execute programs. The VirtualBox control window stays in the background. If you wish to open the VirtualBox window again, press the right-side [Ctrl] key and (L).
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