Microsoft Windows XP Mode now Available for PCs without HAV support

Microsoft developed Windows XP Mode so that businesses using Windows XP productivity applications can upgrade to Windows 7 easily without loosing productivity. Windows XP Mode makes it very easy to install and run many Windows XP productivity applications directly from within Windows 7-based PC. But one of the main requirements to run Windows XP Mode was that the PC’s should have Hardware Assisted Virtualization (HAV) technology enabled.

This was a great set back for many small and mid-sized businesses who were not having any HAV enabled hardware. In the past we have covered an article about VMLite XP Mode, an Alternative to Microsoft Windows XP Mode for Windows 7 to help people who are not having HAV enabled hardware.

Microsoft has recently made an announced through a blog post about an update to Windows XP Mode. This update will make Windows XP Mode technology available to PCs even without any HAV support. This is a great news for small and mid-sized businesses as well as home users who were till now deprived of Windows XP Mode even after having the supported Windows 7 edition. An excerpt from the announcement is as follows:

We’re announcing an update to Windows XP Mode today that will make it a more accessible to PCs in small and midsize businesses who want to migrate to Windows 7 Professional but have applications that still require Windows XP. Windows XP Mode will no longer require hardware virtualization technology to run. This change makes it extremely easy for businesses to use Windows XP Mode to address any application incompatibility roadblocks they might have in migrating to Windows 7. Windows XP Mode will of course continue to use hardware virtualization technology such as Intel VT (Intel Virtualization Technology) or AMD-V if available.

From the announcement, it is also clear that Windows XP Mode will continue to take the advantage of hardware virtualization technology such as Intel VT (Intel Virtualization Technology) or AMD-V if available.

How to download Windows XP Mode without Hardware Assisted Virtualization Technology?

  • When you visit the download page for Windows XP Mode, you need to first choose your Windows 7 version (Please do note that Windows XP Mode is available only on Windows 7 Professional or higher Windows 7 edition) and language.
  • You will see three download buttons to files you need to download including a “Windows XP Mode Update” as shown in the screenshot below.

    windows-xp-mode

  • Download and install “Windows XP Mode update” after installing the first two files. This update will remove the hardware virtualization technology need from Windows XP Mode.

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