[gmuk]

Thanks Wired,

The idea behind my worries and questions is that I can’t bare an OS forbidding me to do whatever I want, whether it comes from Microsoft or MAC OS ! I suppose the reason behind locking their OS is to decrease the support calls from the everyday user. But they should let the “tweaker” tweak !

Reading about the numerous file access problems on the forums, and their consequences with servers and other USB devices, really puts me off.

When you plug an external memory stick or HDD, Win 7 (or MAC OS for that matter) writes tons of files (God knows why) and changes the drive letter when I have set a particular one for my use with XP. Unbearable !

I would happily switch to Linux but, unfortunately, I use apps like Visual C++, DVDFab, etc. Therefore, I can’t do without Windows but certainly not with 7...

Thanks for reading

[Ossian]

Originally Posted by gmuk

As stated, I was talking about the host system, the virtual machine AND Win XP ! I'm not that stupid.

I didn't ask HOW to tweak Win7 but IF it could be tweaked as much as XP and have full access to any folder and sub-folders. Thanks

I was also talking about the host system. If you install any 32 bit operating system , it will not, by design, allow you to make use of more than 4GB of physical RAM and in reality some of that is reserved for things like graphics memory, so a practical figure is 3.5Gb. The reason for saying this is that you were talking about installing Windows XP as the main operating system on a laptop with 8GB RAM and would therefore not make full use of it.

I was also trying to give you some general answers to your questions and give you some background information. Sorry if it caused offence but I would point out that if you find some documentation on HOW to do something, presumably it answers the question about IF it is possible. Next time I will be more precise and answer in binary terms. For your precise question, the answer is YES.

[gmuk]

Hello Ossian,

My post about memory and so on was clumsy because I’m anxious about what will happen if my XP computer breaks down tomorrow. I’ll be really in the... see what I mean and I’ll have to turn to XP mode, which I’m not too pleased about.

I would rather use XP in dual mode, but installing it after Win7 requires a proper 7 setup DVD, which is not supplied with notebooks, to restore the 7 MBR. Not to mention all the problems that can occur in the process !

Another solution would be to get rid of Win7 altogether if I can get hold of a proper XP setup disk. The one supplied with my computer is only a disk image of the original configuration. And, what’s more, it looks as if MS refuses to register an OS, already paid for, when you install it on a new computer after the original one broke down ! What is the answer to all that crap ? Get an illegal version of XP ! Is that what MS wants ?

It’s like trying to square a circle ! That’s why I am mad at MS but certainly not at you and I’m sorry if I sounded awkward. You tried to help me and I’ll turn to you again if I get confused about what driver(s) to use, as you suggested in one of your answers.

Many thanks,

JC

[Wired]

IIRC XP doesn't call home, however OEM XP CDs will only work on their brand of computers, and sometimes only certain models. Similarly, OEM XP keys won't work on other OEM XP CDs or on retail CDs, and vice versa.

Having said all that, do you use a program that can only run on XP (and not in XP mode)?

[gmuk]

Hello Wired,

No problem to get hold of a non-OEM XP CD with or without a key! But this is not the point for the moment if I stick with XP mode.

Of course, I didn’t try XP mode but, according to MS, it is a fully functional version so it should run any program that I actually use.

My worry is more about the look and feel of the OS. I created 3 partitions, one of them especially dedicated to my data, the Temp and Temporary Internet Files folders and, as time went by, I added to that partition a lot of other system information and data I wanted in the same place to keep an eye on them. MS, Apple, Macromedia, etc. are so nosy !

All those modifications require fiddling with the registry and I wonder if the XP registry can be accessed "normally" or if it's embedded with the Win7 registry. Do you have any info ?

Thanks a lot

[Wired]

You can log into XP Mode just like any other VM and access it just as if it was a stand alone PC.

[gmuk]

Thanks Wired but I meant accessing the XP registry in XP mode. In other words, does the virtualised XP has a registry of it’s own or is it embedded in the Win7 registry ?

[Ossian]

The virtual machine is entirely separate from the physical one and has its own registry

[gmuk]

Fine. I’ll be able to tweak XP mode as much as I want! That’s cool

I thought virtualisation was for the Cloud or big companies and their servers. But considering the power of the machines today, the amount of memory available, all at a reasonable price, virtualisation seems a good solution for the average user too. And to make things easy, you can even buy a Win7 notebook already set up with XP mode. Still, the file sharing problems remain... Never mind, I’ll give it a try.

But what about MS commercial policy? Locking it’s OS might be the beginning of a new era; as with the smartphones and tablets today, we might have, in the future, to buy MS if we have Windows, buy Apple if we use MAC OS, buy Google with Android, etc. It does frighten me. I want to be able to download what I want from wherever I want and install it on my computer. That’s why I’ll never buy a tablet and sticking with an old, but nevertheless very efficient, OS still appeals to me. I won’t throw away my XP Pro setup disk!

[Ossian]

Microsoft introduced XP Mode with higher end editions of Windows 7 to improve business adoption -- you can run "legacy" software under XP mode (free license for XP Pro with every Win7 Pro or above) and even integrate it with the Win7 Start menu.

For developers / trainers etc it is a bonus as we run multiple VMs with different configurations on a high specced desktop or laptop