Introduction to Windows XP Mode for Windows 7

Windows® XP Mode, a new feature of Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate, helps small businesses upgrade to Windows 7 by providing a virtual Windows XP environment capable of running many Windows XP-compatible business and productivity applications. Using Windows Virtual PC, a new feature in Windows 7, customers can run many older Windows XP business and productivity applications within Windows XP Mode and launch them from the Windows 7 desktop with just a single click.

Therefore, Windows XP Mode for Windows 7 gives you the best of both worlds: the ability to enjoy the many benefits of Windows 7—such as increased security, productivity, and reliability— while still getting the most from your Windows XP applications.

In this Guide, we’ll tell you about Windows XP Mode and Windows Virtual PC for Windows 7. We’ll show you how easy it is to install and run many of your Windows XP productivity applications just from Windows 7 desktop; and we’ll talk about other new features that make working with virtual machines more convenient than ever.


What’s new in Windows Virtual PC?
With the release of Windows 7, we are introducing a number of new features in Windows Virtual PC designed to make it easier for you to run your legacy applications in a virtual software environment like Virtual Windows XP:

• Integration with Windows XP Mode setup (Windows XP Mode is a feature of Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate and Enterprise)

• A new approach that intuitively incorporates Windows Virtual PC user interface (UI) into that of your Windows 7 desktop

• The ability to use many of your USB devices from within a virtual Windows environment, such as Windows XP Mode

• Seamless launching of Windows XP applications from your Windows 7 desktop, Start Menu, or Taskbar

• Clipboard sharing, which enables you to cut, copy, and paste data between the host
Windows 7 desktop and the virtual machine

• Printer sharing between the Windows 7 desktop and the virtual Windows environment

• Drive sharing, which provides easy access to all host data from within the virtual machine

• Folder integration between operating environments


Source of Information : Microsoft® Enterprise Desktop Virtualization (MED-V)