Windows 7 - XP Mode

[YOUNGCODGER]

Hi,

I have a Windows 7 PC. Some of my legacy applications have to be run in XP Mode. So far this has not presented any problems. However this morning when in XP mode it asked me if I wanted to check for Windows' updates. The underlying Windows 7 O/S is up to date. Should I be checking for updates in XP mode or was this just a glitch?

Thanks,

YoungCodger

 

[flyboytim]

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/894199

lists recent Windows XP updates, including the November 9th malicious software removal tool update.

So your XP Mode installation is still vulnerable to recently released threats, and Microsoft is still supporting XP in this area. Good old Microsoft!

Does your XP Mode have it's own anti-virus and anti-malware utilities installed? If you are running critical legacy business systems, which is the raison d'etre for XP Mode, they need this protection within the virtual machine, as well as on the host Windows 7 system.

Always the conspiratorialist, I believe Microsoft is probably keeping tabs on the installed XP user-base that is still active, and will use download logs for statistical analysis of those systems using still using XP, and particularly which editions are being widely used. (Wikipedia has an article here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_XP_editions

but this does not include a discussion of the XP Mode edition yet.) I have not yet experienced this, but does XP Mode offer to send details back to Microsoft if an application crashes?

 

[linney]

The virtual machine is an operating system and just like any other operating system it requires Windows Updates. It is more than just another program that you run on Windows 7 and requires all the usual maintenance and security as performed on any other operating system.

 

[BillyRayPreachersSon]

I ended up completely removing XP mode and re-installing Virtual PC 2007... that way, I know exactly when it is running, and can shut it down, hibernate VMs, etc.

Given I don't need the seamless experience for running multiple web browsers, nor want it for running software likely to contain viruses, etc, I'm far happier with it like this.

Dan



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[Nelviticus]

@BRPS - you can still use the new Windows Virtual PC (WVPC) to do that, you don't have to go back to VPC2007 (although a lot of people prefer its 'proper' interface). With WVPC you can still set up virtual machines the old way, i.e. not seamless.

@YOUNGCODER - as tim and linney say, yes that's normal. You should keep your virtual XP Mode up to date.

Regards

Nelviticus

 

[YOUNGCODGER]

Thanks for the information. I have now both updated the OS and installed anti-virus. My, app, however does not work and I am investigating "as and when"!

Regards,

YoungCodger

 

[Neil Toulouse]

Does VirtualPC support USB yet?

Was one of the reasons I wanted to upgrade my version of Windows 7 to get the XP mode, which does support USB devices I believe?

I like work. It fascinates me. I can sit and look at it for hours...

 

[linney]

Virtual PC 2007 does not support USB, Windows Virtual PC XP Mode does support it.