XP Mode Rocks!!

I have been using Windows 7 as my production Operating System since it was made available to MSDN subscribers early August 2009, and I strongly recommend it. Unfortunately, some of you will have one or other application that will only run in Windows XP, and compatibility mode just doesn't cut it. I know, because I do. One of the main tools I use in my job, is actually web based, and will run in nothing but Internet Explorer 7, and as you know Windows 7 comes with Internet Explorer 8.

The solution for any of those problems is
Windows XP Mode, which is available for free (yes, you read it right, it is free) and installs on Microsoft Windows 7, as long as you have the Professional or Ultimate editions of this OS.

Installing Windows XP Mode will create a virtual computer in which you can then install whatever applications you need to use that refuse to work on Windows 7, and the beauty of it is that you can run those applications on their own, as independent windows on your Windows 7 desktop.

And now, another little trick. If you want to make a backup, or replicate the virtual computer you already have and quickly create another one, just do the following:

1. Make sure your virtual machine is powered down, not just in hibernating mode.
   
2. Launch Virtual PC from the Start menu.
   
3. On the Primary disk column, check the path to your virtual machine files (i.e. C:\Users\YourName\...\...\...\Windows XP Mode.vhd).
   
4. Navigate to that folder using Windows Explorer.
   
5. Copy the 3 files on this folder (with extensions .vhd, .vmc, .vpcbackup).
   
6. Paste those 3 files on another folder of your choice.
   
7. Rename the files to distinguish them from the originals (i.e. XPMode2.vhd).
   
8. Open the .vmc file with Notepad.
   
9. Find the following line:
   <absolute type="string">C:\ Path_to_file\Windows XP Mode.vhd</absolute>
   and change it to
   <absolute type="string">C:\ Path_to_new_file\XPMode2.vhd</absolute>
   
10. Find the following line:
    <relative type="string">.\Windows XP Mode.vhd</relative>
    and change it to
    <relative type="string">.\XPMode2.vhd</relative>
    
11. Close and save the file.
    

If you now double click on the .vmc file you will start this new virtual machine. You can make as many copies of the machine as you want by using this simple technique.