Editing Virtual PC (section)

== Windows XP Mode ==
[[File:Windows 7 XP Mode.png|thumb|right|Internet Explorer versions 6, 7, and 8 running concurrently on a Windows 7 Release Candidate desktop using ''[[Windows XP]] Mode''.]]
'''Windows XP Mode''' ('''XPM''')<ref name="GZZgA">{{cite web |url = https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8002|title = Download Windows XP Mode|work = Official Microsoft Download Center|publisher = Microsoft Corporation|access-date = January 2, 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140723215537/http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/confirmation.aspx?id=8002|archive-date = July 23, 2014|url-status = live}}</ref><ref name="AHjKy">{{cite web | title=Windows XP Mode in Windows 7 and Virtual PC – Part 1: Maintaining Application Compatibility | url=http://capitalhead.com/articles/windows-xp-mode-in-windows-7-and-virtual-pc---part-1-maintaining-application-compatibility.aspx | access-date=June 16, 2009 | archive-date=June 1, 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090601220911/http://capitalhead.com/articles/windows-xp-mode-in-windows-7-and-virtual-pc---part-1-maintaining-application-compatibility.aspx | url-status=live }}</ref> is a virtual machine package for Windows Virtual PC containing a pre-installed, licensed copy of [[Windows XP editions#Home and Professional|Windows XP Professional]] with Service Pack 3 as its guest OS. Previously, both the CPU and motherboard of the host had to support hardware virtualization,<ref name="freecountry">{{cite web |last=Heng |first=Christopher |title=Free PC/Intel x86 Emulators and Virtual Machines |url=http://www.thefreecountry.com/emulators/pc.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130105022509/http://www.thefreecountry.com/emulators/pc.shtml |archive-date=January 5, 2013 |access-date=16 June 2013 |work=thefreecountry.com |publisher=TheFreeCountry}}</ref> but an update in early 2010 eliminated this requirement.<ref name="ms-vpc-faq">{{cite web |url = http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/support/faq.aspx |title = Windows Virtual PC: FAQ |work = Windows Virtual PC website |publisher = Microsoft Corporation |access-date = November 22, 2010 |archive-date = March 16, 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130316070239/http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/support/faq.aspx |url-status = live }}</ref> Pre-installed integration components allow applications running within the virtualized environment to appear as if running directly on the host,<ref name="MS_WVPC" /><ref name="vjXRo">{{Cite web |url=http://withinwindows.com/within-windows/2009/04/24/secret-no-more-revealing-windows-xp-mode-for-windows-7 |title=Secret No More: Revealing Windows XP Mode for Windows 7 |work=Within Windows |first1=Rafael |last1=Rivera |first2=Paul |last2=Thurrott |date=April 24, 2009 |access-date=16 June 2013 |archive-date=June 30, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130630104452/http://withinwindows.com/within-windows/2009/04/24/secret-no-more-revealing-windows-xp-mode-for-windows-7 |url-status=live }}</ref> sharing the native desktop and [[start menu]] of Windows 7 as well as participating in file type associations. Windows XP Mode applications run in a [[Remote Desktop Services|Terminal Services]] session in the virtualized Windows XP, and are accessed via [[Remote Desktop Protocol]] by a client running on the Windows 7 host.<ref name="z5wgg">{{cite web |url = http://www.withinwindows.com/2009/04/28/windows-xp-mode-internals-part-2-application-publishing-magic/|author = Rafael Rivera|title = Windows XP Mode Internals – Part 2 (Application Publishing Magic)|access-date = April 30, 2009|publisher = WithinWindows.com|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150511135410/http://withinwindows.com/2009/04/28/windows-xp-mode-internals-part-2-application-publishing-magic/|archive-date = May 11, 2015|url-status = dead}}</ref>

Applications running in Windows XP Mode do not have compatibility issues, as they are actually running inside a Windows XP virtual machine and redirected using RDP to the Windows 7 host. Windows XP Mode may be used to run 16-bit applications; it includes [[NTVDM]], however it is impossible to run 16-bit applications that require hardware acceleration, as Windows Virtual PC does not have hardware acceleration for such applications.

Windows XP Mode is available free of charge to users of Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate.<ref name="MS_XPM_brochure" /> Users of other editions of Windows 7 are not eligible to download and use it.<ref name="ms-vpc-faq" /><ref name="PM30q">{{cite web | url = http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx | title = Download Windows XP Mode | work = Windows Virtual PC website | publisher = Microsoft Corporation | access-date = November 22, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120628234800/http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx | archive-date = June 28, 2012 | url-status = dead | quote = (After selecting an inappropriate edition of Windows 7) You are not eligible to download Windows XP Mode. You must have Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, or Ultimate to run Windows XP Mode.}}</ref> This restriction does not apply to Windows Virtual PC itself.

Windows XP Mode can also be run with [[VMware Workstation Player|VMware Player]] and [[VMware Workstation]]. However, like with Windows Virtual PC itself, VMware products only import Windows XP Mode on Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, or Ultimate versions in order to adhere with Microsoft licensing requirements.<ref name="RwYp3">{{cite web |url = http://www.mydigitallife.info/run-xp-mode-in-vmware-workstation-or-player-with-activation-intact/ |title = Run XP Mode in VMware Workstation or Player with Activation Intact |work = My Digital Life |date = May 13, 2010 |access-date = May 28, 2014 |archive-date = May 29, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140529051709/http://www.mydigitallife.info/run-xp-mode-in-vmware-workstation-or-player-with-activation-intact/ |url-status = live }}</ref>