Test Windows 11 ARM on x86?

By scumdogmillionaire
in Microsoft (Windows)

 Share

Recommended Posts

Grand Master

scumdogmillionaire

Posted
Posted

Hello! Is there a way to test Windows 11 ARM on x86? I am thinking of switching from PC to Mac m2 with Parallels running Windows 11. I maintain a .NET Framework Winforms app that requires x86 and that's the only thing that really prevents me from just switching to macOS full time.

Is there a way to test the ARM version and it's limitations before I dive head first in? I have no idea if the app even works in this configuration with the x64 emulation, etc... so I'd like to know, but 3k is a lot to spend and have it flop.

Thanks!

Link to comment
https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1426760-test-windows-11-arm-on-x86/
Share on other sites
Grand Master

adrynalyne

Posted
Posted (edited)
On 11/03/2023 at 07:02, scumdogmillionaire said:

Hello! Is there a way to test Windows 11 ARM on x86? I am thinking of switching from PC to Mac m2 with Parallels running Windows 11. I maintain a .NET Framework Winforms app that requires x86 and that's the only thing that really prevents me from just switching to macOS full time.

Is there a way to test the ARM version and it's limitations before I dive head first in? I have no idea if the app even works in this configuration with the x64 emulation, etc... so I'd like to know, but 3k is a lot to spend and have it flop.

Thanks!

Can your application run on 4.8.1? If so, it should be fine.

If not, then it may still work fine, but it will have to use emulated x64 .NET Framework which will make it slower.

If you are using anything before .NET 6 (maybe 5 too), you can pretty much forget about that working, at least in my experience. It wouldn't even install.

  • scumdogmillionaire
  • Like 1
Grand Master

scumdogmillionaire

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Yeah, luckily I keep up with .NET Framework on it. It's currently on 4.7.2. I can look at updating it to 4.8.1, I didn't really know that was a marker for it, so I will certainly look into that. Visual Studio doesn't even load up 4.8 by default, so I never bothered with that move so my installer wouldn't have to deal with it.

Thank you for the insight!

Grand Master

adrynalyne

Posted
Posted (edited)
On 11/03/2023 at 08:51, scumdogmillionaire said:

Yeah, luckily I keep up with .NET Framework on it. It's currently on 4.7.2. I can look at updating it to 4.8.1, I didn't really know that was a marker for it, so I will certainly look into that. Visual Studio doesn't even load up 4.8 by default, so I never bothered with that move so my installer wouldn't have to deal with it.

Thank you for the insight!

Yeah 4.8.1 came out specifically for Windows on ARM and Visual Studio. They are working pretty hard to get feature parity with the x64 version of VS. The newest preview build adds in Maui support.

I've been running projects that were built on 4.5 and 4.8.1 has been ok to run them under as long as I reinstalled the NuGet packages.  Coherence mode is top notch too. People scratch their heads when they see Visual Studio 2022 in the dock.

Grand Master

scumdogmillionaire

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)
On 11/03/2023 at 10:57, adrynalyne said:

Yeah 4.8.1 came out specifically for Windows on ARM and Visual Studio. They are working pretty hard to get feature parity with the x64 version of VS. The newest preview build adds in Maui support.

I've been running projects that were built on 4.5 and 4.8.1 has been ok to run them under as long as I reinstalled the NuGet packages.  Coherence mode is top notch too. People scratch their heads when they see Visual Studio 2022 in the dock.

That's great to hear.

So what if you rely on a package or component that is on Framework 2.0 or something?  Is that still fine, just as long as host app is still on 4.8.1?

EDIT: Ah crap, I just realized SQL Server Express which I install with the app won't work. I could find work arounds for development, but to actually test my installer even I'm going to need an actual Windows PC somewhere. Boo.

Grand Master

adrynalyne

Posted
Posted (edited)
On 11/03/2023 at 09:05, scumdogmillionaire said:

That's great to hear.

So what if you rely on a package or component that is on Framework 2.0 or something?  Is that still fine, just as long as host app is still on 4.8.1?

EDIT: Ah crap, I just realized SQL Server Express which I install with the app won't work. I could find work arounds for development, but to actually test my installer even I'm going to need an actual Windows PC somewhere. Boo.

Framework 3.5 and older are on a different code base than 4.x so no, there is very little chance of those working.

For Sql Server,  my workaround was to use Docker in macOS and create a container using the amd64 version of the image. It allows you to go all the way back to SQL Server 2017. The ARM image out there is some weird edge version. I don't know if SQL server express is available in Docker though. I use the developer version of SQL server.

 

  • scumdogmillionaire
  • Like 1
Grand Master

scumdogmillionaire

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Yeah, I don't care so much about this working from an end user side, but I'd like to be able to have one computer that I use daily rather than two. Guess it's never gonna happen until I no longer have to maintain this app. My next thought was Azure Dev Box, but that's stupid expensive AND i have a hardware code signing key, so I have to deal with that myself. Frustrating. Stopped at every corner haha.

Grand Master

adrynalyne

Posted
Posted
On 11/03/2023 at 09:33, scumdogmillionaire said:

Yeah, I don't care so much about this working from an end user side, but I'd like to be able to have one computer that I use daily rather than two. Guess it's never gonna happen until I no longer have to maintain this app. My next thought was Azure Dev Box, but that's stupid expensive AND i have a hardware code signing key, so I have to deal with that myself. Frustrating. Stopped at every corner haha.

Yeah, from what you have described, Parallels should be fine and actually, at least for me, it works incredibly well.

If you want details on the Docker setup, let me know. Its as simple as installing Docker on macOS and running docker run with some options, but I can give you all that. Then its as simple as using SSMS or whatever, just like before.

  • scumdogmillionaire
  • Like 1
  • 4 weeks later...
Neowinian

ogbonnayauche

Posted
Posted

One thing you could try is setting up a virtual machine on your current PC and installing Windows 11 ARM on it. This way, you can test out your .NET Framework Winforms app and see if it works with x64 emulation. It's not a perfect test, but it could give you an idea of what to expect. As for your concern about spending a lot of money on a new Mac and having it flop, I totally get it.

Grand Master

adrynalyne

Posted
Posted
On 06/04/2023 at 01:52, ogbonnayauche said:

One thing you could try is setting up a virtual machine on your current PC and installing Windows 11 ARM on it. This way, you can test out your .NET Framework Winforms app and see if it works with x64 emulation. It's not a perfect test, but it could give you an idea of what to expect. As for your concern about spending a lot of money on a new Mac and having it flop, I totally get it.

How would you go about that, being its a different architecture? Seems like an emulator would be needed.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.

  • Posts

    • Ninja Theory's new Hellblade game is action-focused and set in Purgatory

      By LoneWolfSL · Posted

      Ninja Theory's new Hellblade game is action-focused and set in Purgatory by Pulasthi Ariyasinghe Ninja Thery has been building its award-winning Hellblade series since 2017, delivering Senua's Sacrifice and Senua's Saga since then. Today at the 2026 Xbox Games Showcase, the studio had a brand-new installment announcement featuring Senua again, but this time, she is in a version of purgatory, and the focus is on the action. Simply named Senua, this new entry is described as a "full-on action-adventure" experience, delivering an expanded focus on combat, puzzle-solving, and freedom of exploration. The developer says that it is keeping the same high production values and storytelling features of the previous games while giving what players have been asking for in the gameplay department. The entirety of Ninja Theory is now working on Senua, giving the project much more manpower than ever before, while also letting the team draw on its action roots from Devil May Cry and prior titles. However, the studio also confirmed that its previously announced Project Mara horror experience is no longer in development. Alongside snappier traversal moves, Senua will be able to take stealth and direct combat routes. She has access to her own sword, plus any enemy weapons as well, with dual wielding also being an option for most dropped melee swords, axes, and other weapons. Outside of melee combat, Senua will be able to use special abilities that let her alter the reality around her. The world is said to be about twice the size of Hellblade 2. While this won't be an open-world experience, the linear story will let players explore their surroundings further than before. The story of Senua will be set after the events of previous Hellblade titles, with our protagonist being stuck in her own version of Purgatory. The series' well-explored psychosis themes will return as well. "She’s trapped between life and death on a quest to reach the afterlife and be reunited with the ones that she’s loved and lost," adds the studio. "Her belief is that by healing the wounds of her life, she can find the peace that is the key that unlocks the gate to the afterlife." Senua is releasing on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PlayStation 5 sometime in 2027.
    • Windows 11 gets big performance upgrade, shared audio support, and more in new update

      By mrp04 · Posted

      Windows has had it, it's called camera frame server. I recall when it was first introduced in an early Windows 10 release it caused issues and there was a registry entry to disable it. Seems like they disabled it by default at some point. Windows 11 brought that toggle to the settings app (not just registry) a while ago.
    • 25th anniversary Xbox Series X unveiled with classic translucent green design

      By excalpius · Posted

      Is the hardware updated at all?!
    • Mafia: The Old Country expansion Man of Honor announced, brings back Salieri from original

      By _-Psycho-_ · Posted

      You didn't like Mafia The Definite Edition? As a fan of the first when it came out, I liked that remake.
    • This Corsair Vengeance DDR5-6000 32GB RAM with RGB is a great deal for limited time

      By S.MULLA · Posted

      Brought 96gb kit for that much in early 2025.

  • Recent Achievements

    • Proficient
      Eric Biran went up a rank
      Proficient
    • Dedicated
      Conjor earned a badge
      Dedicated
    • Week One Done
      Windows Guy earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Dedicated
      Mark Spruce earned a badge
      Dedicated
    • Collaborator
      conkir earned a badge
      Collaborator

  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      479
    2. 2
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      243
    3. 3
      Steven P.
      72
    4. 4
      +Edouard
      66
    5. 5
      neufuse
      66
    Show More

  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!