Hardware virtualization no longer required by Windows Virtual PC!

[revanmj]

Microsoft informed on a Windows 7 blog that they removed hardware virtualization support requirement from its Windows Virtual PC software. Of course if it is available, software will take advantage of the technology but it will be able to work without it. New version will be available to download later today.

Read more on Windows 7 blog.

[Fraud OS 11]

Absolutely delighted when I read this as I have some PCs that don't have hardware assisted virtualization but run Windows 7 just fine. Finally, they saw sense.

[Timan Veteran]

Nice, means I can finally run the thing on my Mac Pro. Believe the EFi stuff was messing it up.

[protocol7]

Nice! Seemed a strange requirement to add to a product as established as VPC at the last minute.

[Buendia]

Nice. I finally can try it :)

[carmatic]

nice

now that hardware virtualization is no longer needed, what is the minimum requirements for xp mode? is it just the same as the editions of windows 7 with Aero enabled?

[azure.sapphire]

XP mode still requires virtualization, it is only the application (Virtual PC) that has reduce the requirement. As for a Mac, if you have a Mac Book Pro and Windows 7 Pro, you can run XP mode. A Google search should get some pretty good results. I think this is an ok guide:<br /><br /><a href='http://servergrrl.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!6A418D5155651D56!251.entry' class='bbc_url' title='External link' rel='nofollow external'>http://servergrrl.sp...51D56!251.entry</a>

Sorry, main guide is here: (/edit)

http://servergrrl.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!6A418D5155651D56!197.entry

[carmatic]

Sorry, main guide is here: (/edit)

http://servergrrl.sp...51D56!197.entry

umm that's just installing windows 7 on a macbook pro...?

[nullie]

Does it support 64-bit Guest Operating systems yet?

[TokiToki]

XP mode still requires virtualization, it is only the application (Virtual PC) that has reduce the requirement.

You obviously didn't read.

Windows XP Mode will no longer require hardware virtualization technology to run.

in big fat bold print. :p

[Raa]

YES!!!!

This is brilliant news for a few of my customers, and probably for schools too!! (Y) (Y)

[boogerjones]

Good stuff. Hopefully XP Mode is a sign that Microsoft is developing an operating system that doesn't have to meet any compatibility requirements. It would simplify development drastically.

[kaffra]

great news.

[marc2003]

why do people even use this? it absolutely sucks compared to the alternatives. vmware and virtualbox are far superior products.

[bolix]

why do people even use this? it absolutely sucks compared to the alternatives. vmware and virtualbox are far superior products.

Hmm...it's free, it's integrated, don't have to buy licence of Windows XP?

[farmeunit]

why do people even use this? it absolutely sucks compared to the alternatives. vmware and virtualbox are far superior products.

I think it's supposed to be completely seamless when running apps for XP, and ease of install. I haven't used, so I can't speak from experience.

You can do seamless mode in the others of course, but by default it's not exactly seamless.

Mainly ease of use for people not experienced with either VMWare or Virtualbox.

BTW, thanks to the OP for the news. I hadn't heard that, but it's good to know. I've always been kind of miffed and upset about the whole thing. Working in a school environment, I would want this feature so I wouldn't have to teach everyone using Win7 how to use VM software to run some of our legacy apps. Thankfully most stuff is going web-based, but we can't always afford to purchase new software or subscriptions to services and this would make it a lot easier to deploy and run software.

[marc2003]

Hmm...it's free, it's integrated, don't have to buy licence of Windows XP?

oops. i didn't read the article but instead believed this.....

XP mode still requires virtualization, it is only the application (Virtual PC) that has reduce the requirement.

shame on me. :rofl:

[ilev]

why do people even use this? it absolutely sucks compared to the alternatives. vmware and virtualbox are far superior products.

+1

Virtual PC has a sever security risk and it is advised not to use the app until Microsoft fix the problem (which is known for 7 months)

[azure.sapphire]

oops. i didn't read the article but instead believed this.....

shame on me.??:rofl:

According to the article it still does, according to Microsoft it does not. You should be able to run XP mode without virtualization.

[Guest xiphi]

+1

Virtual PC has a sever security risk and it is advised not to use the app until Microsoft fix the problem (which is known for 7 months)

Thought it didn't effect Windows Virtual PC?

[ilev]

Thought it didn't effect Windows Virtual PC?

https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/884384-virtual-pc-flaw-lets-hackers-bypass-dep-safeseh-aslr/page__p__592361218__hl__virtual__fromsearch__1entry592361218

[Colin-uk Veteran]

its not an exploit if you need access to the physical machine. :p

this is good news though, i can try xp mode now :)

[hdood]

its not an exploit if you need access to the physical machine. :p

Anything that gives the running code rights it wouldn't normally have (privilege escalation) is a serious vulnerability.

The risk of it being exploited here is probably slim, which is why Microsoft doesn't care. If this vulnerability was in a hypervisor used on servers, it would be very serious.

[Salty Wagyu]

why do people even use this? it absolutely sucks compared to the alternatives. vmware and virtualbox are far superior products.

Seems fine for me, the menus etc in XP Mode are insanely instant and very snappy to use, even more so than my main OS running the virtual PC. Couldn't ask for better, must be the hardware virtualization.

[Colin-uk Veteran]

Anything that gives the running code rights it wouldn't normally have (privilege escalation) is a serious vulnerability.

having physical access to the machine can do that too.