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Question

XP Pro XE64 on my Win7 64bit HP machine

Feb 23, 2014 2:22AM PST

My XP machine died several years back, I bought a new HP dv7-3085dx w/Win7 64bit home premium. I still have programs my business uses that will only run w/XP so I'm wanting to know if there would be any issues I may encounter by installing XP on my 7 machine, assuming it will be partitioned.

I've seen XP Pro XE64 OEM still for sale but before I buy would like to know for sure I won't have any conflicting issues. Also, should I look for the OEM w/service packs or get the SP updates from MS after installing the OS . ?

Thanks for expert advice.

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Nothing more than the usual.
Feb 23, 2014 2:25AM PST

XP, even XP64 does not support native SATA interfaces. There is nothing new going on here and I'd be duplicating the web on how to install and the usual driver hunt.

On top of that you wrote "XP Pro XE64" which came with a hard 127GB drive size limitation. I would be guessing the dv7 drive size but a look finds it's well over that size, a SATA drive and my what a challenge to install XP then recover the Windows 7 system.

Let's hope you know all about recovery of your blown system before you start.
Bob

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Answer
Re: XP
Feb 23, 2014 2:32AM PST

I'd run it virtual (if that programs allow). Much easier and better supported .See http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/install-and-use-windows-xp-mode-in-windows-7.
In fact, I'd install the 32bit version of XP. The 64-bit is considered horrible.

Well, that's not fully true. I'd use my XP-machine (I still have one fully functional, 2 in fact). And if I hadn't one and buying a second hand was text-deductable as a business expense, maybe I'd buy one in stead of going virtual.

Kees

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Answer
Are you aware MS is pulling the plug on XP in April?
Feb 23, 2014 2:33AM PST

Since MS is pulling the plug on the last remnants of XP support in April, using XP is going to become increasingly risky. In addition installing XP in dual boot on a PC already having a later version of Windows gets complicated because what you'd normally like to do for the install would cause Windows 7 (in your case) not to be bootable. There're ways around that, but the best bets are first compatibility mode, then buying later versions of the incompatible software if possible, then some form of virtualization. If you upgrade Windows 7 Home Premium to the Professional version, you can take advantage of the free XP Mode, but again, you're into an unsupported version of Windows. You could also stick with what you have, add Virtual Box, and install XP under that. Another possible complication with XP is that you don't know if you can get XP drivers for your system. Anyway you slice it, running any form of XP after April is fraught with peril, so I'd do everything I could to avoid doing that if at all possible.

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It gets better
Feb 23, 2014 5:29AM PST

It gets better in that support for the x64 version of XP ended already, quite some time ago really. That version never even got SP3.

I wouldn't risk putting that on anything except a VM where you can obliterate it on a whim.

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XP Pro XE64 on my Win7 64bit HP machine
Feb 23, 2014 11:22PM PST

Thanks for the help. I think I'll just look for a VM with XP or a build one and put the OS on it. I have read that many others are also unhappy XP is going away with so many programs dependent on it.

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At our office, 1 last app.
Feb 23, 2014 11:36PM PST

And since we have VirtualBox it lives on without any problem. On top of that we can backup, move the VM file from machine to machine without installing XP or doing the driver hunts. Welcome to the 21st century.
Bob