Can't get XP mode for windows 7 to run

[Deders]

Earlier this evening I tried to download and install Windows XP mode for windows 7 to try and get an install drivers for an obsolete scanner so my friend could email some important documents before a deadline. The drivers only go up to XP SP1, and are certainly not x64 bit.

Previous to installing Windows 7 I'd kept one of the 2 VM settings in the bios disabled as I thought I'd never use it. (Intel Virtualization tech and Intel VT-d tech) After making sure they were both enabled, I rebooted and downloaded 'havdetectiontool' to see if it was working. I get this message:

So apparently it's not working, I also found an update that enables the use of virtualisation without hardware support but I when I tried to install this, I was told my machine didn't need it.

So I go ahead and Install XP for windows 7 anyway, the install goes fine, apparently, I found after I'd clicked finish that the Intel Rapid Storage Technology was running wild and constantly taking up 25% of my CPU usage, (I had installed XP for 7 onto my SSD) so after waiting patiently for at least 5-10 mins I decided to reboot.

When I went to look for the XP for 7 program in the start menu I couldn't find it anywhere, so I looked for it in Program files where I'd installed it, some files were there but no sign of an .exe I could run, just a couple of folders and a large file, nearly 1GB.

I was stumped so I tried re-installing the Intel motherboard drivers with the -overall switch to see if they were necessary, turned out it didn't help, same message again from the hav detection tool and same result from trying to install XP for 7, only this time it had taken out the Intel Rapid Storage Technology drivers and I couldn't re-install them.

I'm ashamed to admit it but after several failed re-attempts I resorted to using System Restore as it seemed like the only way I could be sure that all my drivers were intact.

I left it there as there didn't seem like anything I could do, the guy I was trying to help had a brainwave and said he'd just call the people who needed the document in the morning and get it to them asap but I'm still stumped as to why virtualisation won't work on my machine when it clearly should. Can anyone enlighten me?

 

[Gunbuster]

Cant really help on XP mode. It was always a Kludge solution. Now if you had Windows 8 pro you could rock XP on Hyper-V

Real life solution. Use a camera phone to "scan the documents"

 

[CA19100]

If you can't get this XP thing to work, another option for an obsolete scanner is VueScan. Not free, but works great:

http://www.hamrick.com/

 

[postmortemIA]

look for Windows virtual PC in start menu. It opens as a explorer window. there should be one file, xp mode. it is not executable.
this article has a screenshot of what I'm talking about:
http://www.epagini.com/2010/03/xp-mode-does-not-require-hardware-visualization-anymore/

 

[Deders]

Cant really help on XP mode. It was always a Kludge solution. Now if you had Windows 8 pro you could rock XP on Hyper-V

Real life solution. Use a camera phone to "scan the documents"

Unfortunately I lost my phone recently, only have a very basic one with no camera but my friends might be able to help, thanks.

If you can't get this XP thing to work, another option for an obsolete scanner is VueScan. Not free, but works great:

http://www.hamrick.com/

Might give it a try

look for Windows virtual PC in start menu. It opens as a explorer window. there should be one file, xp mode. it is not executable.
this article has a screenshot of what I'm talking about:
http://www.epagini.com/2010/03/xp-mode-does-not-require-hardware-visualization-anymore/

I couldn't find any reference to Windows virtual PC in the start menu, like I mentioned before the the installer said it was setting up a virtual drive.

Once that process had finished, Intel Rapid Storage Technology hung for ages, should I be more patient and wait for a second install to start to actually get the start menu entries?

Should I try installing on a non SSD Drive? (I seem to remember trying this)

 

[Bubbaleone]

With Windows 7 you no longer need HAV to run XP mode, but you do need to have one of these two updates installed in order to remove the prerequisites required to run Windows Virtual PC and XP mode: 32 bit (KB977206) or 64 bit (KB977206).

By the way, to enable HAV in your BIOS you should note your current BIOS settings then clear the CMOS. Next, reboot to the desktop, shutdown, then go back into BIOS and enable both VM settings as well as restoring your previously noted settings.

 

[Deders]

Tried the update, only got a message saying this is not applicable to my computer.

I was afraid I might have to do a bios reset, then I'll have to set up all my overclock modes again and re-save them. I'll give it a try when I get the time. Thanks

 

[XavierMace]

I suspect you have Win7 Home Premium, correct? If so, that's the issue.

 

[Deders]

It is 7 ultimate, I'll have to try resetting the bios and turning the computer off, unplugging it etc then resetting up all 3 of my overclocking modes at some point, not really worth the hassle right now as the initial job is done but thanks for all the help and input guys

 

[adreamer]

Well if that doesn't work and you have a XP license you can try using Vmware Player or VirtualBox to host a virtual XP machine. I have had much better luck with those products than using the built in XP Mode.

 

[Deders]

That's a great idea

 

[Pikaboo]

Try formating if nothing works.

 

[Deders]

I'll definitely do the whole re-set bios before I next re-format, thanks