Scanner, Virtual Machine, possibilities?

[TridenT]

So I have a scanner that doesn't work with Windows 7... It doesn't have any drivers for it either... Possible to maybe run Windows XP(Where it does have drivers) in VMWare and get the scanner to work somehow then? I am somewhat doubtful, but I thought I would ask.

I thought Windows 7 had some kind of Windows XP capability mode that made XP programs actually work, but maybe I am wrong... Could be drivers are just not capable of being emulated like that.

 

[mpilchfamily]

Yes there is XP compatibilty in Win 7 so applications will work but it can't use XP Drivers. Vista and Win 7 use a differnt driver model that isn't compatible with older versions of Windows. So you can't use older perifials with the New OSs. Don't know if running XP in VM will work but its worth a try. If it doesn't work you've only spent time on it. But at least you'll know if you need to buy a new scanner.

 

[theevilsharpie]

If the scanner is USB, you may able to use VMware's USB passthrough to use it from an XP VM. I'm not sure if Microsoft Virtual PC of XP Mode (whatever they call it now) has similar functionality.

 

[corkyg]

XP Compatibility is not the same as a VM XP Mode. That only is an option with Win 7 Pro or Ultimate. To use it, special software/drivers must be downloaded from Microsoft's Win 7 site, and then installed. That creates a true XP Virtual Machine, and all software and hardware must be separately installed. And, yes, it will work your old scanner.

 

[corkyg]

BTW - I was playing around with my XP Mode in Win 7 yesterday, and found out that Windows Updates can and should be, applied to XP in the VM. Also, a separate anti virus/malware program needs to be installed. VM is really like having a complete separate machine within your Win 7 OS. When you close it, it hibernates.