Using a VM to install AutoCAD

[AstroManLuca]

My father in law just got a new laptop running Win7 x64 and he wants to use his old copy of AutoCAD on it. It's so old (2000) that the installer won't run, so I set up XP mode in order to install it. The installer runs, but I'm not sure how to make sure the software can be run from outside the VM. As far as I know, it should work in Win7, it's only the installer that doesn't work (the installer gives an error saying it's a 16-bit program and won't run).

I'm installing it inside the VM right now but I'm guessing he'll only be able to run it from inside the VM. Is there any way to install it outside the VM?

 

[Nothinman]

If it's installed in the VM that's where it runs. Unless you can do some hack like copy the installed directory and have it still run you'll have to find some way to trick the installer to run under Win7.

 

[Emulex]

autocad is really picky about drivers - probably better off using a newer version that may be vm friendly or dual-boot to xp native and run the certified autocad drivers.

 

[0roo0roo]

http://community.winsupersite.com/b...vealing-virtual-windows-xp-for-windows-7.aspx
http://www.withinwindows.com/2009/0...nternals-part-2-application-publishing-magic/
you can make it seem like its running in win7, basically vm without the desktop, only showing the application in the vmwindow.

so it should work, win2k is so old that even in vm such old apps run faster on a modern pc.

 

[AstroManLuca]

I actually got it running just fine using a shortcut so it doesn't require him to start virtual pc. Seems to work fine. I could still try copying over the install directory but it's fine as it is.