Win XP Mode Questions

[jjsbasmt]

I have successfully set up Win Xp Mode on my sig system, however, I have 2 questions:

1. In the XP Mode Control Panel it reveals that I have 512 MB of RAM dedicated to the virtual XP mode, and since I have plenty of RAM otherwise, how do I dedicate more, say a total of 1 GB for the Virtual XP?

2. A pop up balloon say that my system may be at risk because no AV software is installed on the Virtual XP. I have NIS 2010 on the Win 7 Pro host installation. Do I need to install some kind of AV protection in the Virtual XP, or does the one installed on the host operating system provide total protection for everything on my system?

Please forgive me for these 2 questions, but this Virtual Machine stuff is new to me.

Thanks in advance to all replies.

 

[RebateMonger]

A virtual PC is the same as having a separate computer and is just as vulnerable to malware. If the virtual XP has access to the network or to the Internet, then it should have some form of AntiVirus installed.

Edit: How to change memory size in XP Mode:

http://blogs.msdn.com/ianm/arc...-mode-memory-size.aspx

 

[Dahak]

1) for xp mode, 512mb should be enough as you are only needing it for a few programs that have issues running under win7. its not designed as a replacement os.
2) it cant hurt, i would just a lightweight av like avg free or microsoft secuirty essentials

 

[Griffinhart]

Originally posted by: jjsbasmt
I have successfully set up Win Xp Mode on my sig system, however, I have 2 questions:

1. In the XP Mode Control Panel it reveals that I have 512 MB of RAM dedicated to the virtual XP mode, and since I have plenty of RAM otherwise, how do I dedicate more, say a total of 1 GB for the Virtual XP?

Go to your Virtual Machines, I do so by hitting the start button and typing virtual.

It will list your virtual machines. If your XP Mode install is in any status other than "powered down" then right click on it and open. When the VM is on screen do a full shutdown of the XP VM.

When it is in "powered down" mode you can right click it and go into the settings. From there you can increase the amount of RAM used. You just can't change it unless the VM is in that "powered down" status.

2. A pop up balloon say that my system may be at risk because no AV software is installed on the Virtual XP. I have NIS 2010 on the Win 7 Pro host installation. Do I need to install some kind of AV protection in the Virtual XP, or does the one installed on the host operating system provide total protection for everything on my system?

As mentioned, MS Security Essentials is a great choice.

 

[jjsbasmt]

Thanks everyone for the great info. I will install MS Security Essentials since I have a lot of faith in the program and recently used it identify and clean 15 different trojans from a friends computer in Win XP thus avoiding an OS reinstall. Dahak: You are correct 512 MB or RAM will be enought for what I need to do, but I was curious about how to change the amount. Thanks again.

 

[MStele]

Most of you know this, but for the few that don't know, Virtual PC has no Direct3d support, so if some of you were planning on using it as a way of getting old 3d games to work you need to rethink it. However, it is a good way to run Win98..which you could use to good affect, even without 3d support.

There is one use for XP mode which i like. If you are running 64-bit and you have some very old games that have 16-bit installers...you can install them in XP mode and then transplant them into Win7. You'll have to move the registry keys also but that shouldn't be to hard.