Is Compatibility in Windows 7 in XP mode same as in XP?

If I have a software that was compatible with window XP, but incompatible with Windows 7, would it be compatible with Windows 7 in XP mode?

 

What XP Mode does (so long as you have Windows 7 Pro or higher) is incorporate an actual licensed copy of Windows XP Pro SP3 through Windows Virtual PC. To the programs you're running, it's like they're running on a Windows XP box, because they virtually are. There shouldn't be any compatibility problems.

 

So is the answer yes, it will be compatible even if the software is not compatible with Win 7 (non XP mode)?
(I'm trying to decide if I need Win 7 Pro instead of Home premium if this can solve compatibility issue)

 

Yes, the XP Mode virtual machine that you can get in Win7Pro is capable of running XP programs that are incompatible with Win7 itself.

I use it for my Nikon film scanner. I plug it in and Win7 does not recognize it, nor can I install the Nikon drivers (I don't like the 3rd party options). I open XP Mode and attach the USB device in there. Everything works fine.

 

Thanks. In your case it's hardware compatibility. Same with software? (e.g. Office 2000 , Corel wordperfect)

 

Yep, XP Mode let me run one tool I had that only supported XP and older, until it was updated. Hardware drivers incompatible with W7 and software both work in XP Mode.

 

Thanks--that solves big problem for me. I will go with Windows 7 Pro. (Glad to have asked the question and thanks for the prompt replies, everyone! I was almost ready to press the button for my order with Home premium)

 

You don't need Pro if you have a copy of XP license around though. It is perfectly ok to install virtual PC then install XP under it.

Though W7 Pro has other benefits(one thing I cannot do without is RDP server which is not there in Premium) so if you are not tight on budget, get it instead of Premium.

 

there's about no software you can't get to run on win7 if you really want to (there are compatibility modes on EVERY win7 version. just the virtual windows xp isn't, and it normally is never needed).

main use for virtual xp is special hardware.

to chimpanzee. do you need rdp, or does something like teamviewer work just as well if not better? i have rdp on all my systems and never, ever used it.

 

Windows 7 Professional is worth it if you need XP Mode (for software/hardware compatiblity issues), RDP, and to join a domain at work (not supported in Home Premium).

There's still some software that doesn't work on Windows 7 natively. Especially, third-party software for education (graduate preparation exams): GMAT, LSAT, GRE from Princeton Review or Kaplan. Maybe, they updated the software recently to be compatible, but XP Mode saved me in this situation.

Also, I find RDP in Windows 7 quite fast and more reponsive than previous versions in Windows XP, etc. Teamviewer has great functions and is simple to use, but it is still laggy compared to RDP in Windows 7 (even with graphic settings lowered for better responsiveness). My company use both of these remote access programs plus Logmein.

 

indeed professional is nice for it's features.
it's just important to know that even without xp mode, there are lots of compatibility things one can use first (and which help very often) + some user rights settings that might help. so it's not like, you can't get compatibility help just in professional. you get it in EVERY win7. professional has additionally an xp emulator with it. that helps for the rare worst cases (but not all of those, then, too.. games f.e.)

 

I agree with you. Most (if not all) Windows 7 versions allow you to choose "compatibility mode" for each program installed, but it doesn't always work (especially in my situation). That's where a virtual machine or some third-party program comes into play.

But then again, you can always buy Home Premium to save money (test compatibility mode to see if it works) and do an "anytime upgrade" to Professional if necessary. It takes like 10 minutes.

 

or use virtualbox if you have an existing xp license to use.

and virtual machines are not a one-fits-all solution (not all hw runs on them => not all incompatible apps that require some hardware will run on them).

if xp mode is the only thing to consider pro, try home premium first (you can try for free btw, and test if your app/apps of choice work). just get it from the legal download link thread in here, and use it for 30 days to see if everything works out well.

 

teamviewer and RDP are two very different things for different purpose. I have openvpn on all my machines(span two continent at 3 locations so far) and no matter which location I am at, I can get to my machine via RDP.


teamviewer is designed for people sitting in front of the machine for support, info sharing. RDP is mainly for remote access.

 

teamviewer has a remote access client for servers and systems, which i have installed and use from everywhere.

so essentially, teamviewer usecases = rdp usecases + more. so no, they're not different purposes. teamviewer is for MORE purposes, and includes all rdp usecases. even without teamviewer.com as a middleman (just like rdp)

 

that is the point, teamviewer <> RDP. Why would I pay and install one additional software from third party when I don't need that 'more' part ? I have better use for those money like a good dinner or wine.

It reflects in its price(and to some extend its product name) actually. Why would one pay for 600+ bucks if it is only for remote access ?

EDIT:
forgot to say, with RDP I can go to any of my friends computer say I am visiting(or basically anyone's computer that I trust) then fire up RDP client and I am at home. What do you do in teamviewer ? I doubt people would allow me to installer a teamviewer client for this kind of use. I would not.