XP mode and MED-V no longer require hardware virtualization
I’d like to share some exciting news about Windows XP Mode and Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization. The team is removing the virtualization processor requirement for Windows XP Mode on Windows 7 Professional and Windows 7 Ultimate systems. Windows XP Mode continues to use hardware virtualization such as Intel Virtualization Technology (Intel® VT) or the AMD-V™ chipset when available but it no longer requires them.
Microsoft has released an update that enables PCs without hardware virtualization to also take advantage of Windows XP Mode. This change simplifies the customer experience and makes this benefit accessible to many more PCs.
Enterprise customers should consider using Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization (MED-V), part of the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack for Software Assurance. MED-V provides deployment and manageability features which are designed to address the needs of enterprise customers.
When will this happen?
The removal of this requirement has been publicly announced today, March 18th 2010 with the update available on the Windows XP Mode download page at the same time.
How does this impact MED-V?
MED-V 1.0 SP1 builds on Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 to help enterprises with their upgrade to Windows Vista and Windows 7 when applications are not yet compatible.
MED-V 1.0 SP1 does not require hardware virtualization.
The user experience provided by MED-V is similar to “Windows XP mode” – even though a different virtualization technology is used.
MED-V 2.0 will leverage Windows Virtual PC and will benefit from the update above. Availability date for MED-V 2.0 is yet to be announced.
Shijaz Abdulla is a Partner Technology Advisor at Microsoft, helping their top tier partners build on their Microsoft practice. He is also a trusted advisor to medium enterprise customers in Qatar. He is a blogger, tech enthusiast, and a Microsoft evangelist.
I was waiting for something like this!! thanks for the update.
XP mode no longer requires hardware #virtualization – http://tinyurl.com/y9r56m5
Great News man, but does this affect the Windows XP performance ? or it is the same as with a virtualization processor enabled.
It shouldn’t. Why don’t you try it out and let us know here!
shijaz,
well after trying it, it seems it doesn’t it’s very good
Aw man you’re amazing! thanks for sharing!!