March 19, Beijing time. Today, Microsoft announced new desktop virtualization technologies and solutions to accelerate the desktop virtualization process, including virtual desktop architecture (VDI), etc., in addition to some existing virtualization technologies. Improvements have been made, including the virtual XP mode that everyone is concerned about. Microsoft said that Windows XP Mode no longer requires hardware virtualization technology.
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Windows XP Mode is based on Microsoft's Virtual PC virtualization technology and combined with the processor's hardware virtualization function (AMD-V/Intel VT), which can simulate the XP SP3 system environment in the Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate operating systems. Microsoft's previous operating platform requirements for it are Windows 7 RTM version, Windows Virtual PC and a CPU that supports hardware virtualization and no less than 2GB of memory.
Since the computers of many small and medium-sized enterprises and individual users do not include hardware virtualization technology, Microsoft's above-mentioned needs have turned many people away. Microsoft said that in order to make virtualization easier, Windows XP Mode will no longer require hardware virtualization technology. This will reassure small and medium-sized enterprises that want to upgrade to Windows 7. They can still use Windows XP applications after the upgrade, thereby realizing Windows 7's faster adoption.
Microsoft has released a new system patch (KB977206). After users install it, they can eliminate the previous hardware requirements for running Windows Virtual PC and XP Mode. Please remind everyone that installing this patch requires Windows genuine verification, and you need to restart your computer after the installation is complete.