Iakov Kalinin, 123RF.com
Configuring XP Mode in Windows 7
Legacy Support
Breaking old traditions takes courage, but companies like Apple have proven that it's the only way to integrate new technologies with a product that has developed over the years. Consider Apple's departure from Motorola and PowerPC processors, the introduction of a BSD system to replace the legacy kernel, or the departure from the BIOS in favor of an Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI). Although this course of action may leave users of legacy systems out in the cold, the manufacturer typically wins over customers with these new technologies.
Reason Enough
In its first year of existence, Windows 7 has proved its value and dispelled the unhappy memories of its predecessor, Vista, from most people's minds. Windows 7 has convinced skeptics with its stability and performance, and even proponents of open source and avid Linux users can't deny the maturity of the latest desktop offering from Redmond. The main reason for this is that Microsoft has not just freed itself from technological ballast but also redefined its development structures and project management.
The reward for all that effort is a state-of-the-art, fast, and secure desktop operating system, but it's also one on which legacy XP or 9x developments might not work because software developers now need to custom-build their code for Windows 7. Reasons can always be found for running old software, and many people have programs that don't run on Windows 7. The same thing applies to legacy hardware that uses a parallel or serial port, for which Windows 7 no longer has drivers. All of these examples legitimize the use of XP software.
Virtual XP
The Microsoft developers rely on virtualization to be able to run XP code on Windows 7 without implementing legacy libraries and interfaces, which comes as no surprise. Windows 7 offers an optional
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