Workaround to Install Windows XP Mode in Windows 7 Home Premium and Home Basic

Windows XP Mode (XPM) is a pre-installed and pre-activated licensed copy Windows XP SP3 as guest OS virtual machine package or Windows !irtual P"# Microso t provides Windows XP Mode as a mean to provide $ackward compati$ility or legacy productivity so tware# %n Windows XP Mode& a pre-installed 'emote(pp integration component allow guest applications running within the virtuali)ed environment to $e integrated into host Windows * desktop& and appear as i running directly on the host& sharing the native desktop and Start Menu o Windows * as well as participating in ile type associations# +n ortunately& Windows XP Mode is only availa$le ree o charge to users o Windows * Pro essional& ,nterprise& and +ltimate editions& as it-s widely considered as $uy one ree one deal& with a ree licensed copy o Windows XP comes with Windows *# .owever& Microso t does provide Windows !irtual P" or every editions o Windows * e/cept Windows * Starter edition# 0ood news is that& according to M12 orum thread& in order to ensure that Windows XP Mode can $e run properly without activation worry& Microso t has em$edded the necessary O,M3S2P (System 2ocked Preactivation) string in the Windows !irtual P"-s 4%OS so that o line O,M activation automatically activate Windows XP Mode# 5hus& with the necessary O,M3S2P product key and O,M4%OS iles& Windows * .ome 4asic and Windows * .ome Premium users can manually install Windows XP on Windows !irtual P" guest virtual machine& and per orm the steps in the hack $elow to create a Windows XP Mode with ull integration eatures and unctionality# 5ip3 5he guide can also $e used with all editions o Windows * to create and install multiple or more than one activated Windows XP as Windows XP Mode with ull integration eatures including seamless application pu$lishing to host#

Manually Create and Install Windows XP Mode in Windows 7 1. ,nsure that the computer is capa$le o running Windows !irtual P"& as Windows !irtual P" (and hence Windows XP Mode) re6uired hardware-assisted virtuali)ation# Microso t also provides .ardware-(ssisted !irtuali)ation (.(!) 5ool as ree download to check the "P+ capa$ility# 5ip3 .ardware-assisted virtuali)ation is supported on most& $ut may have disa$led or locked in 4%OS# %n this case& re$oot into 4%OS to change the setting# 7# 1ownload and install Windows !irtual P"# 8ote3 %t-s impossi$le to download Windows !irtual P" and Windows XP Mode rom Microso t !irtual P" homepage i user selects the operating system as 37-$it or 9:-$it Windows * Starter& Windows * .ome 4asic or Windows * .ome Premium# 3# ( ter installing Windows !irtual P"& $rowse to Windows !irtual P" older $y clicking on Start menu -; All Programs -; Windows Virtual PC -; Windows Virtual PC#

( Windows ,/plorer window showing <!irtual Machines= older will $e opened# :# Start the new virtual machine wi)ard $y clicking on Create virtual machine $utton on the tool$ar#

># ,nter a name or the new virtual machine& such as Windows XP& Windows XP SP3 or simply Windows XP Mode& and then click on Next $utton#

9# Speci y a value or AM setting& which allocate si)e o memory or the virtual machine# 4y de ault& it-s >?7 M4& $ut a 7>9 M4 should $e enough or Windows XP# 5hen& click on Next#

*# "lick on Create $utton to create the new virtual machine#

@# %nsert a Windows XP setup installation "1 into the "1A1!1 drive disc tray ($y de ault& Windows !irtual P" captures the physical drive or virtual machine to access)#

(lternatively& download Windows XP SP3 %SO& then right click on the !M& select Pro!erties# 0o to "V" "rive ta$& select #!en an IS# image and then $rowse to locate or speci y the ull path to the Windows XP %SO image# "lick #$ when done# 8ote3 %t-s recommended to use Windows XP Pro essional& which Windows XP Mode is $ased o # B# Start the virtual machine to start the setup installation o Windows XP# Collow the screen instruction o the setup wi)ard to install Windows XP# 5ip3 %t-s possi$le to $ypass and skip entering a product key during installation o Windows XP SP3# Dust leave the product key ield $lank& and continue with ne/t step o installation a ter con irming the decision#

?E# ( ter installing Windows XP& click on the %ools menu on !M window& and select Install Integration Com!onents to install !irtual P" %ntegration "omponents#

"lick on Continue i prompted with dialog to con irm action to install or update Windows !irtual P" %ntegration "omponents# 5hen ollow on-screen instructions o the setup wi)ard to install the integration components# ??# 'estart the virtual machine a ter installing integration components# ?7# (t the virtual machine-s %ools menu& and select &na'le Integration (eatures& and then speci y a user name and password as Windows Security credentials# "lick emem'er my credentials to let Windows !irtual P" saves the credentials or auto login#

8ote3 +ser is re6uired to speci y a user account with a password set as the credentials to automatically log on to the virtual machine# 5o set a password or a user account& go to Control Panel -; )ser Accounts& select the user account that wants to use or integration components& and then click on Create a !assword to set the password# 13. %n order to seamless application integration eature (which allow user to access and run virtuali)ed program installed on virtual machine rom host desktop) to work& F4B9?*:7 'emote(pp '(%2 GC, update package need to $e installed# 1ownload and install F4B9?*:7 'emote(pp update package inside the Windows XP guest operating system in the virtual machine#

14. !irtual machine powered with Windows !irtual P" already has O,M3S2P string re6uired or activating Windows XP with O,M activation# +nless you have a Windows XP O,M "1 which allows converting Windows XP $etween retail& volume licensing and O,M channels& download the ollowing package and program3 Windows XP O,M 4%OS Ciles or Microso t3 Microso t-4:CC"(3@#rar (Source) !2F and O,M4%OS "hanger3 O,M4%OS changer installer#e/e (Source) 15. %n the Windows XP guest OS& unpack the content o V*$ to #&M Conversion Program (run #&M+I#S,changer,installer-exe) to a older# 16. 5hen unpack the Microso.t/+0((CA12-rar& and put the our iles (oem$ios#$in& oem$ios#cat& oem$ios#dat& oem$ios#sig) into )ncom!ressed #em'ios (older o #&M+I#S changer# 17. Start the !2F to O,M "onversion Program (!2FHtoHO,M) $y running oem-exe# 8ote3 1espite the name& the utility program supports changing o O,M4%OS iles in retail& !2F and O,M version o Windows XP# ?@# Press any key to continue rom splash screen& then press 3 ollowed $y &nter key to enter <O,M4%OS changer dialog= menu#

?B# Press 1 and ollowed $y &nter key to install the convert the installed Windows XP to O,M version& and install the re6uired O,M4%OS iles into the system#

7E# 1epending on the edition o Windows XP installed& select the appropriate Windows XP edition to convert $y pressing the corresponding num$er key& ollowed $y &nter#

21. On the last screen& press 4 ollowed $y &nter key to start the O,M conversion# 77# (nswer I ollowed $y ,nter key to restart the computer a ter the XP system is converted to O,M channel and O,M4%OS iles are installed# 73# ( ter Windows XP system is restarted& it will $e automatically activated via O,M activation& as the !2F to O,M converter has also installed a generic Microso t O,M product key into the system# .owever& or user who wants the new virtual machine to as identical to Windows XP Mode as possi$le& change

the Windows XP product key to the ollowing product key& which used in Windows XP Mode3 $0567/ P 50/8+990/"+C%M/4%:09 ( virtual machine running Windows XP with ull unctionality and eatures o Windows XP Mode is now ready to $e used# .ere-s the method to check the activation status in Windows XP#