Find out whether virtual PC for Windows 7 XP mode is supported your CPU
Windows XP Mode and Windows Virtual PC (XPM, as previously it was named as Virtual Windows VXP or XP) are two brand new elective components for particular editions of operating system, Windows 7. The Virtual PC of Windows is the VPC or better known as Virtual PC for Windows 7.
For virtualization, it allows any user to open virtual machines with additional features, like XP Mode for Windows. It allows the user to run and access any applications that is installed in virtual Windows XP mode on the host desktop of Windows 7 for backward compatibility.
As Windows XP Mode and Windows Virtual PC have improved their functions and features, they are hoping to tempt more and more users for Windows 7. Well the requirements of Windows Virtual PC as well as the requirements for Virtual PC service pack 1 of 2007 have a huge difference in them. While the most remarkable change is that it requires hardware assisted support for virtualization technology, in short it is known as VT.
With the release of KB977206 by Microsoft, it has the capability to hack XP mode of Windows and Windows Virtual PC so that it can run virtualization without any assist of hardware.
One of the built in function of CPU processors is VT or hardware virtualization technology. If is it present in Intel chip, then it is called as Intel VT. However, if it is present in AMD chip it is named AMD – V.
The capability of virtualization technology is built on a very small piece of chip on the processor of a computer. It is impossible for any human being to remove it with any manual process. No matter what, in BIOS the virtualization technology should be enabled even though it is featured in CPU.
The feature of virtualization technology operation is a default feature for the modern computers and CPU. While virtualization technology does not support on OEM computers or for DIY, they may be in old computers or even new computers.
In this case Virtual PC of Windows fails to get installed in the machine and thus, it does not allow the starting virtual message. The following error message is displayed in a new popped up window:
Cannot Start Windows Host Process for Virtual PC. For more details check the event log of the system.
Hardware assisted virtualization is required for Windows Virtual PC. In this system it does not support the hardware assisted virtualization.
Now with the release of SecurAble, you don’t have to browse though the huge list of features for Intel processor or AMD processor to check whether your machine supports virtualization technology or not. SecurAble makes it very easy for all of us. SecurAble is very small yet powerful tool, which displays the DEP, Maximum bit length and even the virtualization support of the CPU.
You don’t have to install SecurAble on your machine. All you have to do is to download this small utility tool named SecurAble from the web site and run the program. After you run it, it will take as little as minutes to show you the status of your CPU including Virtualization Technology Support. If you receive a message as locked on or yes, then you can use the Windows XP mode or Windows Virtual PC properly.
If it is displayed No, then you can’t do anything. However, if it displays Locked OFF, then you have to enable the VT from the BIOS. Just reboot the system and on starting of the system, go to BIOS setting and in the Hardware Virtualization support, turn it on. All problems solved.