Can w7's XP Mode be run through VBox?

[ToddAndMargo]

Hi All,

Can the XP Mode section of Windows 7's XP Mode
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtua ... nload.aspx
be run through Virtual Box? Or am I stuck with M$'s Virtual PC?

Is ther any way to run VBox and use the XPMode license to
run XP the old fashioned way through VBox?

Many thanks,
-T
p.s. If M$ is giving XP away for free only through their VM, you would think M$ would get their butts tossed back into anti trust court, again. (Did I mention "again?")

[BillG]

There is nothing in the license agreement to say that you must use VPC. The license for the vm is tied to the Windows 7 license. This is similar to the Server OS licenses which allow you to run multiple versions in vms. They must run on the host with the OS license, but you do not need to run Microsoft virtualization software.

Following sentence can be found in XP Mode EULA:

1.1 Installation and use. You may install and use one copy of the Software in a single virtual machine on a single computer, such as a workstation, terminal or other device (“Workstation Computer”) that contains a licensed pre-release copy of Windows 7 Ultimate edition, to design, develop and test your programs for use with the Software. Virtualization software is required to use the Software on the Workstation Computer. The Software may not be used by more than two (2) processors at any one time on any single Workstation Computer. You may not use or test the Software in a live operating environment unless Microsoft permits you to do so under another agreement.

Whether it works or not is another matter. I haven't tried it.

[Sasquatch]

It won't work. This is called nested virtualization and VB doesn't support it. Check the discussion topic about this subject in Using VirtualBox.

[Martin]

You could try to attach the XP Mode VHD directly to VirtualBox to run the XP as virtual machine. But I don't know if the different virtual hardware will be a problem.

[BillG]

This is called nested virtualization and VB doesn't support it.

Not really. He is not talking about running VPC under VirtualBox. He is talking about using the preconfigured Windows XP .vhd file with VBox.

[Sasquatch]

This is called nested virtualization and VB doesn't support it.

Not really. He is not talking about running VPC under VirtualBox. He is talking about using the preconfigured Windows XP .vhd file with VBox.

Ah, misread it. Then yes, it is possible, but he will hit activation warnings as soon as it's booted and he tries to log on.

[SSCBrian]

Unnecessary to do anything with VPC/Win 7 XP mode. Just run XP in VBox's seamless mode in Win 7 with appropriate file sharing.

[ToddAndMargo]

Unnecessary to do anything with VPC/Win 7 XP mode. Just run XP in VBox's seamless mode in Win 7 with appropriate file sharing.

That would require me to pay M$ for a license to XP

[Sasquatch]

Unnecessary to do anything with VPC/Win 7 XP mode. Just run XP in VBox's seamless mode in Win 7 with appropriate file sharing.

That would require me to pay M$ for a license to XP

It's either that, or unable to activate the one shipped with W7 or downloadable from the website for use in W7, or run W7 natively.