How to run Windows XP programs in Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8

Microsoft has killed support for Windows XP, but that doesn't mean you have to get rid of all your old software. Here we show you how to run Windows XP programs in Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8. Also see: Windows 10 hands-on review and Windows 10 release date, price and new features.

If you still have a few legacy applications that require Windows XP or you just want to test a program to make sure it works on the legacy operating system, it’s relatively simple to install and run it in a virtual PC environment. Also see: How to install a virtual machine.

Windows XP is no longer available to buy and although there are illegal copies to be found circulating the internet, you can download a pre-built virtual PC directly from Microsoft, which you can be confident will be malware-free. Microsoft provides these virtual machines to help developers test old versions of Internet Explorer, but they provide a full XP environment in which you can run any programs you wish.

Virtual PCs are available for a number of platforms, but we’ll use Oracle’s free VirtualBox software in this example. Once you have VirtualBox installed and working, go to modern.ie and select ‘VirtualBox on Windows’, then scroll down to Windows XP. Download the three files listed under IE8 and save them to a folder on your hard drive. Once they have downloaded, run the file called part1.exe and it will extract a file called IE8 – WinXP.OVA. Double-click this file to import it into VirtualBox and your Windows XP virtual PC will be installed.

You can now launch Windows XP from within VirtualBox and install any software you wish. The operating system is time limited to 30 days, but it’s possible to activate it for permanent use if you are in possession of a valid key


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How to run Windows XP programs in Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8

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Windows XP For Dummies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Book Description

Publication Date: October 8, 2004 | ISBN-10: 0764573268 | ISBN-13: 978-0764573262 | Edition: 2

Windows is the world’s most popular operating system, and Windows For Dummies is the bestselling computer book ever. When you look at Windows XP For Dummies, 2^nd Edition, it’s easy to see why. Here’s all the stuff you want to know, served up in plain English and seasoned with a few chuckles. But make no mistake, this book means business.Author Andy Rathbone listened to what you wanted to know, and this edition is loaded with additional information about

• E-mail, faxing, and troubleshooting
• Maximizing security features
• Customizing and upgrading Windows XP
• Multimedia applications—CDs, digital music and photos, video, and more
• Answers to questions asked by thousands of Windows users

If you’re just getting started with Windows XP, you’ll find Windows XP For Dummies, 2^nd Edition is a lot easier than trying to get the fourth-grader next door to explain it to you. (Andy Rathbone is a lot more patient.) There’s a whole section devoted to “Windows XP Stuff Everybody Thinks You Already Know,” so you can get the hang of the basics quickly and in the privacy of your own home. And if you’ve been around a couple of generations of Windows, you’ll be especially interested in how to squeeze maximum security from the beefed-up anti-spam and firewall features in Service Pack 2.
Windows XP For Dummies, 2^nd Edition is sort of like a buffet—you can sample everything, or just stick with the stuff you know you like. You’ll find out how to

• Locate programs and files, organize your information, and fax, scan, or print documents
• Get online safely, send and receive e-mail, work with Internet Explorer’s security toolbar, and steer clear of pop-ups, viruses, and spam
• Make Windows XP work the way you want it to, share your computer while maintaining your privacy, set up a network, and perform routine maintenance
• Transfer and organize pictures from your digital camera, edit digital video, and create custom CDs of your favorite tunes
• Use Windows XP’s troubleshooting wizards and become your own computer doctor
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With its task-oriented table of contents and tear-out cheat sheet, Windows XP For Dummies, 2^nd Edition is easy to use. You can quickly find what you want to know, and you just may discover that this book is as important to your computer as the power cord.

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How to Disable CD and DVD Autorun in Windows XP

Windows XP contains a feature which automatically runs the software on a CD or DVD loaded into an optical drive on your computer. This is designed as a convenience, but can have the unintended consequence of loading or executing programs on your PC without your permission. Microsoft developers have created what they call a PowerToy -- an unsupported but free piece of software you can install, which allows you to easily disable autorun on your optical drives.

Steps

1. 
   1
   Visit the Microsoft Windows XP Powertoys Page and download TweakUI.
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2. 
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   Run TweakUI. Go to the Start menu, select programs, and look for a folder called PowerToys.
3. 
   3
   Expand the My Computer menu by clicking on the + to left of My Computer
4. 
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   Expand the Autoplay Menu
5. 
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   Select the Drives menu, and deselect the optical drives on your computer. To do this, click on the checkbox so that the checkmark goes away.
6. 
   6
   Select the Types Menu and deselect the Enable Autoplay for CD and DVD Drives option.
7. 7
   When you insert CDs or DVDs into your PC now, they will not run automatically. Go to the My Computer folder to view these drives and their contents.

source  http://www.wikihow.com

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How to Create a Bootable Windows XP ISO from a Folder

1. 
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   Create a new folder. For simplicity, name in WINXP and place it at the root of your hard drive. This guide will assume that you have created “C:\WINXP\”. This folder will temporarily house the Windows installation.
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2. 
   2
   Copy the installation files. In order to create a bootable disc from your Windows folder, you will need to have an i386 folder on your computer. You can find it at the root of your Windows installation hard drive. The typical location is C:\i386\.
   • Copy the folder to the WINXP folder you created in the first step. Make sure that you copy and not move the files. To ensure this, right-click on the i386 folder and select copy. Navigate to the WINXP folder, right-click, and select Paste. The files will begin copying. Depending on the speed of your computer, this could take a few minutes.
     
   • After copying, you should have an i386 folder in your WINXP folder. The directory should look like C:\WINXP\i386\.
     
3. 
   3
   Create the Windows text file. Navigate to the WINXP folder and right-click in the window. Select New, and then Text Document from the submenu. This will create a new text document in the WINXP folder. In the text document, type “Windows” without the quotes, and add a single space after it. Hit the Enter key once.
   • Click Save and set the filename as “WIN51”. Include the quotes to make sure that the file is saved without an extension.
     
4. 
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   Create the appropriate copies. Depending on which version of Windows you originally installed, you will need to make specific copies of the file you just created. All the files that you create should be located in the WINXP folder.
   • XP Home: Make a copy of the file named WIN51IC.
     
   • XP Home SP1: make the above file plus one named WIN51IC.SP1
     
   • XP Home SP2: make the above files plus one named WIN51IC.SP2
     
   • XP Home SP3: make the above files plus one named WIN51IC.SP3
     
   • XP Pro: Make a copy of the file named WIN51IP.
     
   • XP Pro SP1: make the above file plus one named WIN51IP.SP1
     
   • XP Pro SP2: make the above files plus one named WIN51IP.SP2
     
   • XP pro SP3: make the above files plus one named WIN51IP.SP3
     
5. 5
   Slipstream the latest SP update. If you have ever upgraded your Windows XP installation with a Service Pack, then you will need to upgrade your installation. This is because even though the system is upgraded when a Service Pack is installed, the installation file is not.
   • Download the Service Pack installation file from Microsoft. Make sure to download the pack that was last installed. This guide will assume you are slipstreaming to SP3. Rename the downloaded file to XPSP3.EXE and place it at the root of your C: drive for easy access.
     
   • Open the command prompt. Click start and select Run… Enter “cmd” into the field and press enter. This will open the command prompt. Type the following command and press Enter:
     
     C:\XPSP3.EXE /integrate:C:\XPSETUP
     

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