1. The Future With Windows XP Microsoft announced that after April 16, 2014 it will not longer support Windows XP. No statement on continued inclusion of XP Mode in future operating systems. Two likely problems in the future – Aging hardware running XP may not be repairable: new hardware means new operating system – Not all software running on XP works on Vista, W7, or W8

2. Free May Not Be Free XP Mode requires Windows Premium or Windows Ultimate. – Best Buy sell computers with Windows Home installed. To obtain Premium must purchase upgrade software - $199. – Dell sell computers with Premium installed, purchase price is $70 more than same computer with Home installed. MS website indicates XP Mode works with W7 Home edition, but W7 upgrade packages state Premium or better required.

3. Two Options To Keep Running XP Option 1: Dual Boot System – Purchase OEM (Original Equipment Manufacture) copy of Windows XP - $60. – Purchase System Commander - $70 Creates new partition on hard drive Install software to choose boot system Total cost = $60 + $70 = $130. – Free boot loaders (download from internet – lolo) available but require more expertise. Total = $60. – Best Buy, Staples, etc. Provide OEM disk and have it installed- $100. Total = $170. May still be problem; some reports state MS trying to prevent dual boot systems

4. Virtual Computers Option 2: Virtual Computer – Software program, application that acts likes a bare computer that allows any operating system to be loaded into it. Program then simulates a computer using that operating system. The hardware with installed operating system is referred to as the host system. The Virtual Computer is the guest system. – Microsoft XP Mode is based on the Microsoft version of a Virtual Compute. XP Mode is really a guest system

5. Setting Up Microsoft XP Mode Microsoft: XP Mode is not part of newer operating systems. – Go to Microsoft XP-Mode site and download two programs, VM and XP. – Install VM, then run XP. Software does everything; it creates Virtual Computer with XP operating system installed. Virtual computer connects to printers, internet, and any other peripherals connected to physical system

6. Download XP Mode From MS Site

7. Alternate Virtual Computers Oracle has a free Virtual Computer called Virtual Box. VMWare also has free VC called VMPlayer. Procedure is the same with these applications. – Download and install Virtual Box or VMPlayer. – Install software – Start Virtual computer, insert OEM XP disk. OS loads same as physical system.

10. Opinion of Oracle Virtual Box Easy to install and use. – Some software that ran on physical XP machine did not run using XP Mode, but does work using Oracle’s Virtual Box. – Virtual Box allows other operating systems. Linux W8 Mac OS X

11. Conclusion Virtual computers easy to use and work well. – New hardware faster with more disk space than XP era systems. Virtual computer does not have ‘clunky’ feel. – Buy XP OEM disk. Combined with a virtual computer, XP lives forever.