The Release Candidate of Windows 7 will bring with it the first Beta development milestones for Windows XP Mode and Windows Virtual PC. As Windows 7 RC will start being available to MSDN and TechNet subscribers, Microsoft will also begin serving the Betas of Windows XP Mode and Windows Virtual PC. In addition, as Windows 7 RC public downloads will debut on May 5th, 2009, Windows XP Mode Beta and Windows Virtual PC Beta will be offered alongside it, Microsoft informs. In combination with Windows Virtual PC, Windows XP Mode for Windows 7 will allow users to run any application compatible with XP right from the desktop of the next iteration of the Windows client.

“Windows XP Mode is the combination of two features. The first part is a pre-packaged virtual Windows XP environment. The second is Windows Virtual PC, which is used to run the virtual Windows XP environment. Customers can install their applications into Windows XP Mode using typical installation processes such as downloading from the Web or using the product CD. Once installed, the applications are automatically available on the Windows 7 Start Menu and can be launched just like any Windows 7 program. Optionally, these Windows XP applications can be pinned to the Windows 7 Task Bar and launched using just a single click from the Windows 7 desktop,” revealed Scott Woodgate, director of Desktop Virtualization and Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP) at Microsoft.

Windows XP Mode is essentially an XP environment that offers 100% compatibility with XP-tailored applications. The solution will be made available only on the Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate editions of Windows 7. Microsoft recommends that Windows 7 in concert with Windows XP Mode be used on computers with at least 2 GB of RAM. Woodgate also indicated that machines designed to run Windows 7 and Windows XP Mode would have to feature Intel-VT or AMD-V enabled in the CPU via BIOS settings.

“When Windows XP Mode is released to production, there will be two ways for customers to get Windows XP Mode. The easiest way will be to get it pre-installed on a PC from an original equipment manufacturer or local value-added reseller. This requires minimum configuration and delivers the most compelling experience for small to medium-sized businesses. As an alternative, Windows Virtual PC and Virtual Windows XP will be available as downloads from Microsoft.com for Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate and Enterprise customers,” Woodgate added.