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Using Windows Virtual PC to run 16-bit applications on 64-bit Windows

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I have had some people ask me whether you can use Windows Virtual PC – with its integrated Windows XP Mode – to run older 16-bit Windows programs on a 64-bit platform.  The answer is “Yes!”.  Here you can see a screen shot of SkiFree running on my laptop:

16bit-applications

In the foreground you can see the error message that I receive if I try to run SkiFree directly on my laptop (which is running the 64-bit version of Windows 7).  In the background you can see SkiFree running under Windows XP mode.

This can be very useful if you have legacy 16-bit applications that you need to use, but want to take advantage of 64-bit computing.

Cheers,
Ben

Comments

  • Anonymous
    June 11, 2009
    Talk about a trip down memory lane. I completely forgot about that game, was there even a way to beat it?

  • Anonymous
    June 12, 2009
    Don't get me wrong but I would rather see you playing 64-bit OS under Virtual PC ...

  • Anonymous
    June 12, 2009
    VAsHachiRoku - Yes, there is a finish and you get a score for how well you ski'd ivanj9 - Yup, I understand. Cheers, Ben

  • Anonymous
    June 12, 2009
    Ahh, but can you run 64-bit on 64-bit?  Sadly, no. :(

  • Anonymous
    June 13, 2009
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    June 13, 2009
    If you're using XP Mode with a desktop, you're not using it for its intended purpose.  It's designed to provide legacy apps for enterprises.  Works best when running an individual application frameless.  (The single-app limit is annoying, though.) For 64-bit virtualization, ditch Virtual PC and go to Hyper-V.  Smooth as silk.  Really nice management interface.  Don't expect to do any gaming or graphics on it -- no DirectX.  But for everything else, it's fine. Microsoft is slowly becoming an enterprise software company.  You'll be a lot happier if you go along for the ride. I guess what I'm saying is: Don't worry, be happy.  If you want VMWare Workstation, then buy VMWare Workstation.

  • Anonymous
    June 27, 2009
    MS have done too bad by 1.locking VPC 7 to Windows 7. 2. Requiring processor virtualization for XP Mode. 3. VPC 2007 doesn't run on Windows 7. The very purpose of VPC is compatibility but systems can't use it because they're incompatible/don't have processor virtualization.

  • Anonymous
    June 28, 2009
    Does Windows XP mode support DirectX for gaming?

  • Anonymous
    June 29, 2009
    VPC 2007 SP1 runs on Windows 7 - I am running it on W7 64-bit What I want to know though is can Windows Virtual PC on W7 run existing VHD disks; in other words should I uninstall VPC 2007 and just use this new version. And will it run virtual copies of Vista, W7 which VPC 2007 will Thanks

  • Anonymous
    July 07, 2011
    I want to run a 16-bit application on Windows 7 - 64 bit virtual machine. I tried to install windows xp mode on this VM, but that was not successful. The same application can be installed & used on a Windows 7 - 64 bit desktop thru windows XP mode. Can you please suggest some solution? Thanks

  • Anonymous
    July 07, 2011
    @Pragati the XP Mode can be only used in Win7 Prof/Enterprise and Ultimate. If you use Win7 Home Basic/Premium, start the VM Wizard, create a new VM and install XP with your XP CD.

  • Anonymous
    August 07, 2012
    I'm trying to run a 16 Bit program in Windows Virtual PC, XP mode.  It runs fine within a window but I want to run the program in full screen mode.  I get the following message when I change the settings to full screen, "The Video Divice Failed To Initialize For Full Screen Mode." Any suggestions?

  • Anonymous
    March 10, 2013
    I have one computer running vista 64 and one running win 7 64. I have some old scientific papers in Word 1991 with tables from Symphony (Lotus, .wr1) and SigmaPlot that I want to reconstruct. Word 2007 can be massaged to load much of the text, but it gets corrupted by formatting, and it's finicky. The other files are not accessible at all. Ideally, I'd like to transfer the files to 64-bit format Failing that, being able to load and display them as they were would be great. Being able to convert to 64 bit would be even better. I have a limited budget. Can this program help me? If not, please make any suggestions you may have. Thanks Peter dr.pemaro@gmail.com

  • Anonymous
    September 05, 2013
    I have a Mac and I'm running parallels to get windows 7 on it. On windows 7 I have virtual pc, but when I try to boot do on it it says that I have the wrong boot type? Thoughts or help? Thanks! Brad

  • Anonymous
    November 23, 2013
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    November 18, 2014
    We sorry,new PCs running 64-bit Windows

  • Anonymous
    April 05, 2015
    ski free, Age Of Empires 1 works as well as Carmangedden which uses Direct X (software mode looks blocky with all settings on full)

  • Anonymous
    October 26, 2015
    You didn't actually share how. ???