Windows 7 and XP Mode

[McShizzel]

I was just wondering if anyone knew if XP mode would work on a Mac. I know you have to install Windows Virtual PC in order for XP Mode to work, the part where I'm confused is Virtual PC requires an Intel-VT CPU do Macs come with Intel-VT CPUs?

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/features/compare.aspx

[DoFoT9]

yea im presuming they come with it, they are identical chips. the thing that you should be asking is

"is VT still supported even though the BIOS is emulated?".

im guessing it still is.

[jav6454]

I was just wondering if anyone knew if XP mode would work on a Mac. I know you have to install Windows Virtual PC in order for XP Mode to work, the part where I'm confused is Virtual PC requires an Intel-VT CPU do Macs come with Intel-VT CPUs?

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/features/compare.aspx

Currently the only models without Intel VT are the 2.0GHz White MacBook, the entry level Mac Mini and the entry level 2.0GHz Al MacBook.

Those are the models not currently support Intel VT; however, older generations may not have this support as well.

Edit - Follow this link to see which CPUs support Intel VT, then compare the model CPU in your Mac to the ones listed and your answer will be given... Click Me (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Intel_Core_2_microprocessors#Dual-Core_Notebook_processors)

[McShizzel]

Thanks for the replies.

[Infrared]

yea im presuming they come with it, they are identical chips. the thing that you should be asking is

"is VT still supported even though the BIOS is emulated?".

im guessing it still is.

Sadly, the answer may be no (sorta - see below).

The 2008 Mac Pros, for example, have hardware that is capable
enough. But VT-x is not enabled when cold booting into Windows.

The situation is as described below (one article concerns Linux,
but it's still relevant):

http://blogs.technet.com/mkleef/archive/2008/05/23/8-core-apple-mac-runs-hyper-v.aspx
http://www.linux-kvm.org/page/Enable_VT-X_on_Mac_Pro_(Early_2008)

You can getting it going by booting into OS X and then rebooting
into Windows (apparently). That's an ugly solution though.

I suspect that some other Apple machines may be affected similarly.

[Tallest Skil]

Works beautifully on my Mac Pro.

[Infrared]

Works beautifully on my Mac Pro.

Cold boot after power off into Windows?

2009 Mac Pro, yes?

Further information:

http://communities.vmware.com/docs/DOC-8978

[Tallest Skil]

Cold boot after power off into Windows?

2009 Mac Pro, yes?

Further information:

http://communities.vmware.com/docs/DOC-8978

Yeah, sorry if this was about Mac virtualization and not Boot Camp.

I do Virtual XP through a Boot Camp Seven RC.

[jav6454]

Works beautifully on my Mac Pro.

Course it does, you have an Octophallus Mac Pro.... my punny MacBook can barely stand against 2 of its cores...:(:(:(

[Infrared]

Yeah, sorry if this was about Mac virtualization and not Boot Camp.

I do Virtual XP through a Boot Camp Seven RC.

That sounds good, then. Looks like 2009 MP owners may
not experience the issue. You must be sure you didn't
boot into OS X immediately prior to booting into Windows,
though. As I mentioned, it must be a cold boot after the
power has been switched off.

For those that do have the problem, there may be a
workaround. Googling about it seems that some VMWare
software can set the necessary MSR register flags. And
I found this:


http://levicki.net/articles/tips/2009/02/20/HOWTO_Enable_Intel_VT_on_Sony_VAIO_notebook_with_AMI_Aptio_EFI_BIOS.php
Enabling VT still requires some utility (like CrystalCPUID
or the VTCtrl utility I just wrote), and administrative privileges.

So it looks like all hope is not lost! Quickly running a small utility
after booting should be a lot more convenient than having to
boot into OS X first. Assuming, that is, the utility can be run
at the right time to allow XP Mode to work.

[Anonymous Freak]

I'll test it on my rev.a MacBook Pro (2.0 GHz Core Duo; the chip has VT, and Parallels and VMWare in OS X use VT,) when I get home. I have Win7 installed on my PC, but haven't put it on my MBP yet.

[jeevesofRKdia]

While it seems that you have to "turn on" Intel VT, on my Unibody MacBook Pro, it works fine (no EFI required or other virtualization programs)

W7 RC1, btw.

[Tallest Skil]

You must be sure you didn't
boot into OS X immediately prior to booting into Windows,
though. As I mentioned, it must be a cold boot after the
power has been switched off.

Mmm... nope?

I've always been able to do it with just a restart/Option hold.

Am I supposed to only be able to do it cold? :D:p

[Infrared]

Mmm... nope?

I've always been able to do it with just a restart/Option hold.

Am I supposed to only be able to do it cold? :D:p

Perhaps I haven't made myself clear. If you boot into OS X first
and then reboot into Windows, it may be OS X that is enabling
VT-x. That's why that method can work when a cold boot
straight into Windows doesn't (on some machines, at least).

Not everyone wants to boot two operating systems to get
something to work in one, you know :)

That said, it may be that Windows 7 is smart enough to turn
on VT-x if it is unlocked and hasn't already been turned on.

And finally, not all Macs may behave equally with regard to
VT-x and whether or not it is enabled by the emulated BIOS.

There is much to find out here. If anyone wants to give it a
go, apparently CrystalCPUID can tell you if VT-x is enabled
(although I can't confirm this as I haven't tried it myself):

http://crystalmark.info/software/CrystalCPUID/index-e.html