Need Win XP for the Oldies? Try this...

[Pilot_76]

Opening old WinXP .exe utilities in Win 7 64bit is a no go. So I did stumble on the so called Windows XP Mode with Virtual PC. Downloaded and followed installation instructions and I have now a Win Xp as a virtual machine running inside Win 7. I just haven't tested it yet with games but there it is. Hope this helps in case this has not been already discussed here...

Note: I was trying to install SHCE utils from here:

http://www.subsowespac.org/silent_hunter_mods.shtml

The link for XP mode:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/install-and-use-windows-xp-mode-in-windows-7

[JasonKR]

Seems Win XP is the best OS to run the best sub games. Good thing I always keep a spare PC with XP. Unless the game requires DirectX 10 or above which XP does not support, Win XP is still the best OS to run any game in my opinion.

[Pilot_76]

I am curious if the games will work...

I just had to install an old winzip just to run the .exe and unzip it...

[aanker]

I have a couple XP install disks I got from Dell when I had my old computer.

When installing XP in a Virtual PC do you need an activation code or just the disk?

[Pilot_76]

I do not know. I installed the microsoft "free version" from the link I supplied. Give it a try because I think the result will be the same with either windows xp you own or the one downloadable.

[Pilot_76]

One thing regarding SH1 utilities. Some of them require an installation and you must install them within Win XP Virtual machine. More precisely in the C: Drive in the XP machine. Although xp does recognize and have access to the folders in your actual desktop (win7,8) the other way around is not. You cannot access the files from win xp using win 7/8 explorer. So to edit the SAVE file with the utils you must copy from the SHCE folder, edit them within win xp C drive, than copy everything back to your original SH folder. All this using WinXp file explorer. Such things like choosing patrol areas, renaming subs, editing ranks and crew skills.

[Pilot_76]

I have a couple XP install disks I got from Dell when I had my old computer.

When installing XP in a Virtual PC do you need an activation code or just the disk?

I just noticed that in the win xp folder where Win7 installed it I was given a serial key.

[aanker]

Thank you Pilot_76 - good to know.

Happy Hunting!