Windows 7 XP Mode without Hardware Virtualization

System Dell OptiPlex 760 Desktop
OS Windows 7 Ultimate, 64-bit

Update May 2010: The current versions of Windows XP Mode for Windows 7 no longer requires hardware virtualization.

Windows XP Mode and Windows Virtual PC on Windows 7 requires a processor capable of hardware virtualization, with AMD-V, Intel VT or VIA VT turned on in the BIOS. Windows XP Mode is only available for Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate, and Enterprise. It is not available for Windows 7 Home or Home Premium.

The Intel Core 2 Duo Processor E7300 (3M Cache, 2.66 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB) in Dell OptiPlex 760 does not have hardware virtualization.

Solutions

VMLite XP Mode offers similar functions as Microsoft Windows XP Mode, but doesn’t require hardware virtualization.

VirtualBox is a x86 and AMD64/Intel64 virtualization product which is freely available as Open Source Software.

References