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I've been using Windows XP Mode on Windows 7 Pro (64) for all of my work I've been doing with this client. It's just differencing off of the parent.

I was considering importing it into VMWare Workstation but I do not want to hose the image / risk breaking it.

When I import into VMWare Workstation is it actually creating a full copy or is it using the same hdd?

If it does share the hdd, I won't be able to open it in both? Does it continue to difference against the parent?

I went as far as "Importing" Windows XP Mode but haven't started it in Workstation yet. I can hibernate and re-open XP Mode via Windows Virtual Machines so far.

Thanks, TK

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What is "Windows XP Mode" ? – Gregory MOUSSAT Aug 16 '12 at 13:01
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@GregoryMOUSSAT microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc – Randolph West Aug 16 '12 at 17:41

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Don't do this. If you're going to, there's a lot to consider, and it will most likely fail.

Problems include the HAL DLL that is used, as well as the AGP driver and other driver-related isses.

What it comes down to is that Virtual XP and VMWare are "different hardware", and you're going to hit all the problems you would swapping to another PC.

Finally, there are licencing implications: Virtual XP is permitted on Windows 7, free of charge, whereas you'd need a separate licence for running it under VMWare.

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FWIW, I've been trying to do this all week, and it keeps failing, usually with a BSOD due to an incompatible driver. It's at a very low level because Safe Mode doesn't work. I gave up and did a clean install of XP instead. – Randolph West Aug 16 '12 at 17:43
Thanks the reply. Hardware was a pain. This is what I ended up doing. License issues aside.... I was able to run the vmware converter inside of the vm and dump it to a network share, copying the xpmode vm. I then had to add the line xpmode.enabled = "TRUE" so that it would startup inside vmware workstation without trying to activate windows again. Had to re-activate office but it accomplishes what I desired. – TEEKAY Aug 22 '12 at 15:06

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