Don finally gets a win 7 computer. Not all it was cracked up to be!

[TheForce]

My continued work in 3D editing has developed a need for speed, in a new computer that is. I will say this thing is very snappy. It is an i7-950 with an HD6850 Video card and 12Gb ram and runs Vegas Pro 3D timeline in full HD at 29.97 fps. Many times faster than my older quad core on Vista.

While it is certainly satisfying my needs in 3D editing there are a couple of older issues that I was assured by many here would not be a problem. Famous last words because it is a problem!
One thing I was hoping for is to be able to retire my XP OS computers here and run a few of my older software. I have two that are really important to me.

1. Windows card file- It is a simple 16bit program that doesn't require an install. Just an execute file, help file and a dll that needs to reside in the windows system folder, execute file in the desktop folder. I have used this software with windows XP flawlessly but it would not run in Vista64. So, I try it in win7 compatibility mode and It tells me I need to go to the manufacturer for a win 7 version which of course doesn't exist. win 7 compatibility mode tested on ever OS and it fails to launch.

2. Quicken for win 95 has all my financial records from way back and it has run and was upgraded several times by new Quicken from Intuit. Then with the version that runs on Vista, Quicken could no longer load the older data files so I'm stuck with win XP. I tried to load it with win 7 compatibility mode and same thing as before it tells me that win 7 can't read the quicken and to contact Intuit for a win 7 compatible version. Unfortunately, Intuit's new quicken will not read the older data files for conversion to the latest mode and their suggestion is to manually re enter all the records. Are they kidding me?


I have several other win 95 programs and some win XP programs that also failed on win7 compatibility mode. So far, win 7 compatibility mode is a 100% failure!

 

[StevenD]

Run VMWare Player and install a Windows XP desktop. Then install the apps that run properly under Windows 7 on the WinXP VM.

 

[rockymtnhigh]

Run VMWare Player and install a Windows XP desktop. Then install the apps that run properly under Windows 7 on the WinXP VM.

Oy Vey. Run a VM of Windows inside Windows. Sounds like a pain, and terribly inefficient in terms of memory. Isn't there anyway to export your QUicken data from your old machine to a file that you can import in a fresh install of Quicken in W7?


And the bigger question -- how on earth are you still running Quicken for Windows 95? They must have stopped providing support for that years ago.

 

[lparsons21]

Does a program quit working when they drop support?

I use MS Money Sunset edition which is a freebie and not supported as my checkbook manager. It does what I want and the price was right.

I had been looking at some cheap laptops for my nephew and in the process ended up buying one for me too. I got an Acer Aspire 2.4Ghz i3, 4Gb RAM and 320GB HD. It is more than I needed, but it was definitely cheap enough. 15" screen is big enough and battery life isn't a big deal with me.

In the process of bringing it all up, I got to looking at Windows Skydrive and Mesh drive. Pretty darned slick!! Skydrive gives me 25Gb of space for documents and such, even has online versions of Word, Excel, Powerpoint and OneNote and it all works fine on both my OSX iMac and my Aspire with Windows7. Windows Mesh drive gives me 5Gb of sync storage for free that also works betwixt my MacOS and Windows, and I can also sync betwixt the actual machines. I hadn't really been looking at MS stuff for a very long time. I'm impressed with this! Most of what made me look is Apple coming out with iCloud that takes away some features of MobileMe that I liked. This stuff from MS doesn't fill the bill, but I will use it.

 

[TheForce]

Run VMWare Player and install a Windows XP desktop. Then install the apps that run properly under Windows 7 on the WinXP VM.

I'm not sure I understand this even with Rocky's explanation. What I need to do is run apps that DON'T run at all under WIN 7. I already have them running fine under win XP.

The original Quicken for win 95 was quite a nice application, Mike. What Intuit did was over bloat it with lots of unnecessary stuff I would never use and in the process of doing that could never figure out how to open legacy data files. If I have to type in all my data over, I want to find a check book home accounting system that isn't loaded with all sorts of nonsense. And speaking of support, what good is the kind of support they offered by telling me I need to type all the data from old Quicken to new Quicken? And that was only after they assured me it would work and it didn't and refused to refund the money I paid for the latest upgrade.

Cardfile is a very simple rollodex style database with one search field. Then I have an index card where I can type in all the data I want, little scratch notes etc. Very handy. I'd be happy to find another tool like that one and copy-paste over 3000 cards of info.


StevenD- I will look into VMware to see if that is a reasonable approach if you meant what I think you meant but not what you typed.

 

[mdram]

Windows Virtual PC: Home Page

vmware not needed
get xpmode
it creates a virtual xp machine
you can even set it so that when you execute a program it runs in xp, but you never see the sp

 

[rockymtnhigh]

I'm not sure I understand this even with Rocky's explanation. What I need to do is run apps that DON'T run at all under WIN 7. I already have them running fine under win XP.

The original Quicken for win 95 was quite a nice application, Mike. What Intuit did was over bloat it with lots of unnecessary stuff I would never use and in the process of doing that could never figure out how to open legacy data files. If I have to type in all my data over, I want to find a check book home accounting system that isn't loaded with all sorts of nonsense. And speaking of support, what good is the kind of support they offered by telling me I need to type all the data from old Quicken to new Quicken? And that was only after they assured me it would work and it didn't and refused to refund the money I paid for the latest upgrade.

Cardfile is a very simple rollodex style database with one search field. Then I have an index card where I can type in all the data I want, little scratch notes etc. Very handy. I'd be happy to find another tool like that one and copy-paste over 3000 cards of info.


StevenD- I will look into VMware to see if that is a reasonable approach if you meant what I think you meant but not what you typed.

Don, I understand. A more simple program that actually worked better than the "new" stuff.

In the end I think it will be a question of how much hassle you are willing to put up with to continue to run that program vs. the cost of running a newer version of quicken that will run natively. A matter of choice. Maybe the program mdram mentioned will be easier. I don't know; never had to run Windows inside of Windows. I have run XP inside of my mbp using Parallels, and while it works well, it 1) grabs 1GB of my ram to do so, and 2) takes the normal amount of time for WXP to boot inside of OSX. It works, it just isn't very convenient, and I have learned to live without those few windows programs.

FWIW, I agree about QUicken, over time it got to be where I didn't like using it, for some of those same reasons.

 

[StevenD]

I read it that he had already tried that method.

 

[StevenD]

Run VMWare Player and install a Windows XP desktop. Then install the apps that run properly under Windows 7 on the WinXP VM.

I meant that do NOT run properly under Windows 7. I was unable to edit my post for some reason.

 

[JAG72]

Run VMWare Player and install a Windows XP desktop. Then install the apps that run properly under Windows 7 on the WinXP VM.

VMWare Player does not let you create a virtual machine to install an OS. It is only to run an already created virtual machine. You would need VMWare Workstation (or other VMWare products) to create the virtual machine before player could be used.

 

[StevenD]

VMWare Player does not let you create a virtual machine to install an OS. It is only to run an already created virtual machine. You would need VMWare Workstation (or other VMWare products) to create the virtual machine before player could be used.

That is incorrect!

What can I do with VMware Player? Use VMware Player to create, run, evaluate, and share software running in virtual machines:

• Create: Use VMware Player to create virtual machines with the latest 32-bit and 64-bit Windows and Linux operating systems. With Easy Install it’s easier than installing them directly on your PC.
• Run: VMware Player can be used by anyone to run virtual machines on a Windows or Linux PC. VMware Player makes it quick and easy to take advantage of the security, flexibility, and portability of virtual machines.
• Evaluate: VMware Player is ideal for safely evaluating software distributed as a virtual appliance. Virtual appliances are pre-built, pre-configured and ready-to-run enterprise software applications packaged along with an operating system in a virtual machine. With VMware Player, anyone can quickly and easily experience the benefits of preconfigured products without any installation or configuration hassles. Run over 900 virtual appliances from leading software vendors available from the VMware Virtual Appliance Marketplace.
• Share: VMware Player can be used by anyone to run a virtual machine shared by a colleague or friend. For example, customer support and development teams can share a customer scenario encapsulated within a virtual machine.

VMware Player FAQs: Free Virtualization to Run a Virtual PC on Linux or Windows


You can also use the FREE VMWare Converter to convert your existing Windows XP desktop to VMWare.

 

[JAG72]

That is incorrect!

What can I do with VMware Player? Use VMware Player to create, run, evaluate, and share software running in virtual machines:

• Create: Use VMware Player to create virtual machines with the latest 32-bit and 64-bit Windows and Linux operating systems. With Easy Install it’s easier than installing them directly on your PC.
• Run: VMware Player can be used by anyone to run virtual machines on a Windows or Linux PC. VMware Player makes it quick and easy to take advantage of the security, flexibility, and portability of virtual machines.
• Evaluate: VMware Player is ideal for safely evaluating software distributed as a virtual appliance. Virtual appliances are pre-built, pre-configured and ready-to-run enterprise software applications packaged along with an operating system in a virtual machine. With VMware Player, anyone can quickly and easily experience the benefits of preconfigured products without any installation or configuration hassles. Run over 900 virtual appliances from leading software vendors available from the VMware Virtual Appliance Marketplace.
• Share: VMware Player can be used by anyone to run a virtual machine shared by a colleague or friend. For example, customer support and development teams can share a customer scenario encapsulated within a virtual machine.

VMware Player FAQs: Free Virtualization to Run a Virtual PC on Linux or Windows


You can also use the FREE VMWare Converter to convert your existing Windows XP desktop to VMWare.

They must have changed it recently as you never used to be able to do that. The last version that I used this was not an option. I wonder if they did this to help compete with the version of virtual PC that came with Windows 7 (xp mode).

 

[LostBoyinVA]

Are you running the 64-Bit version of Windows 7? If you are that is for sure why your Card File program isn't working, you stated it was a 16 bit app. Quite possibly this is the same problem you are having with the older version of Quicken. 16bit applicaitons will not run on a 64bit operating system.

The virtual XP mode of windows 7 works well provided you don't need it to be network domain aware. Maybe VMWare can resolve that issue, but the Windows XP Virtual applicaiton that comes with Windows 7 should allow you to install and run your 16bit application since it is XP 32bit not 64bit.

 

[TheForce]

Are you running the 64-Bit version of Windows 7?

Yes. Windows 7 Home version. our lead sent me to do some reading today and discovered the windows XP virtual mode is not supported in Home version so I installed the upgrade to Professional. It was an expensive move at $90 but if this eventually works, It will be worth it. The upgrade became a bit of a challenge, surprisingly. It didn't take and I got the dreaded failure with no reason why. The advisory sent me to {http://www.microsoft.com]and then had the audacity to ask if that was a help. LOL! I found the support answer by e-mail and sent off a nastygram. Anyway, several hours later up pops a message I have an upgrade to install. It is SP1. So I said go for it and let the upgrade to SP1 do it's thing. It took over an hour to install SP1. Out of curiosity, I decided to try the upgrade to Professional again for the millionth time but this time with SP1 confirmed installed. It worked and now my win 7 says "Professional" Hopefully in the next day or so I'll download the virtual windows XP and see if my old 16bit apps run. I'm really interested in getting Quicken 2006 version to install.

Speaking of Quicken, I did have an old copy of Quicken 2010 installed on my Vista machine that failed the file conversion so to kill time waiting for the win 7 upgrades to complete I did a bit of investigating on the Bank's website and Quicken compatibility. Good news! They do support a new system that can populate Quicken with your account data for the past 4 months for free. I tested it and it was pretty easy. Now for the bad news. I discovered buried in the fine print that by doing so I signed up for a service that allows the Bank to charge my account $14.95 per month service charge for each account I populate with their data. That would be $60 a month bank service charges for using Quicken, a software I bought. What a racket. I got it cancelled but the CSR said that the advantage of using their service is that I won't need to enter my checks, that the bank will do it. BFD! I get the same thing on their website now for free. I just want my own check register on my personal cloud that I own. This cloud computing BS is going to break my bank with all the little service charges. So much for tying the Quicken to my Bank for simple download. I'm back to finding an easy way to use my older Quicken 2006 version that nobody is going to charge me to use. I'll install a small laptop on XP that just runs Quicken and any other older app if I have to.

I also downloaded the VMware Player that was free but haven't had time to check it out yet. Thanks for that suggestion too.

 

[TheForce]

After much trouble with the Microsoft downloading of XP mode not working I resorted to the forums and discover that no one is able to use it. One guy had posted a direct link I used and I bypassed the main web page and the download proceeded. Got it all installed. Man what an ordeal it was getting it all working. But in the end, I had success. I was able to test with card file and it worked! Now on to getting Quicken 2006 working.

I also have a license free copy of Photoshop that doesn't work past xp that I got years ago as a beta tester. And finally, Page Maker 7.0 This will really be great if I can get all these to work. The last time I ran these on XP machine it had 1.5 Gb ram so that is how I set this virtual XP window up. I'm open to suggestions if that was not adequate, I have 12Gb in this system now but next year I plan to upgrade to a 990x and 24 Gb. I understand XP is limited to 3Gb so It probably wouldn't kill me to allocate the max if necessary.

Thanks for all the great advice. I'm well on my way to achieving my goals with this.

 

[mdram]

you dont have to run the xp as a window
you can set the app to luanch in an xp enviroment from a shortcut in win 7
xpmode runs, but you never see/notice it

i cannot remember how to do this though

th program i most remember using it was the old 8bit ski program

 

[TheForce]

you can set the app to launch in an xp environment from a shortcut in win 7

Yes, I read about that in the notes. Eventually, I will get all those apps running like that.

 

[TheForce]

Someone who understands win XP mode in win 7 please explain where on the C drive is the new XP C drive files and folders?

Also, I have a network 2TB hard drive that I can access from my different machines for backups and shared common files. However, in win XP mode on virtual fgrom the win 7 system, I can see the device but when I try to open it it tells me to connect the drive which is already connected. Also I can access it from windows 7 network places no trouble. Virtual win XP mode can access the internet with IE no problem.

 

[WinOutReach4]

Don,
In your user folder, you will find a ‘Virtual Machines’ folder. Inside there is a file called ‘Windows XP Mode.vcmx’. Right click on this file and choose ‘settings’. These settings can only be changed while XP Mode is not running (if you want to change the default 512MB of ram, for example). Click on Hard Disk 1, and in the right pane it will show you where the virtual hard disk is stored and where the parent disk is stored. XP Mode works by using a read-only VHD of the OS, and a differences file. Since all of this is contained in those files, you will not find your XP Mode c: drive listed inside the rest of your C: drive.
However, if you use Windows Explorer inside XP mode, your Windows 7 drives will be listed as mapped network drives.

The default network card in Windows XP Mode is a shared NAT emulation. In the settings area, you can change this to the actual network adapter… This might help with the networked 2TB drive.

Just to add this in, there is another compatibility tool that may help you. The Application Compatibility Toolkit can be used to help older programs work. If you want to know more about this, start at the Application Compatibility pages of the Springboard Site: technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/aa905066.aspx

David
Windows Outreach Team – IT Pro

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

Welcome David! :