Where is Microsoft Virtual PC?

Q I wrote a database system in an old Dos-based programming language that has served me well for many years. I would like to be able to run this on my Windows 7 PC. I am aware I should be able to download a ‘virtual PC’ system from Microsoft that includes a Windows XP ‘mode’.

However, when I try to do this, following Microsoft’s instructions, it says it is already installed. I don’t know where it is and cannot find it.

A friend gave me his copy of the programs he downloaded for his Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit edition but during the installation my computer crashed. I abandoned the attempt and performed a System Restore. How do I proceed?
Bob Davison

A Windows XP Mode is a feature included in some editions of Windows 7 that Microsoft offers as a free download. However, it is only compatible with Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate and Enterprise editions.

From the Control Panel screenshot that you emailed to us, we can see that your PC is running the Home Premium edition of Windows 7 – so Windows XP Mode is not an option for you.

However, Microsoft has a lot to answer for here. For starters, while it does specify the compatible Windows versions, the download page you mentioned doesn’t prevent owners of Home Windows 7 Premium from attempting to download and install the tool.

Indeed, the Home Premium and Starter editions of Windows 7 are even listed as options in the dropdown menus that users must use to filter the relevant downloads.

The same site willingly allows Starter and Home Premium users go through the whole download and installation rigmarole – even though failure at the end is guaranteed. The company should be embarrassed about this mess.

Regardless, we think you might have overlooked a crucial point – the program you wish to run is designed for Dos, not Windows (be it 7 or XP). In other words, even if you upgraded to Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate to get Windows XP Mode to work, you would still be left wondering how to launch your Dos program – and the answer to that may already be at hand.

In all versions of Windows, including Windows 7 Home Premium, you can launch a ‘command’ window that looks and ostensibly works just like Dos. First, click Start followed by Run. Now type cmd into Run/Open box and press Enter – and there’s the Dos window.

What you do from here obviously depends on your Dos program. However, you could, for example, use Windows Explorer to copy the Dos program and data files into a folder called ‘dosprog’, on drive C.

Then, in the command window, issue standard Dos commands to drill down into that folder (though ‘directory’ would be more appropriate now we are thinking in Dos terminology). Typing cd \dosprog, for example, will change the command prompt to ‘C:\dosprog’ – and away you go.

It’s still possible (and likely) that your Dos program will refuse to work properly within this window. If that’s the case, try downloading Dosbox – it’s a better version of Windows’ own command window.