Download Windows XP for free and legally from Microsoft

Years have passed, and Windows XP is now an outdated and no longer supported operating system (OS). However, nostalgia for this classic OS still exists, and developers often need to test their applications in various environments. Fortunately, Microsoft offers a Windows XP Mode that allows users to run a full version of Windows XP from their Windows 7 environment.

Table of Contents

1. Download and Extract Windows XP Mode Virtual Hard Disk
2. Install the Windows XP Mode Hard Drive in VirtualBox
3. Install the Windows XP Mode Virtual Machine Drive

1. Download and Extract Windows XP Mode Virtual Hard Disk

Before you begin, you need to download and install the latest version of VirtualBox. Additionally, a file decompression tool like 7-Zip or PeaZip is required.

Follow these steps to download the necessary files:

1. Visit the Microsoft Windows XP Mode download page and select Download.
2. Click on WindowsXPMode_en_us.exe to begin the download process.

Once the download is complete, do not install it yet. Instead, navigate to the executable file, right-click, and choose 7-Zip > Open archive > cab.

In the 7-Zip window, you will find three files. Double-click on the xpm file, which is the virtual hard disk directory of XP Mode.

Then extract these files to a new folder. Right-click and select Extract, then choose the location for the new folder.

2. Install the Windows XP Mode Hard Drive in VirtualBox

To set up the Windows XP Mode hard drive in VirtualBox, follow these steps:

1. Open VirtualBox and select New.
2. Choose Expert Mode and give your virtual machine a name. If you include "XP," it will auto-select the Windows XP (32-bit) version.
3. Allocate memory to your VM. For Windows XP, allocate a minimum of 512 MB but not more than 2048 MB.
4. Under Hard disk, select Use an existing virtual hard disk file. Browse to find the VirtualXP file extracted earlier and select it.

3. Install the Windows XP Mode Virtual Machine Drive

Before starting your Windows XP virtual machine, you need to configure some settings:

1. From the VirtualBox toolbar, click Settings> System> Boot Order, deselect Floppy, and move it to the bottom; make sure the hard drive is at the top.
2. In the Display section, increase the Video Memory slider to 128 MB.
3. Check Network settings for the default configuration. Windows XP Mode typically uses NAT for connections.

Optional: If NAT does not work, consider setting the network adapter to Host-only Adapter.

After completing the setup, you can now start the Windows XP Mode virtual machine by double-clicking it in the VirtualBox window.

Note that upon first launch, your mouse might not be responsive until the necessary drivers are installed. Navigate using the keyboard until the guest additions are installed.

Conclusion

With the combination of VirtualBox and Windows XP Mode from Microsoft, you can relive the nostalgic experience of Windows XP while ensuring compatibility for testing purposes. Remember that this installation may require a valid Windows XP license key after 30 days to remain functional.