Run an xp program on a win 7 PC?

I replaced an old Dell PC running XP,at our auto shop with a newer old Dell PC, which is running Win 7. Problem I'm running into is the only programs on the old PC was an old version of Mitchell On Demand and Alldata and the install discs for these programs are nowhere to be found. I thought to just put the hard drive from the old PC in an external case and plug it into a USB port. I can see all the files on the drive, but can't run the program. It was a long shot I know, and wasn't surprised it didn't work, but is there any way that I can get this program from the old PC to work without the install discs for them?
Don't want to have to purchase these expensive programs again, don't even think you can anymore, they are only available online, but regardless its major bucks, so I hope I can figure something out...with your help of course

 

Programs are installed thru a formal process and those usually create entries in the System Registry. These entries tell Windows "Here's how much memory I need for start-up, here's how much memory I need to run certain of my processes, and here are a list of services from Windows that will be used. And here's the memory Windows can retrieve when this program exits."

There are many other entries as well - where to start, where to look for supporting files, etc.

Without a Formal Installation process, it's not just "Win7 won't run them" but most Windows versions have difficulty running any program.

That's what the Formal Installation process does.

Some programs are written to regenerate those entries - and often we call those "viruses"!! (They seem to work just fine without OUR formal introductions!!)

But often, auto-shop software comes with encrypted setup processes, sometimes using the Hexalock Encryption that prevents even copies of the original Install Disks. Ugh.

There might be workarounds - like manually setting the "start program in" entry to be the precise drive-and-folder name it's in now ("E:\Alldata" now, for example, instead of "C:\Alldata").

 

I seen an article in a google search about running xp inside of windows 7, would this allow me to run program then? All that registry information must be stored on the HDD, if you could have the same OS its used to access the drive, even though its physically in another computer, would this work?

 

"Running XP program inside Win7" isn't what you think - er, what you'd LIKE to think, sadly.

Windows Versions have certain rules on how to use memory (think of it as putting up a temporary fence on a huge meadow and restricting livestock movement across those new boundaries, AND protecting them from whatever's outside that new fence-line).

And Windows Versions have rules about releasing that memory (like, taking the fence down, allowing livestock to now travel AND allow all predators to cross over, too).

Plus, each Windows Version has 'services' that use different spellings: "This User has Rights to some files and folders, other Users do not".

Different versions use different spellings for these Rules and Services. "Running an Old Version instead a New Version" is often a Translator-Effect - "This old program is calling for Service 18, but now that's named Service 27.16".

This works if the new version of Windows has been formally introduced to the Old Version via the Formal Installation and Formal Registry Entries - IN the New Version of Windows.

You're right - your Old Windows Registry has all of those entries - but they generally aren't 'migrated' just by putting the disks side by side. (As I joked earlier, Viruses CAN do this - blast! - but most REAL USEFUL programs don't! BLAST)

I can't really think of an auto-shop analogy. It's not quite like dropping a Chevy V8 into a 1968 Jag XKE - which works, I know - I get to drive one of those frequently! But it's more like exchanging auto interiors - some things just don't translate over! There isn't a cutting torch or sledge big enough or correct enough to make some things fit in anything.

Now... what you MIGHT investigate (but be very wary) is reconstructing the Old WinXP computer using the original or identical parts) and then taking that Old C: Drive, getting this Rebuild to fire up into working condition, and TRY a Program-Migrating software product.

Microsoft has claimed to provide some of those services but those are incredibly hit-or-miss (1 out of 10?). There are third-party products that claim to be better but, frankly, "2 out of 10" might be technically 'better' but I'd hate to spend money on such a long-shot.

Hopefully, there are veterans here of this "migrating software" genre who can give better directions. The early flops I saw repeatedly in 2010 made me expend energy looking elsewhere, so I haven't kept current with modern offerings.

 

Something else...

Do you use the File Manager called "Windows Explorer"? (I can access it by holding down the WinKey and tapping the "E" key once.)

If you can find those old programs' folders, you might scroll thru their list of files and see if you can locate ANY file named "setup.exe" or "install.exe", or something like that. These MIGHT be a ReGeneration Program that would allow a formal reinstallation. (This is a long-shot. Very VERY long-shot.)

 

What you need to do is make a virtual machine to use you old XP system. Take the old hard drive and make an image using somethink like http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/ee656415.aspx.
Then you can use XP Mode (if the version of 7 supports it), Virtual PC, VirtualBox, or VMware Workstation (since it is business you can't use the freebie). Then you can run those programs from the XP system, on your newer/older Dell.

 

If the version of Windows 7 qualifies for XP Mode, you don't need the old XP system at all.

 

Black, I used FOOGOO's link and set up a virtual machine and connected an old XP hard-drive and indeed ran it from within my Win7's virtual machine. No XP installation needed.

Forget my previous posts! Try FOOGOO's method and see what happens!

(You'll need to be running Win7 Pro or Win7 Ultimate, by the way. Win7 Home doesn't have "virtual machine abilities", I believe.)

 

He does need the old system.. that has all his software already installed, which is what his is trying to save. If he could reinstall everything, he would not need the XP system.
The best part of XP mode and the VMware is you can short cut to the apps in the virtual machine... I don't know if VBox has done this yet.

 

Not sure how that will work. A different HAL will be used for any VM vs. what he was running before. I almost am willing to bet that would end as a non-booting bsod.

 

Update: I have solved my problem in another, less elegant fashion...I picked up a KVM switch and just run both computers on a single monitor, KB and mouse, works like a charm. Only trouble is I won't be able to access the printer from the old pc since the KVM uses the only good usb on that pc.

 

Honestly, I'd consider that a more elegant (and better performing) option than what was presented

 

Another problem this morning, old computer goes to sleep and becomes unresponsive...locking up the kvm. Only option was to unplug it to release kvm. Now od pc wont boot just gives me beeps..5 long beeps.

 

So I take the old hard drive out and attach it to the other PC to do this process? How much space will I need on the HD of the PC I'm going to be running this, for I believe its only and 80 GB drive with win 7 on it and several programs.

 

Reason asking this is I have been looking at info on this procedure and I'm not clear on how to actually go about this. Do I remove the old hard drive from the dead pc that won't boot anymore and use my IDE to usb connector to attach it to my other computer to make an image of that hard drive? Ideally would like to not have to have the old hard drive attached externally. I have got a laptop that is running Vista (really strange...the splash screen says Windows 7 Ultimate but System Info under device manager says its vista) that has a 300 GB HDD, so have taken care of the HDD space issue. The info I've looked up and also from the link from foogoo's post don't really answer how to do this clearly, prolly just me being a dumba**, but honestly not sure.

 

Yes, use your usb device to connect the old hard drive to the PC.
As far as space needed..."In the ‘Space Required’ column, Disk2vhd shows you the amount of hard disk space you will need to have in order to create the virtual hard disk from your computer’s partitions."
Once you make the VHD image (virtual hard drive) you do not need to leave the old drive attached to the computer.
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/create-a-virtual-machine-image-of-your-existing-hard-drive-windows/
Video Help http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=how to use disk2vhd&sm=1

I have used this http://www.paragon-software.com/home/vm-professional/ to make my virtual machines before, and they worked fine. I did expect the BSOD since the hardware changed, but it did not.

 

Will I need to put a partition in place on my new pc before running disck2vhd?

 

No, they are talking about if the drive you are converting has multiple partitions. You are going to make a vhd file... just a file that is an image of the hard drive, no partitioning needed to save the vhd file to your running PC.

 

Had to abandon the virtual pc route for the moment, got it all done last night and fired up virtual machine 2004 (laptop I was going to use had Vista 32 bit) only to find out didnt have enough RAM (only 2 GB). Had another Toshiba that had 6 Gigs and was same kind, but got all kinds of errors when booted it up. Don't have installation disc so that was a dead end.

The only computer with a big enough HDD to place a VHD on it was this laptop, so managed to get both computers I had hooked to the KVM switch to behave again and went back to that option.

What a crazy ride this is turning out to be..lol.

 

I have got the two PC's running on the KVM switch again, successfully so far, at my work. But, just for sake of not giving up, on my laptop here at home I have been attempting to get virtual pc to allow me to access the .vhd image I had made of the drive from the old pc at work.

I followed this youtube video, which has successfully allowed me to get xp mode running on my laptop OS, win Home Premium..all good there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbEK0jD6GlE

But when I attempt to create a new virtual machine using the .vhd image I had made of the that old hard drive, I get an error:

"Cannot attach the virtual hard disc to the virtual machine. Check the provided values and try again."

Would anyone have any ideas on what would be causing VM to balk at creating this? I used the same RAM setting as I did for creating the basic xp virtual machine from the tube video mentioned above, which worked fine..