Simply because they still have some outdated software installed on the Windows XP Mode virtual machine running on Windows 7, many Windows 7 users, including companies, are delaying their upgrade to Windows 10. Leaving important software active on a Windows 10 XP virtual machine will require an XP license, which is difficult to obtain at this time. That thing will ask you to reinstall all your software.
Importing an existing XP Mode VM from Windows 7 to Hyper-V in Windows 10 is a viable option for these users. However, you cannot copy an XP Mode VHD and use it in Hyper-V. Moving XP Mode from Windows 7 as a virtual machine to Windows 10 is relatively difficult because of the different drives and many files used.
This guide will show you an easy workaround. The whole process takes less than 10 minutes.
1. Transfer Existing XP Mode to New VHD
1.1. In Windows 7, start the virtual machine in XP Mode. On the XP Mode virtual machine, download and run Disk2VHD.
1.2. Check Prepare for use in Virtual PC and uncheck Use VHDX:
1.3. Once Disk2VHD has created the new VHD file, copy it to the Windows 7 server.
2. Install Hyper-Drawing’s XP Mode
2.1. Upgrade to Windows 10 and copy the new Disk2VHD virtual hard drive to another Windows 10 computer.
2.2. Set up Hyper-V.
2.3. As stated in the Hyper-V instruction above, set up the Windows XP Mode virtual computer.
2.4. When creating the XP Mode VM, keep in mind that it should be Generation 1:
2.5. Instead of creating a new VHD, select Use existing virtual hard disk, browse to and select the XP Mode VHD which has been created with Disk2VHD:
2.6. Start the Windows XP Mode VM.
2.7. The boot menu will appear. Select Disk2VHD Microsoft Windows XP Professional option:
2.8. If you receive a message that Windows needs to be activated, click Yes and select the option to activate by phone. You will get one with which to enable VM Mode XP.
2.9. An XP Mode VM will be booted. You can sign in with your old, familiar credentials.
Windows XP Mode is now ported from Windows 7 to Windows 10. Settings, user data, and activation status remain intact.
