Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade Question

[HOrnbrod]

I have the Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit edition OS on my desktop. I need to run some older software that runs on XP but will not on Win 7. Specifically CAD programs. If I upgrade to Win 7 Pro, it has a virtual window feature called the "XP Mode" through which you can run the older software. Anyone ever try/done this? I haven't and was curious as to how it works. I really don't want to install a dual boot system. Thanks.

[onlyinajeep726]

I've used it, but it was a long time ago (when Win 7 first came out, I got it 6 months before it was released to the public).  It worked okay, but my laptop wasn't the greatest, so its performance was noticeably hindered.  I'm sure it's been updated and optimized by now, so you should be good to go.  I loved XP and I love 7.  If I were you, I'd go for it as you really have nothing to lose since you already have 7 home.

[HOrnbrod]

Thanks, but I'm asking about the Win 7 Pro OS "XP Mode" feature functionality.

[onlyinajeep726]

Thanks, but I'm asking about the Win 7 Pro OS "XP Mode" feature functionality.

 

That's what I'm talking about... sorry, I may have been a little confusing, but in my previous post, I meant that I've used the XP mode and it was pretty good.  What I was saying about the performance being hindered is that when running the XP mode within 7, the computer (at least mine) had a bit of a hard time processing everything and keeping resources available to run two operation systems simultaneously...  I'm sure by now though, Microsoft has optimized XP mode and Win 7 enough to where that probably won't be a big issue, especially on a PC that has plenty of RAM and a fast multi-core processor.  I was trying to run it on my laptop which was already antiquated when I bought it 4 years ago haha.

[HOrnbrod]

Great- thanks for clarifying. The purpose of all this is to revive the many 2D Autosketch drawings I have and be able to open and edit them. My old version of AutoSketch will not run on Win 7 but did run fine on XP until my old hard drive crashed.

[relyt120]

I use it from time to time. i think it will work well for your purpose, but like onlyinajeep726 implied performance will very based on machine specs

[Zeke&Me]

Don't use it, Its extremely buggy. You are better off running a sand box or duel booting an old version of xp. A remote server might also be an option but I don't think that would be good if you were rendering images in a CAD software

[Lee21490]

There are plenty of other programs to have a virtual XP. The one built into windows is okay, But changing your windows version just to use it would be a pain in the @$$.

 

Look into sand box.

 

 

Also; i believe they make programs to convert the old CAD files into newer file formats.

[HOrnbrod]

Thanks guys. I'm going to try Oracle Virtual Box to run XP on my system. Looks like a good reliable program and will do what I want. Free too, which is always good.

 

A far as converting my old DOS Autosketch files, there is nothing, unless I go with a $300 program from Autodesk. And even then converting the old .skd to .dwg files so they can be edited is iffy.

[terrawombat]

Hey Don - my company bought Autosketch 10 a while back when one of our clients kept sending us drawings in .skd and claimed he couldn't send them any other way (even though the program lets you save as .dwg).  Still got a computer around here running XP with the Autosketch software on it.  If you want I can convert those files to .dwg for you.  Let me know.

[HOrnbrod]

That would be great Terra. I have about twenty .skd files, not large. Once converted to .dwg, can I open and edit with a CAD program (maybe a decent after-market program; Autosketch costs a fortune) with no errors?

[terrawombat]

I'll PM in a bit.

 

Since our company refuses to buy the latest version of AutoCAD (because it cost a bazillion dollars) our electrical engineer uses a free program called Draftsight: http://www.3ds.com/products-services/draftsight/overview/

 

I use it to open .dwg files from customers and it has the look/feel of AutoCAD - even had the command prompt.  Draftsight seems to be more than enough to get me by when doing basic 2D edits to .dwg files.

[HOrnbrod]

PM sent.

[Lee21490]

That would be great Terra. I have about twenty .skd files, not large. Once converted to .dwg, can I open and edit with a CAD program (maybe a decent after-market program; Autosketch costs a fortune) with no errors?

There are multiple ways to get something like Autosketch for free.

 

Won't go into detail, Because not sure how this forum looks upon pirating & i don't want to get in trouble.

[HOrnbrod]

I'm not adverse at all to free software, but even the latest version of AutoSketch (10) runs sketchy on Win 7 64-bit. And I don't need all the new CAD functionality; the old AS DOS version did all I needed it to do for house additions and other projects I use it for.

 

It's kinda like my 20+ year old MJ. It does everything I need it to do, is my truck of choice modded the way I wanted it to be, and I can fix most anything that happens to it myself. Who needs more than that?

[onlyinajeep726]

I'm not adverse at all to free software, but even the latest version of AutoSketch (10) runs sketchy on Win 7 64-bit. And I don't need all the new CAD functionality; the old AS DOS version did all I needed it to do for house additions and other projects I use it for.

 

It's kinda like my 20+ year old MJ. It does everything I need it to do, is my truck of choice modded the way I wanted it to be, and I can fix most anything that happens to it myself. Who needs more than that?

 

I totally understand that... :yes: