There are several virtualization programs - including free options - that
don't have the same hardware requirements... you might look at the free
VirtualBox, VMWare Player, or even Microsoft's Virtual PC.
(http://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/download/details.aspx?id=3702)

Note that for any sort of virtualization, you need a lot of RAM - enough
for the 'guest' operating system (in your case Windows XP) plus enough to
keep the 'host' operating system running happily.

Figure 4 GB or more. (More is better!)

On 12/29/2013, 12:28 AM, Daryl Stout -> All wrote:
 DS> Between my Mom and myself, we have 5 computers, as follows:

 DS> 1) My Mom's desktop, Windows XP Professional, SP 3
 DS> 2) My 2 desktops, Windows XP Professional, SP3
 DS> 3) My 2 laptops, one with Windows XP Professional, SP3,
 DS>     and the other with Windows Vista (the latter snagged
 DS>     at a ham radio flea market for $100, when the first
 DS>     laptop supposedly died (it runs on AC only now).

 DS> The problem that we have is that NONE of the computers
 DS> have the BIOS or motherboard to run Virtual Mode of
 DS> Windows XP under Windows 7. Plus, both of us are disabled,
 DS> and on a fixed income. So, we can't afford to throw out
 DS> perfectly good and working hardware and software, just to
 DS> satisfy Microsoft's corporate greed.

 DS> My main concern is with my BBS...I could possibly run
 DS> Windows 7 Home Premium, 32-bit, on all the systems...but
 DS> the 32-bit system is the most important...as my BBS
 DS> software and all other programs would quit working if I
 DS> had to go with the 64-bit system. I also do several ham
 DS> radio applications, which I know will run 32-bit, but not
 DS> 64-bit.

 DS> If I was able to procure/purchase Windows 7 Home Premium
 DS> 32-bit on Amazon, would that require a BIOS/motherboard
 DS> upgrade beforehand?? And, would what is currently running
 DS> under Windows XP as 32-bit still run under the 32-bit of
 DS> Windows 7 (not using Virtual XP Mode)??

 DS> The BBS, and ham radio applications are the last two
 DS> hobbies that I have left, due to declining health, and
 DS> I refuse to give those up just to satisfy Microsoft's
 DS> corporate greed.

 DS> Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

 DS> Daryl Stout, Sysop
 DS> The Thunderbolt BBS
 DS> Little Rock, Arkansas

 DS> .. The Thunderbolt BBS, Little Rock, AR   wx1der.dyndns.org
 DS> --- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49

 DS> --- Virtual Advanced Ver 2 for DOS

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