Windows 7 Windows XP mode cannot run – it says “Require Hardware Assisted Virtualization”

virtualizationwindows 7windows-xp-mode

After installing the 2 files for Windows 7 Windows XP mode, the Start Menu now has

Windows Virtual PC
Windows XP Mode

but clicking on the first merely brings out a folder, and clicking on the second brings out a dialog box that says: "Require Hardware Assisted Virtualization"

Does that mean the machine cannot support Windows 7 Windows XP mode? I am running Win 7 Ultimate 64 bit edition.

This is the dialog box:

alt text

Update: the computer is an HP TouchSmart, with American Megatrends BIOS v02.61. I looked into the BIOS set up but it is quite simple and dosen't have something for "hardware assisted virtualization". The CPU is Intel Core 2 Duo T5750.

Best Answer

Your machine may support it, but not have that support enabled. If your CPU supports hardware assisted virtualization, there will be a switch in the BIOS that will enable it.

What CPU does your system have? If its an AMD CPU, it will support hardware assited virtualization unless its a Sempron. If its an Intel CPU, then finding it on the following page will tell you whether or not it should support hardware assisted virtualization:

http://ark.intel.com/VTList.aspx

UPDATE: If you have it, the BIOS option may not be immediately obvious. On an AMD based machine it may be called "AMD-V", or on an Intel machine it may be called "Intel VT-x". If you don't have an option called "hardware assisted virtualization" look for some variant on the above two names.

UPDATE 2: Following your comment, it looks like you won't be able to enable the virtualization support without changing your CPU :(

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