Sony VAIO Notebooks Unable to use Windows 7's XP Mode

Charles P. Jefferies · 08-10-2009, 09:18 PM

Sony VAIO Notebooks Unable to use Windows 7's XP Mode

In order to use the XP mode in Windows 7, computers need to support hardware virtualization. Unfortunately for Sony VAIO notebook PC owners, the company has deliberately disabled hardware virtualization on all of the current models, and only select models will have the support in the future.

Full Story (TheRegister.co.uk)

ATG · 08-11-2009, 01:32 AM

Acer does the same, most of their laptops has it disabled. In Acer's case there is no info about it either, you have to buy the laptop and test it yourself to find out if it's supported or not

John Ratsey · 08-11-2009, 02:38 AM

There are ways of circumventing this problem. See, for example, here and here.

John

ATG · 08-11-2009, 03:03 AM

Yeah, modifying the BIOS(or the firmware for the models with InsydeH2O). I'm aware of these solutions(never heard of a successful one for Acer notebook) but it's not for everybody to try

I keep wondering why the companies disable it anyway?

jonlumpkin · 08-11-2009, 04:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ATG

I keep wondering why the companies disable it anyway?

Because they can??

Usually its a method to drive people that need virtualization to more expensive business lines (e.g. ThinkPads, Latitudes, Elitebooks). However, Sony doesn't sell any business class notebooks so that doesn't really make any sense.

ATG · 08-11-2009, 05:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonlumpkin

Because they can??

That's not a valid reason in the business world

Greg Ross · 08-11-2009, 05:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ATG

That's not a valid reason in the business world

Here's a valid reason: Because if they limit some features that they know will be useful on a future OS (I'm sure they had information stating that VT was going to be a good thing a long time ago), then they know you do not get that feature. Which means you might need to buy another laptop to get what you want, which further means they might make another sale off of you.

Even though workarounds exist, there is absolutely no guarantee that it will work for you. None.

Given some of the work I do, I require VT and I'm not going to rely on some third party hack not warrantied by the company to get it.

If you are seriously interested in W7, I'd just avoid Sony altogether right now.

Meemat · 08-11-2009, 11:55 AM

Well, the official reason tends to be "security bugs", which, with a new OS, may not be too half-baked.

Still, I agree that it's quite ridiculous to automatically disable them and imply that their customers can't be trusted to use it without getting a virus...

Either way, are there really that many folks who plan on using W7's XP Virtualization? There'll still be a compatibility option, just no virtual machine-type thing, and to be honest I doubt that too many consumers are going to be fretting about this.

coldmack · 08-12-2009, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonlumpkin

Because they can??

Usually its a method to drive people that need virtualization to more expensive business lines (e.g. ThinkPads, Latitudes, Elitebooks). However, Sony doesn't sell any business class notebooks so that doesn't really make any sense.

Actually one of their business line of machines is the G3, which the only sell in Asia. Its a 12in device but has pretty much the same specs as TT(minus the webcam), but like the TT VT is disabled. Toshiba on the other hand uses the same CPU line on their R-line and has VT enabled.

Greg Ross · 08-12-2009, 12:52 AM

There really is no security risk that I know about for having virtualization enabled.