Why are people using "XP Mode?

[DaveA]

I have been running Windows 7 since the Beta of it. I have of yet run into the requirement of having to use the XP Mode, or any other VMware stuff.

So why are you running XP Mode and/or any VMware program in Windows 7?

[HansV]

I have Windows 7 Home Premium, so I don't have XP mode, but I haven't encountered an application yet that wouldn't run on Windows 7 (in compatibility mode, if necessary).

However,I've heard about some computer games that refuse to run on Windows 7, even in compatibility mode. Presumably such games could be run in XP mode.

[StuartR]

...I haven't encountered an application yet that wouldn't run on Windows 7 (in compatibility mode, if necessary)...

One program that I can only run in XP mode is Sibelius 3. I know that Sibelius 6 would work on Windows 7, but the upgrade would cost me hundreds of pounds.

I also have a number of old games that only want to run in XP mode.

[John Gray]

XP Mode was designed for businesses where their highly-expensive legacy applications couldn't run on Windows 7, even in compatibility mode. For most people XP Mode seems like a dead end, particularly when you realise that the XP component needs updates and antivirus on top of those for Windows 7!