Running Microcat under W7 64-bits

[mturri]

Running Microcat under W7 64-bits

Microcat albeit being a program that gets updated on a monthly basis, still runs on an obsolete 16-bit application.

32-bit operating systems (e.g Windows XP) have a 16-bit subsystem under which 16-bit applications run seamlessly.

The more recent 64-bit operating systems (e.g. Windows 7 64-bits) although include a 32-bit subsystem under which most applications run, no longer feature a 16-bit subsystem. This in essence renders Microcat as well as other 16-bit applications unusable under 64-bit OSs.

There’s however a few ways around this. Microsoft offers a package called “Windows XP Mode” that allows to create within Windows 7 a 32-bit native system that includes a 16-bit subsystem, i.e. Windows XP running within Windows 7 64-bits. On top of XP Mode one must install “Windows Virtual PC” from within the 16-bit applications can be run. This however did not work in my particular case (Microcat would not install or eventually run) and was forced to look out for another alternative. The solution was found to be VMware player, and this post details the necessary steps as to set up a Windows XP Virtual Machine within Windows 7 64-bits, so that either Microcat or any other 16-bit application can be successfully run in a Windows 7 64-bit OS.

To start with, get Windows XP Mode from Microsoft (~480Mb):
Download Windows XP Mode (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx)

Proceed to install Windows XP Mode:
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Following that, download VMware Player; this software is totally free yet registration is needed to be able to download it:
VMware Player 3.0 (http://downloads.vmware.com/d/info/desktop_downloads/vmware_player/3_0)

Install VMware Player:
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Reboot Windows 7. The VMware Player icon should now appear in the desktop:
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Run VMware Player:
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Import Windows XP Mode into VMware (-> File -> Import Windows XP Mode VM):
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A new Virtual Machine called Windows XP Mode now appears in VMware. Play the said Virtual Machine:
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VMware starts the Windows XP Virtual Machine for the first time...
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And installs Windows XP:
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Choose computer name & password:
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At some point during the Windows XP installation a message will pop up asking to download & install VMware Tools which is to be done:
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Windows XP already installed and running, VMware Tools being installed:
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Restart (shut down Windows XP not Windows 7)
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Run VMware and plat the Windows XP Mode Virtual Machine
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Windows XP starting up within VMware
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Windows XP running from within Windows 7 64-bits via VMware player
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As it stands Windows XP can only access files within the Virtual Machine environment, a sort of image file stored within Windows 7. For Windows XP to be able to access files within Windows 7, a virtual shared folder needs to be set up. Go to Virtual Machine Settings:
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Then to Options -> Shared Folders
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Enable Shared Folders:
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Add the folder to be shared:
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This is how the shared folder is seen from Windows Explorer within the Windows XP Virtual Machine:
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At this point Microcat can be installed hassle less...
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Microcat running on Windows XP Mode / WMware under W7 64-bits:
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After some more tweaking (XP autologon, Microcat autorun, desktop shortcut to the Microcat instance and assigning of Microcat icon) a dedicated icon can be created that will run VMware, XP and Microcat all at once on just a ‘single’ double-click.

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Rgds
Matt

[Hoges]

Hey Matt
Great stuff! excellent write-up and a real example of what this forum is all about! thank you very much!;)

Was wondering how you managed the date issue for older versions of Microcat... i.e. how do you get around having to 'backdate' the computer's time/date settings before launching Microcat?

Cheers
Hoges

[mturri]

Hoges,

In the past have used the likes of MCLifeX or Microlaunch, nowadays just reinstall MC with a newer version every couple of months or so.

Rgds
Matt

[mturri]

Forgot to say, installing VMware Tools enables a working bi-directional clipboard, i.e. data can be copy-pasted both ways: W7 to WXP and viceversa.

[It'sNotWorthComplaining!]

???? I have microcat with microlaunch running perfectly on Win7 64 bit via VMware on my iMac without problems.
I only have to open as administer as it won 't open by clicking open.