Sony Vaio won't be able to run virtual XP mode in Windows 7

It is not possible due to disabled hardware virtualization in the BIOS

Hardware Virtualization

Word 2003 running under XP and Word 2007 under Windows 7 on the same desktop

 Windows 7, the latest operating system from Microsoft, comes with a technology, dubbed Windows XP Mode (XPM, formerly Virtual Windows XP or Virtual XP, VXP) which provides a whole new level of compatibility by allowing Windows XP based applications to run on Windows 7. XPM is built on the next generation Microsoft Virtual PC 7 product line, which requires processor-based virtualization support (Intel and AMD) to be present and enabled on the underlying PC. This means that the host system’s hardware should be able to support virtualization. XP Mode consists of the Virtual PC-based virtual environment and a fully licensed copy of Windows XP with Service Pack 3 (SP3). XPM will be available for free, to users of Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate editions via a download from the Microsoft web site. 

The best part about the XP Mode in Windows 7 is that users are not required to run the virtual environment as a separate Windows desktop. Instead, users can install applications inside the virtual XP mode and they will be placed as shortcuts on the Windows 7 start menu/desktop. This means that users can Windows XP based applications alongside Windows 7 applications under a single desktop.

Microsoft has revealed the underlying criteria for running Windows XP mode on Windows 7 that is – 2GB of RAM will be needed and the CPU should support chip-level virtualization.  Well, the first criterion is not a big problem but, the second one is, as it is not clearly known which processors support chip-level virtualization. Talking about AMD it looks like this technology was introduced with the Athlon 64 and has continued in most new chips, while Intel’s Core i7 processors are built with this technology, but only some of its Pentium, Core 2, and Atom chips made the grade. It is believed that Microsoft will soon put up a list of compatibles, till then users can check if their processor supports chip-level virtualization or not by using a software that can be downloaded from this site – http://www.grc.com/securable.htm.

Users must also note that all current Sony Vaio laptops that are sold have this feature disabled in the BIOS, despite the fact VT (virtualization technology) is one of the features in the Intel Core 2 Duo mobile processor that Vaios use, therefore making it impossible to run Windows XP virtual mode. Sony has yet to say that they will enable on past or current models (seems unlikely), but it seems that their new computers will be equipped with this technology. Sony’s official response comes via Xavier Lauwaert, Senior Manager Product Marketing at Sony, who said “We have received very little if any requests to enable VT technology up until very recently. In addition, our engineers and QA people were very concerned that enabling VT would expose our systems to malicious code that could go very deep in the Operating System structure of the PC and completely disable the latter.” He also said that the current Sony Vaio Z models won’t be able to support VT technology.

Meanwhile, consumers are angry as they are already paying a huge price to buy a Vaio and still they will not be able to relish the full potential of Windows 7. Many are demanding refunds while others are calling for a class-action suit against the company.