无论是出于怀旧还是运行旧软件，运行Windows XP机器都有好处——出于正确的原因。显然，不建议将Windows XP作为您唯一的操作系统运行，因为它已过时、不受支持且充满安全风险。
值得庆幸的是，完全可以免费设置Windows XP虚拟机。虽然官方方法需要Windows 7 PC，但您可以使用Windows 10和其他操作系统，尽管此方法需要一些变通方法。要将Windows XP作为虚拟机运行，您必须仔细遵循这些说明。
下载Windows XP并提取安装文件(Extracting Installation Files)
要开始使用 Windows XP 虚拟机，您需要使用运行Windows 10的 PC ，并在 BIOS或UEFI设置中启用虚拟化。您可以使用其他操作系统，但这些说明在设计时考虑了Windows 10。
您使用的操作系统也需要得到VirtualBox的支持，我们将使用该软件来运行Windows XP。
- 如果您的 PC 已准备就绪，请从Microsoft网站(Microsoft)下载 Windows XP Mode (download the Windows XP Mode) EXE文件（名为WindowsXPMode_en-us.exe）。如果该文件不再托管在Microsoft上，您可以从 CNET 下载它(download it from CNET)。下载后，不要运行该文件(don’t run the file)。此 XP 安装程序仅受Windows 7支持，因此我们需要从中提取您需要的文件以使 XP 在Windows 10上运行。
- 如果您的 PC 尚未安装，请先下载并安装 7-Zip(download and install 7-Zip)，然后再继续。安装 7-Zip 后，在Windows 文件资源管理器中找到您的(Windows File Explorer)Windows XP安装程序文件，然后右键单击(right-click)该文件。
- 从那里，单击 7-Zip > Open archive > Cab以在 7-Zip文件管理器(File Manager)中打开EXE文件。
- 在 7-Zip文件管理器(File Manager)中，双击Sources文件夹，然后双击xpm文件。这将打开第二个 7-Zip文件管理器(File Manager)窗口，其中包含您的 Windows XP 虚拟机文件。
- 在单击“提取(Extract)”按钮之前选择内容。
- 为您的文件选择合适的位置。在执行此操作之前，您可能需要创建一个新文件夹。准备好后，单击“确定(OK)”将文件解压缩到您的 PC。
- 在Windows 文件资源管理器(Windows File Explorer)中打开包含 Windows XP 文件的文件夹。找到VirtualXPVHD文件，右键单击(right-click)> Rename，然后将名称从VirtualXPVHD更改为VirtualXP.VHD，在 XP 和VHD之间添加一个句点。
添加VHD文件扩展名会将此文件更改为(VHD)VirtualBox支持的虚拟硬盘文件，允许您将Windows XP作为虚拟机运行。
使用 VirtualBox 设置 Windows XP 虚拟机(Setting Up a Windows XP Virtual Machine Using VirtualBox)
解压缩 Windows XP 下载文件后，即可开始将其设置为虚拟机。
- 首先，您需要下载并安装 VirtualBox(install VirtualBox)。安装后，打开VirtualBox并单击New按钮开始创建新的虚拟机。
- 在创建虚拟机(Create Virtual Machine)窗口中，单击底部 的专家模式按钮。(Expert Mode)
- 在名称(Name)框中键入Windows XP以自动配置设置以适合 XP。仔细检查版本(Version)是否设置为Windows XP (32-bit)，然后将内存大小(Memory Size)设置为大约512MB或更高。你可以走得更高，虽然 XP 可以少一些。
- 在创建虚拟机(Create Virtual Machine)窗口的硬盘(Hard Drive )部分，选择使用现有硬盘文件。(Use an existing hard disk file.)按旁边的文件夹图标(folder icon )，然后在硬盘选择器(Hard Disk Selector )窗口中单击添加。(Add)
- 找到VirtualXP.VHD文件，然后单击打开(Open)以添加它。一旦VirtualXP.VHD出现在硬盘选择器(Hard Disk Selector)窗口中，选择它，然后按选择(Choose)按钮。
- 返回“创建虚拟机”(Create Virtual Machine)窗口后，请仔细检查您的设置是否正确，然后再按“创建(Create )”按钮。
最终 VirtualBox 配置和 Windows XP 测试(Final VirtualBox Configuration and Windows XP Testing)
您新创建的Virtual XP模拟器将在(Virtual XP)VirtualBox Manager中显示为虚拟机。但是，在开始运行它之前，您需要进行一些更改。
- 在VirtualBox Manager中，选择您的 XP 虚拟机并单击设置(Settings)按钮开始配置。
- 首先单击系统(System)选项卡。在Boot Order下，取消选中Floppy，然后使用侧箭头将项目重新排序为以下顺序：Hard Disk, Optical, Floppy, Network。
- 单击显示(Display)选项卡。使用屏幕(Screen)部分中的滑块将视频内存(Video Memory)从16MB增加到128MB 。
- 设置正确后，单击“确定(OK)”保存Windows XP虚拟机设置。您现在可以通过单击“开始(Start)”按钮首次运行您的 XP 机器。
- 当您首次将 XP 作为虚拟机运行时，您需要确认一些初始 XP 设置，例如您的键盘布局和时区。通过按Next按钮在每个阶段确认这些设置。(Confirm)
- 为您的 XP 虚拟机命名，并提供管理员(Administrator)密码。如果您愿意，可以将密码留空。单击下一步(Next)继续。
- 确认您的时间和日期设置后，XP 将完成设置过程并重新启动。完成后，单击VirtualBox窗口中的Devices > Insert Guest Additions CD Image这将安装额外的驱动程序和设置，以使您的 XP 体验在VirtualBox中更好地工作。
- 按照设置过程，对出现的任何驱动程序警告按仍然继续。(Continue Anyway)
- 安装 VirtualBox Guest Additions(VirtualBox Guest Additions)后，单击完成(Finish)以重新启动您的 XP 虚拟机。
此时加载的Windows XP虚拟机只能使用 30 天，因为它没有有效的许可证。如果您可以找到适用于Windows XP的 Windows 许可证密钥(find your Windows license key)（例如，从旧 PC 上），您可以直接将其添加到您的虚拟机中，尽管它可能仍未激活。
要绕过这一点，请在创建虚拟机后立即创建它的快照。
- 在 XP 虚拟机运行的情况下，单击Machine > Take Snapshot。在按下“确定(OK)”按钮 之前，为您的初始Windows XP 快照(Windows XP Snapshot)命名。
- 如果您想稍后将虚拟机恢复到此快照，请在VirtualBox Manager中按XP 虚拟机旁边的菜单(menu )图标，然后选择Snapshots。在此处选择您的快照，然后按“恢复”(Restore)按钮。
使用快照恢复您的 Windows XP 虚拟机将重置时钟，允许您无限期地使用 XP，尽管您将丢失在此之后安装的所有文件或软件。
在 VirtualBox 中运行较新的操作系统(Running Newer Operating Systems In VirtualBox)
三十天结束后，如果您想继续测试它，请不要忘记恢复到初始VirtualBox快照以重置 XP 许可的时钟。(VirtualBox)
像这样的Windows XP(Windows XP)模拟器你只能做这么多，但如果你想继续测试，你可以尝试其他操作系统作为VirtualBox虚拟机。例如，如果您想尝试Linux ，请在 VirtualBox 中安装 Ubuntu(install Ubuntu in VirtualBox)。
How to Set Up a Windows XP Virtual Machine for Free
Whether it’s for nostalgia or to run old ѕoftware, there are benefits to running a Windows XP machine—for the right reasons. Obviously, it’s not recommеnded to run Windows XP as your only operating syѕtem, as it’ѕ outdated, unsupported, and full of securіty risks.
Thankfully, it’s entirely possible to set up a Windows XP virtual machine for free. While the official methods require a Windows 7 PC, you can use Windows 10 and other operating systems, although this method requires a bit of a workaround. To get Windows XP running as a virtual machine, you’ll have to follow these instructions carefully.
Downloading Windows XP and Extracting Installation Files
To begin using your Windows XP virtual machine, you’ll need to use a PC running Windows 10, with virtualization enabled in the BIOS or UEFI settings. You can use another operating system, but these instructions have been designed with Windows 10 in mind.
The operating system you use will also need to be supported by VirtualBox, the software we’ll be using to run Windows XP.
- If your PC is ready, download the Windows XP Mode EXE file from the Microsoft website (named WindowsXPMode_en-us.exe). If the file is no longer hosted on Microsoft, you can download it from CNET. Once downloaded, don’t run the file. This XP installer is only supported by Windows 7, so we’ll need to extract the files you’ll need from it to get XP to run on Windows 10.
- If your PC doesn’t already have it installed, download and install 7-Zip before you proceed. Once 7-Zip is installed, locate your Windows XP installer file in Windows File Explorer, then right-click the file.
- From there, click 7-Zip > Open archive > Cab to open the EXE file in the 7-Zip File Manager.
- In the 7-Zip File Manager, double-click the Sources folder, then double-click the xpm file. This will open a second 7-Zip File Manager window containing your Windows XP virtual machine files.
- Select the contents before clicking the Extract button.
- Choose a suitable location for your files. You may need to create a new folder before you do this. Once you’re ready, click OK to extract the files to your PC.
- Open the folder containing your Windows XP files in Windows File Explorer. Locate the VirtualXPVHD file, right-click > Rename, then change the name from VirtualXPVHD to VirtualXP.VHD, adding a period between XP and VHD.
Adding the VHD file extension changes this file to a virtual hard disk file, supported by VirtualBox, allowing you to run Windows XP as a virtual machine.
Setting Up a Windows XP Virtual Machine Using VirtualBox
After you’ve extracted your Windows XP download files, you’re ready to begin setting it up as a virtual machine.
- First, you’ll need to download and install VirtualBox. Once installed, open VirtualBox and click the New button to begin creating a new virtual machine.
- In the Create Virtual Machine window, click the Expert Mode button at the bottom.
- Type Windows XP in the Name box to automatically configure the settings to suit XP. Double-check that the Version is set to Windows XP (32-bit), then set the Memory Size to around 512MB or higher. You can go higher, although XP will be fine with less.
- In the Hard Drive section of the Create Virtual Machine window, select Use an existing hard disk file. Press the folder icon next to it, then click Add in the Hard Disk Selector window.
- Locate the VirtualXP.VHD file, then click Open to add it. Once VirtualXP.VHD appears in the Hard Disk Selector window, select it, then press the Choose button.
- Once you’ve returned to the Create Virtual Machine window, double-check your settings are correct before pressing the Create button.
Final VirtualBox Configuration and Windows XP Testing
Your newly created Virtual XP simulator will appear as a virtual machine in the VirtualBox Manager. You’ll need to make a few changes before you begin running it, however.
- In VirtualBox Manager, select your XP virtual machine and click the Settings button to begin configuration.
- Click the System tab first. Under Boot Order, uncheck Floppy, then reorder the items into the following order using the side arrows: Hard Disk, Optical, Floppy, Network.
- Click the Display tab. Increase the Video Memory from 16MB to 128MB using the slider in the Screen section.
- Once your settings are correct, click OK to save your Windows XP virtual machine settings. You can now run your XP machine for the first time by clicking the Start button.
- You’ll need to confirm some initial XP settings when you run XP for the first time as a virtual machine, such as your keyboard layout and time zone. Confirm these settings at each stage by pressing the Next button.
- Give your XP virtual machine a name, as well as provide an Administrator password. You can leave the password blank if you’d prefer. Click Next to proceed.
- After confirming your time and date settings, XP will complete the setup process and reboot. Once this has completed, click Devices > Insert Guest Additions CD Image in your VirtualBox window. This will install additional drivers and settings to make your XP experience work better in VirtualBox.
- Follow the setup process, pressing Continue Anyway to any driver warnings that appear.
- With VirtualBox Guest Additions installed, click Finish to reboot your XP virtual machine.
The Windows XP virtual machine that loads at this point can only be used for 30 days as it lacks a valid license. If you can find your Windows license key for Windows XP (from an older PC, for instance), you may be able to add it to your virtual machine directly, although it may still not activate.
To bypass this, create a snapshot of your virtual machine immediately after creating it.
- With your XP virtual machine running, click Machine > Take Snapshot. Give your initial Windows XP Snapshot a name before pressing the OK button.
- If you want to restore your virtual machine to this snapshot later, press the menu icon next to your XP virtual machine in VirtualBox Manager and select Snapshots. From here, select your snapshot before pressing the Restore button.
Restoring your Windows XP virtual machine using a snapshot will reset the clock, allowing you to use XP indefinitely, although you will lose any files or software you’ve installed after this point.
Running Newer Operating Systems In VirtualBox
Once your thirty days are up, don’t forget to revert back to your initial VirtualBox snapshot to reset the clock on your XP licensing if you want to keep testing it.
You can only do so much with a Windows XP simulator like this, but if you want to keep testing, you can try out other operating systems as VirtualBox virtual machines. For instance, if you want to give Linux a try, install Ubuntu in VirtualBox instead.
