Virtual XP -- but on Home Premium

I thought I'd noted a NON-Microsoft shareware/freeware/whatever that could be added to Windows Home Premium (64bit if it matters). That can run the virtural XP (or real?) system under W7's virtual hosting. Now, I'm having a problem finding it. Did I misread/misunderstand something?

Reason needed:
I Either have to: buy a new Scanner, or Upgrade to the next Windows (pro?) to get the official Vitual feature, or buy and install XP for my OEM XP drive that's already connected but won't complete booting on this new PC. (HP says that's done to prevent their OEM Windows from booting on a different box....??)

Any of those latter choices is going to be a pain in purchasing hardware/software (& deleting, installing XP & updating it just to get back to where I was)

The Scanner is not that old, but Epson is not doing a 64bit updated driver for it, so I'm S.O.L. that route.

Any suggestions? (& please, no more Epson products.. Any Brand has to support what they sell)

Bob

 

Hi Bobk,
I'm running a brother all-in-1 DCP-135C connected to XP (via USB), Vista home, Vista Enterprise & Win7 home Premium (networked via Wireless) without any dramas, Win7 will run this printer/scanner no problems, sorry I have no suggestions on the virtual option

Jac

 

Actually, you can. I'm running Mac OS X Snow Leopard in both a virtual machine as well as in a dual-boot configuration.

Microsoft's Virtual PC is pretty lame, as it is mostly there so you can run XP. I don't know to what extent it has hardware support. Download a free trial of VMWare Workstation 7.0.1 and give it a shot. I run an HP all-in-one printer/scanner/fax without any problems on Mac OS X 10.6.2. Remember to turn on virtulization in the BIOS, as it is turned off by default on most systems.

 

Follow up

I held off on replacing this perfectly good Epson Scanner hoping to get VM running my XP which does support it (Epson won't do a 64bit driver .. Strike #1)..
Then my Epson Printer ink, with it's "smart ink cartridges" - that happen to have been replaced 3 months ago and STILL FULL of ink, are telling the Epson software that they need to be replaced -as they're OUT of ink! Strike #2!
I'm not stupid --- I'm not looking for a Strike #3!! I'll buy some SUPPORTED BRAND replacement for the printer and scanner.

Epson was sued in a class action lawsuit on that "smart ink cartridge" a few years back, and I'd got the printer free in a promotion, not realizing it was a consumer rip-off, and only learning of it a AFTER I bought replacement ink cartridges.

I Didn't use the Epson printer until my faithful HP printer died, and using ONLY the black ink on the Epson, had it stop after 6-7 months claiming it was 'out of ink' I'd been refilling my own cartridges for years, but after refilling the black ink cartridge, Epson software didn't believe it as it's "smart cartridge" couldn't be reset!!.. Bought the black replacement cartridge, and THEN it said the color cartridges were empty!! BS - I NEVER USED COLOR!!


All in all, I give up.. I'm buying a new Printer - HP or any other that *I* can refill, and a new Scanner.. maybe an all-in-one..

But Stay away from Epson products - Epson doesn't support them. And note that ink refill packages will expressly omit Epson as a refillable ink cartridge even now. When I find that list of what products to stay away from - you'll find this DO-NOT-BUY story there.

As to the XP system, I'm looking for an inexpensive XP software retail package to eliminate the OEM code on my XP drive that prevents it from running on a new PC Box, then duel boot it if I ever need it. Too many of my older softwares won't run on it.

Bob K.