If your computer doesn’t meet the requirements, here is an alternative to Windows XP Mode for Windows 7 called VMLite XP Mode. VMLite XP Mode is similar to Microsoft XP Mode but doesn’t require hardware virtualization. It allows you to run Windows XP at the same time from your desktop running on a different host operating system.

VMLite XP Mode creates a virtual Windows XP environment in Windows 7 so that you can run your older applications. Through seamless integration, you can install such applications and invoke them directly from Windows 7 Startup Menu.

VMLite XP Mode Features

• Provides similar functions as Virtual PC and Windows XP Mode from Microsoft
• No requirement for hardware-assisted virtualization, namely, it runs without VT-x or AMD-v
• Provides seamless integration with host desktop to run applications from Windows XP virtual machine
• Host files can be accessed from within the XP Mode virtual machine easily
• Support 3rd party virtual machine images
• Runs on any PC with Windows XP and above as host operating system
• Highly performed, XP Mode boots in 15 seconds

To install VMLite XP Mode, it needs VMLite Workstation and a licensed copy of Windows XP in virtualized image file format. A licensed copy of virtualized Windows XP image file can be the one provided by Microsoft, or prepared by VMLite Workstation or 3rd party vendor such as VMWare from licensed Windows XP in factory CD/DVD.

Download VMLite XP Mode

VMLite XP Mode Alternative to Windows XP Mode for Windows 7 is a post from: TechieQuest

With Windows Access Panel, you can easily access programs you use everyday to the program you probably never knew existed, and change settings of nearly everything on your Windows from one window. It is a useful tool for the novice.

Windows Access Panel groups Windows built-in programs into 2 tabs: basic and advanced. The Basic tab links commonly used apps like the Disk Cleanup, Disk Defragmenter, Registry Editor, Uninstall Programs, System Restore and Firewall, while the Advanced tab links less commonly used programs like Memory Diagnostics, DirectX Diagnostics, Remote Assistance, Synchronization Manager and Task Scheduler.

Windows Access Panel is compatible with Windows 7 & Windows Vista. It can be downloaded and used as a portable application. Place it in your Programs Files and Pin its shortcut to your Start menu and you are all set to a faster way of accessing  the “hidden” Windows system utilities.

Download Windows Access Panel

Windows Access Panel for Windows 7 & Vista – Instant Access to Windows Utilities is a post from: TechieQuest

There are ways to pin the “Show Desktop” icon in your taskbar, but required some skills. Show Desktop is free tool that provides you the easiest way to create the Show Desktop in the taskbar.

Just Download Show Desktop and double-click to install the program. Then drag the “Show desktop” icon to the taskbar, that’s all.

Restore Show Desktop Icon in Windows 7 is a post from: TechieQuest

With Paragon ExtBrowser, you can work with a Linux native file system using Windows. Just plug in your hard disk with ExtFS partitions to your PC via eSATA or USB-to-SATA and you can instantly modify files on Linux partition without installing special drivers.

Paragon ExtBrowser Key Features:

• Easy to install
• Fast and transparent access to Ext2FS/Ext3FS under Windows
• Special unmapped folder in My Computer (Explorer) to open ExtFS partitions, where you can read, write, modify, create, delete files and folders under Windows.
• Better stability with less risk to your system because there is no need to install a separate kernel mode driver
• Import/Export files and folders from/to ExtFS partitions. For example, if the hard drive is taken from NAS storage and you need to open a Linux partition and copy from it or place a new file there, ExtBrowser eliminates the need to install the hard drive or configure it for network access. Simply connect a hard drive via the eSATA connector or USB-to-SATA adapter to the PC and access your files
• Open documents and multimedia directly from ExtFS partitions. If you want to watch movies or open large documents contained on a Linux partition, simply connect the drive directly to the PC to get instant access

Download Paragon ExtBrowser here. It works with Windows 7, Vista and XP.

Paragon ExtBrowser – Enable Accessing Your Linux Partitions From Windows is a post from: TechieQuest

This program is written in c# with firebird database as persister media (for history of used images). The downloaded images are saved on Images folder, inside of the running folder of this application.

Bing on Desktop requires NET framework 2.0 to work and is compatible with Windows 2000, XP, Vista and 7.

Download Bing on Desktop

Bing on Desktop – Set Bing Background Images on Desktop is a post from: TechieQuest

In the most recent report on malware removal test, Microsoft Security Essentials achieved 98% detection rate for 545k malware samples including viruses, bots, trojan horses, backdoors and Internet worms, also achieving 90.95% detection rate for 14,222 adware/spyware samples it was tested against. It is the only free antivirus rated Advanced+, alongside with eScan, Symantec, Bitdefender, Kaspersky, and F-Secure. Microsoft Security Essentials scored good in removal of malware and removal of leftovers, beat out other free competitors like AVG, Avira, and Avast.

Download Microsoft Security Essentials

It works on Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7.

Microsoft Security Essentials Scores High in Malware Removal Tests is a post from: TechieQuest

DesktopInfo is compatible with Windows operating systems including Windows XP, Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista and Windows 7. You can download DesktopInfo from here. You just need to unzip and run the application. It appears with transparent text on your desktop wallpaper and uses very little memory.

DesktopInfo Displays System Information on the Desktop is a post from: TechieQuest

Microsoft Security Essentials is a free download from Microsoft as long as you have a genuine Windows running on your computer. It is easy to use and always kept up to date so you can be assured your PC is protected by the latest technology. It’s easy to tell if your PC is secure — when you’re green, you’re good. It’s that simple.

Microsoft Security Essentials runs quietly and efficiently in the background so that you are free to use your Windows-based PC the way you want—without interruptions or long computer wait times. It will alert you if there’s something you need to do.

Microsoft Security Essentials Features:

• Comprehensive malware protection
• Simple, free download*
• Automatic updates
• Easy to use

Download Microsoft Security Essentials

It works on Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7.

Microsoft Security Essentials – Microsoft’s Free Anti Virus is a post from: TechieQuest