Several versions are available make sure you download the right one for Windows, listed as VirtualBox 5.1.4 for Windows hosts x86/amd64.Īfter downloading, launch the setup file, then follow the on-screen instructions for installing VirtualBox. Download and Setup Oracle VirtualBoxīefore you begin installing Windows, you need to obtain Oracle VirtualBox, which you can download for free from the official page. Websites such as, eBay, or checking your local flea market or garage sale might help you score that older version of Windows you need to run your application. There might be a challenge finding an older release to run your application for those who don’t. If you like to keep around old copies of software like me for nostalgia purposes, you must select the ISO image manually to go. Since that is the version users will need, they will also need to find a way to procure it. Settling on VirtualBox is one thing, but what about the version of Windows you will use for your legacy application? Most applications users need to run were likely designed within the last 15 years for Windows XP. Determining the version of Windows for Application Compatibility Oracle VirtualBox, on the other hand, is small, quick, and easy to set up.

Hyper-V, while powerful, is quite involved. Hyper-V is an available option for users running Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise editions. There are many options available, but I have narrowed this down to Oracle VirtualBox, which includes cross-platform support and works on Windows 10 Home and Pro. Virtualization too can help users committed to Windows 10 bring their legacy investments forward. We have covered virtualization in the past to test out Windows 10 itself or even use it for compatibility on platforms such as the Mac. Reason for a VMįor users who need to run that exotic application but need to invest in the future, there is a reasonable solution in virtualization. In some cases, developers either have gone out of business or refuse to support an older release.

Some applications have fallen by the wayside, or newer versions don’t meet the expectations of older releases. As a result, Windows 10 itself breaks a lot from the past, but there is more to this problem. Unfortunately, older applications tend not to be receptive to these changes. Some of these improvements include User Account Control, Patch Guard, Device Driver Signing, Secure Boot, and Address Space Randomization Layout. Over the past 10 years, Microsoft has refined Windows to resist attacks that were notorious during the Windows XP era.

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