There are several virtualization programs - including free options - that   
   don't have the same hardware requirements... you might look at the free   
   VirtualBox, VMWare Player, or even Microsoft's Virtual PC. (http   
   //www.microsoft.com/en-ca/download/details.aspx?id=3702)   
      
   Note that for any sort of virtualization, you need a lot of RAM - enough for   
   the 'guest' operating system (in your case Windows XP) plus enough to keep the   
   'host' operating system running happily.   
      
   Figure 4 GB or more. (More is better!)   
      
   On 12/29/2013, 12:28 AM, Daryl Stout -> All wrote:   
    DS> Between my Mom and myself, we have 5 computers, as follows:   
      
    DS> 1) My Mom's desktop, Windows XP Professional, SP 3   
    DS> 2) My 2 desktops, Windows XP Professional, SP3   
    DS> 3) My 2 laptops, one with Windows XP Professional, SP3,   
    DS>     and the other with Windows Vista (the latter snagged   
    DS>     at a ham radio flea market for $100, when the first   
    DS>     laptop supposedly died (it runs on AC only now).   
      
    DS> The problem that we have is that NONE of the computers   
    DS> have the BIOS or motherboard to run Virtual Mode of   
    DS> Windows XP under Windows 7. Plus, both of us are disabled,   
    DS> and on a fixed income. So, we can't afford to throw out   
    DS> perfectly good and working hardware and software, just to   
    DS> satisfy Microsoft's corporate greed.   
      
    DS> My main concern is with my BBS...I could possibly run   
    DS> Windows 7 Home Premium, 32-bit, on all the systems...but   
    DS> the 32-bit system is the most important...as my BBS   
    DS> software and all other programs would quit working if I   
    DS> had to go with the 64-bit system. I also do several ham   
    DS> radio applications, which I know will run 32-bit, but not   
    DS> 64-bit.   
      
    DS> If I was able to procure/purchase Windows 7 Home Premium   
    DS> 32-bit on Amazon, would that require a BIOS/motherboard   
    DS> upgrade beforehand?? And, would what is currently running   
    DS> under Windows XP as 32-bit still run under the 32-bit of   
    DS> Windows 7 (not using Virtual XP Mode)??   
      
    DS> The BBS, and ham radio applications are the last two   
    DS> hobbies that I have left, due to declining health, and   
    DS> I refuse to give those up just to satisfy Microsoft's   
    DS> corporate greed.   
      
    DS> Any comments would be greatly appreciated.   
      
    DS> Daryl Stout, Sysop   
    DS> The Thunderbolt BBS   
    DS> Little Rock, Arkansas   
      
    DS> .. The Thunderbolt BBS, Little Rock, AR   wx1der.dyndns.org   
    DS> --- MultiMail/Win32 v0.49   
      
    DS> --- Virtual Advanced Ver 2 for DOS   
    DS>   * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS (1:19/33)   
      
   --- Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; Intel Mac OS X 10.9; rv:24.0) Gecko/20100101 Thunde   
    * Origin: Fidonet Via Newsreader - http://www.easternstar.info (1:123/789.0)