Need XP for an Old CAD/CNC Prog>Could VM Do This?

Geekomatic on 28/05/2018 - 22:30

Hey everyone,

So, I've had a request to have a look at an older XP system that this fella used for his CAD/CNC prog's. I have an idea (based on his descript) the PSU may be failing.

It's the Abit A-N68SV . I might have some RAM pulls & a PCI GPU, but I honestly don't want to do this if a VM, on a newer PC would be better.

I guess I'm worried that the VM's hardware might be even less than the physical (lame as it may be).

Opinions?

Thanks, peeps!

PS: some drama (& I get this a lot helping pensioners)- the guy packed this unit away when his wife had a major stroke, just before she passed away. I think it's a connection for him to a better time. Hard for me to gage right now, but if it is, then keeping it going might mean more than not… :( …sigh.

Computing Virtual Machine

Comments

  • scrimshaw on 28/05/2018 - 23:25
    +1

    You could buy a Sandy Bridge Dell desktop off eBay.

    When you're talking about Windows XP, Microsoft pulled the plug on it around 2014, but while it was supported a lot of companies still maintained long term driver support for business users (for Dell, that's the Optiplex line).

    For example the Dell Optiplex 790 and the Dell Optiplex 990 still has XP drivers hosted on the Dell servers.

    These machines were from the mid 2012 to 2013 era and are not too old, and usually configured with a fairy strong Core i5 2400 or a Core i7 2600

    Deals on the Optiplex 990 https://www.ozbargain.com.au/product/dell-optiplex-990

    As for reviving the old PC, old motherboards can suffer from capacitor issues and a whole host of other problems that would require some skilled electronics enthusiast to fix (cough* Louis Rossman). If the outward looks of the machine is important, I recommend turning it into a sleeper build PC (keep the old dusty case but throw in some modern components into it).

  • blitz on 28/05/2018 - 23:46

    I had to run some old analysis software via an XP VM last year. Unless it's appropriately integrated into the workflow, having a separate environment when it's not strictly needed gets old real fast.

  • No Username on 29/05/2018 - 00:02

    I wouldn't run VM XP on machinery equipment due to Performance Issue, Reliability Issues, and Driver Functionality issues.
    If you had to run it from a VM I would use EXSI.

  • ShannonN on 29/05/2018 - 09:31

    Can the programs be run on win 10 in XP compatibility mode? if so put a new mobo, PSU etc in the sentimental case. Upgrade to SSD and better GPU and turn off tablet mode etc. Then add startisback to get the look and feel of genuine XP menu system?

    Or am I missing what you actually want to achieve here?

    • Geekomatic on 29/05/2018 - 17:31

      See reply to greenpossum.

      Cheers

  • retiredfeline on 29/05/2018 - 09:36

    I run XP in a VM to use my scanner. The USB forwarding in VirtualBox works a treat.

    What sort of CAD/CNC software? If only user interaction, and no time deadlines due to driving hardware, then no problem. If you need to control machinery, then be wary. You might also need the serial/parallel port emulation in the VM host.

    • Geekomatic on 29/05/2018 - 17:29
      +1

      Yeah, the guy is planning to control machinery.

      He's actually building a CNC, woodworking machine!

      I'm trying to determine if it's worth investing $$$ in an old rig to keep it running (new PSU/more RAM, etc).

      He would have access to a local recycled PC group and could likely get a newer unit for about $100-150. It would have ten on it, but I guess I could format & put XP on it. That being said, you're right about the serial/parallel ports— which I hadn't thought about (been a long time!).

      Thanks for your feedback. I'll have to get more details from him to proceed. I'll try to remember to post back the outcome.

      • retiredfeline on 29/05/2018 - 18:22

        The question is how realtime is it really? Maybe it's just downloading instructions to the machinery before it fires up. Or perhaps there are handshakes so that a pause just slows down the work but doesn't cause underrun. A true hard deadline system wouldn't use XP in the first place, they would use a RTOS.

        Investigate.

  • trinkasharma on 29/05/2018 - 09:56

    Your motherboard was released in 2004. It is a really old board and with hardware being so much faster now, the performance hit of a VM should not be a concern.

    We run pretty much everything in a VM here. And before in my jobs with larger companies, everyone ran everything in VMs. Clouds like Azure/AWS are all in VMs

    Also, Windows 2003 is code compatible with windows XP, so you may try that as it was supported much later than XP nad has some extra patches.

    • alvian on 29/05/2018 - 22:03

      How will this pensioner source a Windows Server 2003 licence?

      • trinkasharma on 04/06/2018 - 14:43

        The same way he is getting the XP licence. If the XP licence is for a laptop then it can be used only for that laptop. Cannot be used in another laptop/desktop/VM.

        • alvian on 04/06/2018 - 14:45

          XP retail licences are perpetual and transferable. What you are referring to is an XP OEM nontransferable licence.

          Are you suggesting this pensioner find a retail WS2003 licence, find a server with an OEM WS2003, or to pirate it?

  • poohduck on 29/05/2018 - 12:45

    I used to think xp was faster on older computers (well it is), but then I tried light versions of linux and woohoo! I've heard wine mentioned a fair bit, personally I don't like vm. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wine_(software)

  • alvian on 29/05/2018 - 22:01

    Another option is Windows XP mode which runs on Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate and Enterprise (but not Home). This uses technology from MS Virtual PC. Free download from Microsoft here.

  • Geekomatic on 03/06/2018 - 15:06

    I cleaned up the PC. I think the issue was a failing power board, not a bad PSU because it ran fine here.

    This fella is actually building the CNC machine himself! He's a woodworker and wants to have the experience of setting the thing up himself. Impressive.

    Now, the only niggling issue is that the Abit doesn't have a parallel port. So, he's going to leave that one and go with a similar era Dell laptop, adding in an express card slot-parallel port card for the machine.

    Thanks everyone!

    • alvian on 04/06/2018 - 01:46

      Can't he use an USB to parallel port adapter, or a PCI parallel card?

    • retiredfeline on 04/06/2018 - 10:49

      If you have spare time see if you can grab a VM image of his setup for a VM later if his laptop dies. That's one of the boons of a VM, if it goes pear shaped, just go back to a snapshot and carry on.

  • pcbugfixer on 07/06/2018 - 10:04

    G'day Folks,

    There is nothing wrong with running XP in a VM environment. As it stands some years ago when we had Windows 7 (I had W7 Ultimate) in which, due to the kerfuffle about Application Software not being compatible) Microsoft gave us the ability to load and run a Virtual Windows XP.

    I have been using it for the very purpose of installing older software that will not run on any newer than XP operating systems. (this is only one option at my disposal)

    Given all the scare mongering about Microsoft not supporting older OS's (Operating Systems) and telling you that the older OS';s are no longer secure and are at risk from virus and hacker attacks, well so much for that.

    As it stands, I have and still use and old IBM (with a massive 20MB Hard Drive, 2 x 1.44 floppy disks, etc., running windows for Workgroups 3.1 on the DOS 6.22
    Then there are my Windows for Workgroups 3.11 (System 01)/ my Windows 95b on a multi boot structure that also loads Windows 2000 SP4 and Windows ME (System 02) / Windows XP Pro SP3 also on a multi boot structure that loads Win Server 2003 and Win & Ultimate.(System 03) / another XP multi boot with Vista Ultimate and again Win 7 Ultimate (System 04) / then System 00 a Xeon CPU workstation that has Win 8.1 and Win 7 Ultimate that has the XP VM installed on it. / etc., etcetera.

    For those OS's that are not supported, mind you I kept them up to date with all their Windows Updates to the very end and had downloaded most if not all updates, when I boot them up my LAN structure maps all of them and on my newer OS's I have network scan ability to scan the older systems for viruses and the have AutoPatcher Updates for XP, Vist and W7 and W8.1, so I am not worried about Microsoft not supporting any of their OS's because it boils down to "How well you adopted preventative measures and prepared for the future"

    OK, so much for the rave and I wont bore you with my other OS installations or my servers in DE and the USA.

    If you look and search the internet its surprising what you can find in the way of older OS software with license keys that are legitimate. Note hat I installed a Win95C just to see if Microsoft still loaded updates on it and then my embedded XP Pro SP3 still gets updates, so what do you make of that ?

    I posted this so that you are aware of the possibilities and to stop all the Bull ShiFt about scare mongers that would have you believe their humbug.
    As for Virtual Machines start here https://azure.microsoft.com/en-au/services/virtual-machines/…

    In the mean time, Happy Computing and be kind to your Mother-In-Law ☺☺☺

    Regards
    Roger H. / PC-Bug Fixer

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