Chapter 2 Operating Systems 55
monitor. Microsoft discontinued support for
gadgets in 2012 because of security problems, and
it no longer provides gadgets as a download from
the Microsoft website.
XP Mode
Introduced in Windows 7 is XP Mode.
XP Mode is not installed by default during the
operating system installation. It is installed from
a free download from the Microsoft website. The
download is actually two separate downloads.
The first is Windows Virtual PC. When it is
downloaded, the software is installed and a
virtual machine automatically configured. The
second is XP Mode, a full version of Windows XP.
This software is installed on the virtual machine.
After XP Mode is installed and configured,
you can install software programs and
applications that run under the Windows XP
operating system onto the virtual machine. This is
not a dual-boot system but rather Windows XP is
running simultaneously as Windows 7 is running.
Dual-boot systems and virtual machines are
covered later in this chapter.
The screen capture in Figure 2-22 shows
Windows 7 running Microsoft Word while
Windows XP Mode is running. The Windows XP
My Documents
folder is opened. Files can be copied
between the Windows XP Mode program and
the Windows 7 programs. XP Mode allows you to
successfully run a software program designed for
the Windows XP environment. XP Mode is only
available in Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate,
and Enterprise editions.
Libraries
Libraries are new in Windows 7 and differ
from the
My Documents
and
Documents
folders
in Windows XP and Windows Vista. A library
is a virtual container of user content, such as
documents, music, and pictures. It is a virtual
container because the content included in a library
can be located on the local computer, remote
locations such as network shares, and on exterior
storage devices. Libraries serve as a pointer to
content. The idea is to have one central virtual
storage location for the user.
There are four default folders in a library:
Documents, Music, Pictures, and Videos. See
Figure 2-23. Libraries are not the only way folders
can be organized on a Windows 7 computer. The
Public
folders, which were first introduced in
Windows Vista, can also be used.
Gadgets
Figure 2-21.
Windows Vista
Business Edition
desktop. Note the
gadgets on the right
side of the desktop.