Import Windows XP Mode of Microsoft on Hyper-V on Windows Server 2016 and 2012

4. XP mode mini install

Start your virtual machine.

The Windows XP loading logo appears.

A small "Installation of Windows XP" window appears.
Indeed, this is due to Microsoft's use of sysprep and the "mini install" OOBE mode they have chosen.

Accept the Windows XP License Agreement.

Note : the mouse doesn't work during this installation of Windows XP.
You will therefore have to use the keyboard and in particular the keys :

TAB and sometimes also the arrows : to move from one element to another.
Space bar : to check or uncheck a box.
arrows : to choose a value from a list or sometimes to move from one element to another in the same section.
Enter : to press a button.
Esc : to close the add hardware windows that you will see after installing Windows XP.

Configure regional and language options using the "Customize" button to choose the right keyboard layout.
For example : French (France) or French (Belgium).

Provide a NETBIOS name for your virtual machine, as well as a password for the Windows XP Administrator account.
By default, the Administrator account will be used. So, don't forget the password you specify here.

Wait while configuring Windows XP.

The Windows XP loading logo reappears.

Disable Windows XP automatic updates to prevent Windows Update from attempting to connect to Microsoft servers.
Indeed, Windows XP is so old that Windows Update will not be able to connect to Microsoft's servers anyway.

5. Uninstall old drivers used by Virtual PC

Since this XP mode was supposed to be used only from Virtual PC, components and drivers related to Virtual PC were preinstalled in it by Microsoft.
This will prevent you from installing the integration services available on Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2 by default.

If you try to install them, this error message will appear :

Plain Text

Before installing Hyper-V Integration Services, any existing virtual machines added for Virtual PC or Virtual Server must be removed. Use the Add/Remove Programs application in Control Panel to remove virtual machine additions before proceeding.

This error message is not clear, but in reality, it's the Virtual PC integration components that this installer detects.

To solve the problem, open the start menu and open the control panel.

Go to : Add or Remove Programs.

Remove the "Virtual PC Integration Components" program.

Answer "Yes" to the question "Are you sure you want to remove Virtual PC Integration Components from your computer?".

Wait while the Virtual PC Integration Components are removed.

Once the Virtual PC Integration Components are uninstalled, you will need to restart your virtual machine.
Click Yes.

Wait while your virtual machine restarts.

Note : on the English version, the account is "Administrator".