Ideate 2011 Migration Tips - OS, Virtual PC, XP Mode

Are you on Subscription, ready to download 2011, or considering a move to the new release? Ideate's Technical Support team has put together the key things you need to know - answers to frequently asked questions about migrating to Autodesk 2011 products, including hardware recommendations and network considerations.

Operating System (OS) Recommendations per Product and Software Version

Selecting the right OS is an important decision. Autodesk subscription holders have the right to install and run older versions of the software in addition to the most recent version.

Bear in mind that newer operating systems, such as Windows 7, while more efficient in many ways, may not support the installation of older versions of Autodesk software, printers, or other programs. If you are considering Win 7 64-bit you need to learn about Virtual PC - see below.

Ideate believes that Win 7 64-bit will earn our "Preferred" status for all of the Autodesk 2011 products but we have not yet completed our testing.

What You Need to Know About Virtual PC and XP Mode

Windows XP Mode for Windows 7 makes it easy to install and run many Windows XP productivity applications directly from your Windows 7-based PC. It utilizes virtualization technology, such as Windows Virtual PC, to provide a virtual Windows XP environment for Windows 7.

Please note that not all hardware is going to support XP Mode in windows 7. Only CPUs w/ Hardware Virtualization Technology will be able to run the XP Mode. Microsoft provides a tool that lets you scan your system to see if it will support Virtualization/ WinXP Mode.

Ideate customers with Autodesk Subscription or Ideate Premium Support should not hesitate to contact Ideate Support with questions regarding support for older version. Ideate also provides migration consulting - contact your Ideate Account Manager for more information.

Visit the Ideate 2011 Portal for everything you need to know about Autodesk's newest software products.