Windows 8 and IIS

Currently I run W7 Pro in my PCs. The reasons I chose Pro include the ability to run XP mode, and the ability to create a local Web Site test environment.

I also occasionally use TeamViewer to connect to other people's PCs to help diagnose problems.

So I run IIS 7.5 on my PCs. In reality now I no longer need XP mode.

Would 'basic' Windows 8 give me the ability to do these things, or do I need to go Windows 8 Pro?

Also my desktop and laptop - both running W7 Pro - network and share folders, etc. I assume that I don't need the Can join a Windows domain feature in W8 Pro to do this - I hope!

You only need join domain feature if you are running a full Windows Server with Active Directory logins - and it sounds like you aren't.

Teamviewer should work on either version.

You should also be able to install IIS on either version.

Haven't checked out XP Mode but if you no longer need it then no longer relevant (although I suspect it isn't in Win 8 and won't be in later versions of Windows as Win XP is going out of support in April).

EDIT : Have now checked and win xp mode is not in win 8. You could most likely do it running VMWare or Hyper-V but to do it properly would cost (and you wouldn't have a legal license for XP on the machine unless you can find somewhere to buy it from or possibly under MSDN type licensing). More information including how to use Client Hyper-V here

Edited by ian72 (Tue 14-Jan-14 11:17:06)

This covers installing IIs in Win 8 http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2819022

And this covers running Win XP in Win 8 for free http://lifehacker.com/5965889/how-to-run-windows-xp-...

It may be free but I suspect it may not be legal. It is a workaround to bypass the license requirements not a legal license.

Out of interest, as I still have a full XP licence from a long dead machine, does that count?

It will need a valid license. It's not a workaround to bypass the license requirements as far as I can see.

Agreed, but as I have a licence, is that valid in this case?

As long as it's not an OEM licence.

In reply to a post by cheshire_man:

Agreed, but as I have a licence, is that valid in this case?

As AEP says, if it is a full license and not OEM then you can use that. Fire up a Hyper-V client machine, install XP and activate it with the license key from a full original license.

but, I thought you said you didn't need it anymore anyway?

Indeed, it's full retail