Getting Spartan 2004 (Windows) to Run on Win7:

It took some doing but I’ve got Spartan running on the Win7 PC at home – here’s how to get it to run using Win7 and WinXPMode.

Why do this? A single license of Spartan is $1200, not really something we can afford to replace regularly. Also, the older version does just fine for what we need, the new versions do not offer significant improvement in capabilities. Spartan 2004 meets my current needs.

Do I need Windows XP Mode?

Windows 7 has several built-in tools to help with program compatibility and Windows XP programs should be installed directly on Windows 7. Windows XP Mode runs many older Windows XP productivity programs and that are not natively compatible with Windows 7, thus helping realize cost savings and reduce possible operational downtime by extending the life of existing software. Visit the Windows 7 Compatibility Center to find software that works with Windows 7.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx

Installation Process:

Install WinXP Mode on Windows 7. Go to this web site: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx, choose the version of Windows 7 (and language). Then download and install Windows XP Mode.
Next download and install windows Virtual PC. I believe this requires a reboot.
At this point, it will probably offer to run Windows XP mode. If it does not work, web lore indicates trying to reinstall Windows XP Mode (the first program installed).

At home this didn’t work for me – it turns out I have an AMD Black processor (only 6-cores!) which needs a special patch from Microsoft:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2519949.

Once this was installed, I reinstalled Windows XP mode and it just worked.
Run Windows XP Mode (Start, All Programs, Windows Virtual PC, Windows XP Mode
Plug in the USB HASP (Spartan’s copy protection dongle) then activate it within Windows XP Mode using the USB menu at the top of the virtual machine.

If Windows XP trys to automatically install drivers, let it do its thing. Should just work. If it doesn’t find a driver online, Spartan 2004 has a driver in its installation process.
Installing Spartan depends on how the software is loaded into the machine. If a CD is loaded, it might just work from there. However, if the drive is shared with the main Windows 7, you may get this message:

The problem is that the software cannot be shared between the virtual and real operating system. The following steps will work around this.
First, explore to the folder within Windows XP Mode. This will most likely be a shared volume.
Go to the Tools menu then Folder Options and then choose the View tab. For Hidden Files & Folders, choose the option to show them:
Now select all files in the Spartan 2004 installation CD and copy them.
Within Windows XP Mode, go to the C drive and make a new folder for the Spartan Install files. Paste the files into that folder. Note that this is not the C drive on your computer but a virtual one created for the Windows XP mode session.
Now run the installer, should just work.
Test the program, make sure it finds the license key.
Note: Often programs in WinXP mode can be run from a link in the start menu, without launching a full virtual PC window. Spartan needs the USB dongle enabled so just running that link doesn’t seem to work. Simply launch the full virtual PC then run Spartan. You can create a shortcut on the desktop in the virtual PC.

(Direct link doesn’t seem to work.)