Run XP mode applications from Windows 7

To run XP mode applications directly from Windows 7 start menu, you'll need:

• Integration features enabled on the XP mode virtual machine
• Auto-publish enabled on the XP mode VM
• The application must not be listed under the HLKM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Virtual Machine\VPCVAppExcludeList entry inside the XP mode VM registry

Then, after you install an application on the XP mode VM (may require restart) you should see it listed under 7's start menu under Windows Virtual PC\Windows XP Mode Applications.

If the application takes forever to load, you may try starting the XP mode VM, then hibernating it. Now start the application from 7 and when asked to restart the XP mode VM choose continue.

Further info on:

technet.microsoft.com
blogs.technet.com