Re: Dreadful?
Yes, I have several XP VMs on Linux. One is an image of my 2002 to 2016 Laptop, only re-installed once in late May 2002. It looks more like NT4.0/Win9x/Win2K than the default XP. Even Win7 (aka Vista SP2) could be decently customised. Win10 is like Win 2.x on Hercules. Or a bad version of Android with windows.
The imaging tool is an MS download to allow compatibility on Win10 by putting a VM of your oldd Windows. Free on MS Website
See https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/disk2vhd
It actually has three checkboxes, not two. You need to check "For VM" (or something, it's the extra check) and uncheck "Shadow volume"
Works as long as the Windows isn't using EFI boot. I think even if PC is UEFI, if the install used BIOS mode the VM will work.
Might work for Vista and Win7?
Office needs reactivated. But that's a free phone call and a robot with no awkward questions.
I used an subdirectory on an external 1T USB HDD and it runs faster than original. I used the Mint distro VM and installed the Guest Tools (which basically add sound, network, graphics and USB drivers).
Real serial port SW on the XP VM works with a USB serial adaptor on Linux, mapped. Even a Sony USB Web cam unsupported by Linux works. Sadly no way to add the PCMCIA peripherals such as an Adaptec 1460, nor I have I found a solution for Firewire.
Having SCSI on anything other than a desktop with real full PCI slots now seems impossible. Supposed Firewire - USB adaptors like a plug seem to be for stuff that actually really also has USB in it? I can't see how they can work with a DV camera.