Adding ipx/spx protocol to Windows 7?

[Apologies in advance if there is already a thread on this topic that I missed when using the search engine!]

Okay ... in Windows XP under the properties for a network adapter you had the option to install extra types of protocols. I am focusing on two in particular in this thread - both of them install at the same time:

NWLink NetBIOS
NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS Compatible Transport Protocol

I have heard it mentioned that with the advent of the Vista OS MS did away with this protocol package, and that this continued in the Windows 7 OS.

However, there are still some people who have these newer OS's that require the above mentioned protocols....

Most often I have seen the requests either in the context of a specific game to function

Examples:

Windows 7 IPX - Windows 7

How to install IPX on Windows 7 - Operating Systems

or with trying to network a couple of machines that have both the XP OS and Windows Vista/7.

Examples:

http://social.answers.microsoft.com...g/thread/c20759e6-d698-44e9-8f01-b182aa91dad4 (Windows 7 example answered by a MS engineer that seemed to be unsuccessful).

IPX/SPX protocol under Windows Vista (Vista answer mentioning an apparently free (?) ipx protocol developed by a third party (?) that is available somewhere and might (?) work.

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To set up some parameters for an answer. I am interested in possible solutions to the specific problem of adding the protocol as opposed to "just re-do your network setup and don't go down that avenue" if possible.

So - is there a way to successfully add the NWLink protocols mentioned above to Windows Vista/7?

 

What is the purpose of running the ipx/spx protocol?

 

In my case it is sample two above ... making a Windows 7 machine connect to some Windows XP machines that are all using the NWLink protocols I mentioned. I want to try and make the Windows 7 machine adjust to the existing network, not rebuild a network over again or make the XP machines conform to the Windows 7 machine.

 

Don't think it's possible to add NWlink protocol to W7 doubt it will ever be supported. You can use the Windows XP Mode in W7 if you want to just run a specific application over ipx but that's just about it.

 

I think it would be easier to use IP than to try to use ipx/spx on windows 7. Not that hard to change really unless you have programs that have to have ipx/spx to run.

How many computers are running on this network that use ipx/spx?

At some point in the future you will have to change anyway.

 

You could try this (supposed to work with Windows 7):

How to install IPX/SPX protocol in Vista to handle online game connection problem? - Computer Care Center Tech Forum

 

I was hoping to avoid having to do this if possible ... at present it seems the only option.

Ah ha! I will try this. Thanks.

 

Good luck.