Microchip MPLAB ICD 3, for XP and Vista?!

[andersjm]

I just bought the "MPLAB ICD 3" in-circuit debugger from Microchip.

I'm quite amazed at the fact that the box states that Windows XP and Windows Vista are supported, but doesn't mention Windows 7 or Windows 8.

End of mainstream support for XP and Vista respectively was 2009 and 2012. Even Windows 7 is no longer sold on new computers.

I believe the product does actually work with Windows 7 though.

Is it too expensive to update the packaging, or does Microchip consider the ICD3 to be obsolete?

[deephaven]

My ICD3 works fine on XP, Windows 7 (MPLAB 8.92) and Windows 8 (MPLAB X)

[andersm]

The most up-to-date system requirements are listed in the MPLAB X release notes.

[Chris C]

Should there come a time in the future when a new version of Windows obsoletes USB hardware still useful to you, you should still be able to run it in any virtual machine emulator that allows connection of arbitrary USB devices directly to the VM.  I use Oracle VirtualBox, but there are others.  Although not yet necessary, I've verified the PICkit3 works in this configuration.  Using a VM, I still use another piece of hardware which hasn't officially worked since Windows 2000.

[hans]

I do all my embedded development in a Linux box so I can switch host OS (W7 or another Linux box).
Passing through USB devices has always worked for me with Virtualbox. I use it for PICKIT2, PICKIT3, ST Link, J-Link, etc.

So I wouldn't worry that W7 is not listed. As far as I know the biggest differences would be between XP and Vista driver model, but as they are both listed I am not worried W7 would work.
W8 may be a different, because it has had quite some changes on how strict it is with unsigned drivers. As long as they are signed it should just install I think (however I do not run/use W8 myself).

[andersjm]

Thanks for all replies!

I use linux exclusively, and I believe this will work (haven't had time to try yet). The text makes me think the box design is at least 5 years old, which had me worried that the ICD 3 is obsolete.

But I take it the there are no indications that Microchip consider the ICD 3 obsolete then?

[BloodyCactus]

icd3 is current and works perfectly fine with mplabx under linux. I use it all the time with linux every day. I do have an adapter from rj11 to straight 6 pin icsp because the rj11 is pants.