You can always buy a plug in IR reader cheap. Thats what I use on my PC and it has XP.

http://www.provantage.com/q-stor-qiru2~7QPSE047.htm

I wish they would just list the specs for what the IR should be capable of along with the OS.

Ah well. By the end of this, hopefully this thread will help some other folks too.

http://www.vavolo.com/productdetails.asp?productID=1741

I like the cable idea. Easier to position the watch.

I hope this helps others. I sure didn't figure this out easily for some reason.

The S625x can download through the built-in IR port of my Dell Inspiron 600m.

Check in Options → Preferences → Hardware that you have the correct IR
Communication Port.
(IrDA in my case)

The IR Communication Port →
USB option is reserved only for the Polar IR interface for USB port device.

TO TRANSFER DATA
1. Press the lower right button of your Polar product to enter Connect mode.
Do not press any other button.
(When using AXN 500/700, press the start button once, and then the lower
right button enter Connect mode.
Do not press any other button.)

2. Face the Polar product to the IrDA device/internal IrDA port.
The less angle and shorter distance the better it works.

You should have this an IR looking icon in
the system tray (bottom right of your computer display) to indicate that you have established connection with the computer.

If you have an internal IrDA port, please see that the Polar product and the laptop infrared windows are parallel to each other. You may help this by bringing the laptop closer to the edge of the table, for instance.

3. To transfer data, you can either choose to a) synchronize exercise data between the Polar product and the Polar ProTrainer or b) edit settings in the software and then transfer them to the product.
a) To synchronize exercise and/or training plan data, click the watch icon with the arrows in a circle pattern.

- A Software Preferences window appears (unless you have chosen not to show
it at transfer start-up).
Click OK.

If you are uncertain on whether your Polar product can receive a training program created in the ProTrainer 5, please check the Polar product user manual or the produce page at polar.fi.

- A transfer window indicates that connection is established.
(shows watch/computer and a progress bar)

- Once the transfer is complete you will find your exercises on the
appropriate dates in the Calendar. A date that has exercises you have not yet analyzed (you have not entered the Training Diary view on this date) has a colored corner.

b) To edit settings, click the icon of a watch with a cog/sprocket in front of it.

When editing settings, Infrared Connection window appears and the settings data located on your Polar product will automatically be read to the software.
Window "connecting to Wrist Unit"

In the Polar product settings window, select Exercise Files to get the list of exercises currently on your Polar product.

Go to the settings you want to edit and click the transfer button in the bottom right corner to transfer the edited settings to
the Polar product.
"Transfer button is the watch in the bottom right corner"

The settings, and therefore the various settings dialogs, vary according to features available in the Polar product.