Virtual PC... 1

[Neil Toulouse]

Hi guys!

Can I just confirm I understand this correctly...

You cannot run "MS Virtual PC" on a Windows 7 machine. You have to download and use "XP mode", which is then only available to Windows 7 Professional (and upwards)?

Does the "XP Mode" work in the same way as "Virtual PC", as in, it is 'seen' as a separate machine?

I am just wondering whether it is worth upgrading my Home Premium Windows 7 or not.

I am currently using Sun's Virtual Box which works a treat but am having a couple of issues with a USB driver of an old device I want to use, and I wanted to see if Virtual PC handled it differently.

Thanks
Neil

I like work. It fascinates me. I can sit and look at it for hours...

 

[BadBigBen]

You cannot run "MS Virtual PC" on a Windows 7 machine.

Description of Windows Virtual PC:

Windows Virtual PC is the latest Microsoft virtualization technology. It lets you run many productivity applications in a virtual Windows environment, with a single click, directly from a Windows 7-based computer.

Supported host operating systems

    * Windows 7 Home Basic
    * Windows 7 Home Premium
    * Windows 7 Enterprise
    * Windows 7 Professional
    * Windows 7 Ultimate

Supported guest operating systems

    * Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) Professional
    * Windows Vista Enterprise Service Pack 1 (SP1) and later versions
    * Windows Vista Ultimate Service Pack 1 (SP1) and later versions
    * Windows Vista Business Service Pack 1 (SP1) and later versions *
    * Windows 7 Professional *
    * Windows 7 Enterprise.
    * Windows 7 Ultimate

*Note Virtual applications are not supported on Windows Vista Business or on Windows 7 Professional. All other features of Windows Virtual PC are supported on these two guest systems.

You have to download and use "XP mode", which is then only available to Windows 7 Professional (and upwards)?

You could, as it is FREE to Pro, Enterprise, and Ultimate...

but you do not have too, if you already have a licensed retail version of XP...

System requirements

System requirements for Windows Virtual PC:

* 1+ GHz processor (32- or 64-bit)
o AMD-V or Intel VT hardware virtualization must be supported and enabled
* 1.25 GB memory required (2 GB recommended)
* Additional 15 GB of hard disk space per virtual Windows environment recommended


More info:

Windows Virtual PC

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Virtual_PC

Description of Windows Virtual PC

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/958559

Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[Neil Toulouse]

Thanks Ben!

I got my info from here (which is where you end up from your Microsoft support link above):

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/

...so I click on the link to download, but when I select Windows 7 Home Premium, it tells me:

"You are not eligible to download Windows XP Mode. You must have Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, or Ultimate to run Windows XP Mode. To upgrade visit Windows 7 Anytime Upgrade"

...but gives me no option to download Virtual PC either, unless I change the OS.

Which makes me wonder, am I looking at the right thing???

It's all very confusing

I will force download Virtual PC later and see if it will install.

Thank again
Neil

I like work. It fascinates me. I can sit and look at it for hours...

 

[Neil Toulouse]

...oh I should add it expects you to install "XP Mode" first then "Virtual PC", so I am guessing it must be the "XP Mode" I am not allowed to have unless professional win 7?

I like work. It fascinates me. I can sit and look at it for hours...

 

[Freestone]

Then there is the requirement in the Description of Windows Virtual PC:

Note Before you install Windows Virtual PC, verify that your system supports hardware-assisted virtualization (such as Intel VT or AMD-V) and that the hardware-assisted virtualization option is enabled

Well my older system knows nothing about virtualzation, so I've downloaded and installed Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 SP1 and it is running under my Windows 7 Professional.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...22-6EB8-4A09-A7F7-F6C7A1F000B5&displaylang=en

Yes, I know it isn't an officially supported configuration.

 

[linney]

The problem with Virtual PC 2007 is the lack of USB support.

" And it doesn’t support external USB devices (except for keyboards and mice, of course). So you can’t use a Virtual PC VM to directly access a USB device such as a scanner or TV tuner."

Microsoft releases Virtual PC 2007 SP1

http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=453

http://www.google.com/search?q=USB+...&rls=com.microsoft:en-au:IE-SearchBox&ie=&oe=

This covers the whole gambit of virtual machines in "Home" versions if you want to have a look at it. Of course you will need a licensed copy of XP to install and run in any of them.

VirtualBox is an impressive VM contender

http://windowssecrets.com/search/?c...ender+&sa=Search&advWS=1&advSAN=1&advPages=15

 

[Freestone]

Thanks for pointing out the lack of USB support in Virtual PC 2007 linney. That ahould save FatSlug some time! I can't bellieve in all the time I've used VPC, I've not tried a USB device

 

[Neil Toulouse]

Thanks for the all the info folks, tis musch appreciated.

I have downloaded Virtual PC 2007, and ran the installer. I get the message:

---------------------------
Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 
---------------------------
You are not running on a supported operating system.  Please see Microsoft Virtual PC help for the list of supported host operating systems.
---------------------------
OK   
---------------------------

Now I had this error before and just quit the installer, BUT by clicking next etc it does actually install!

Running it up gives you the same "un-supported" error but it looks like it may work.

I will report back once I get an XP installed

Linney - I have been use Sun Virtual Box due to my not thinking I can install VPC, and I can't fault it! My problem is with USB so VPC may not be the answer anyways.


I like work. It fascinates me. I can sit and look at it for hours...

 

[Neil Toulouse]

..Oh yeah, forgot about the lack of USB support!

Oh well, I will give it a go just incase my issue is a red herring!

I like work. It fascinates me. I can sit and look at it for hours...

 

[TonHu]

The most used alternatives are:
Free:
- VMWare Server 2.x (

http://www.vmware.com)

- VMWare Player 3.x
- VirtualBox (

http://www.virtualbox.org)

Commercial:
- VMWare Workstation 7
- VirtualBox
- Parallels Workstation

And then a few less used solutions (open to discussion ofcourse), I won't mention here because I haven't used them.

 

[pechenegs]

hi folks, Can I install virtual box on my new install of windows 7 Home premium and then install Xpsp3 as a virtual pc and run it within Xp?

Currently I'm dual booting Xp and windows 7!

Member of ASAP Alliance of Security Analysis Professionals

under the name khazars

 

[linney]

pechenegs,

If you want to run something virtually from your dual boot of XP you would have to install a virtual machine in that dual booted XP. The Host XP would then be able to open any "compatible" .vhd file running in a Windows 7 Virtual Machine, but not if the .vhd was in use in some other VM at the same time (I imagine).

 

[pechenegs]

Oops,got that the wrong way round!

I mean installing virtual box on Windows 7 and running and installing XP within windows 7, is that posssible?

Member of ASAP Alliance of Security Analysis Professionals

under the name khazars

 

[BadBigBen]

Pechenegs,

have a gander:

Create an XP Mode for Windows 7 Home Versions & Vista

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/11060/create-an-xp-mode-for-windows7-home-versions-and-vista/

Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[pechenegs]

Wow, cheers for that BadBigBen, that's excellent, but, can I do what I asked using virtual box and create a virtual machine XP in Windows 7?

And which would be best, what you suggested or running a virtual machine using Virtual box, as I have read the latter maybe better, but running Xp mode using VMware is interesting!

Member of ASAP Alliance of Security Analysis Professionals

under the name khazars

 

[BadBigBen]

can I do what I asked using virtual box and create a virtual machine XP in Windows 7?

Yes, it does not matter what Virtual Machine software you use.

VMWare Player offers the UNITY function, which Virtual Box does not have (at present), which makes using installed applications in the XP VM behave as if it they are installed on W7...



Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[Nelviticus]

Don't forget, if you have your own licensed copy of Windows XP you can use XP Mode on Home Premium. Windows Virtual PC still runs on Home Premium, it's just that it doesn't come with a free licensed (virtual) copy of XP like Professional editions and up do.

You can also install an XP VM in VirtualBox on Windows 7. I do it myself and if you don't want full XP Mode-style integration (where some XP apps appear in your Win7 start menu and so on) I'd say it's actually better in some ways than using Windows Virtual PC. I guess I just don't like the new Windows Virtual PC as it doesn't have a proper UI, rather it works as a special Windows folder and adds its commands to the Windows Explorer menu bar.

Before you wipe your dual-booted XP partition though, make sure that everything works properly in whichever virtual XP setup you go with. I still keep my machine as dual-boot because even with XP Mode I can't get my scanner to integrate properly. Whenever I want to scan stuff it's actually easier to re-boot into XP than it is to faff around with virtualisation.

Regards

Nelviticus

 

[pechenegs]

ok guys cheers for that! I'm definetly going to keep the dual boot.

I think I get it now! If I had Windows 7 pro or above, but I didn't have XP on my machine I could download a copy of Xp to run Xp mode in windows 7 pro or above?

Member of ASAP Alliance of Security Analysis Professionals

under the name khazars

 

[BadBigBen]

Not quite...

if you have W7 Pro+ you could download a copy of XP to run XP Mode in W7 Pro+.

Dual boot is not the issue and should not hamper this, though it makes it kinda redundant to download and install the VirtualPC and XP Mode...





Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[BadBigBen]

There has been an update from Microsoft, as to the VT requirements...

Microsoft removes VM hardware requirements, improves XP mode

http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/ne...ves-vm-hardware-requirements-from-xp-mode.ars

Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"