Using Virtual PC on Windows 7

by rkr3 Jan 3, 2010 4:50PM PST

On Win XP, I used MS Virtual PC as a 'software trial-ling' system; I could install and try out programs which I downloaded on the Virtual PC (which also had XP installed as the Guest OS), and then shut down the Virtual PC, deleting all changes so that the next time I started the Virtual PC, I would be back to the previous system state (ready for trying out a new program).

This was also useful when visiting websites which were doubtful -- any changes the website made to the Virtual PC could be instantly deleted, keeping my main XP installation safe.

I have moved over to Windows 7 and find that MS Virtual PC doesn't work in Windows 7. I have installed Virtual XP Mode, but this seems to be just for running XP compatible software; I can't use it as a software trial-ling system (or for visiting suspicious websites), since it doesn't delete the changes made to the virtual system when I shut down.

Maybe I'm missing something, but how do I get the same functionality (for 'software trial-ling'/worry-free surfing) which I had with Win XP and MS Virtual PC?

Thanks

Discussion is locked

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Not sure.

by MarkFlax Forum moderator Jan 3, 2010 6:41PM PST

Windows 7 allows both Windows Virtual PC and Windows XP Mode, but only in it's Professional and Ultimate versions. I assume you have either one of these as you say you already have Windows XP Mode up and running.

Microsoft has a web site about both Windows Virtual PC and Windows XP Mode here;
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/

I find that web site confusing. It appears to talk about both Virtual PC and XP Mode in the same sentences and senses, but to the right under "Get Started With Windows XP Mode" there is a link for "Find out how to best configure Windows Virtual PC to work for you". Hopefully that will help you.

Mark

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Doesn't work

by rkr3 Jan 3, 2010 7:35PM PST

Thanks for the reply.

I'm using Win 7 Ultimate 32 bit.

So I installed MS Virtual PC 2007; The install runs okay, but when I try to run the program itself, I get the error:

"This program is blocked due to compatibility issues"
"Virtual PC 2007 is not supported on this version of Windows. For more information, contact Microsoft."

I tried running it in compatibility mode for WinXP SP3 -- no luck.

I checked out the Microsoft download page for MS Virtual PC 2007 -- Windows 7 is *not* shown as one of the supported OS's.

I also checked out the link which you've mentioned, but that seems to be targeted generally to using Windows XP mode (i.e., for installing WIN XP compatible programs (should I consider installing MS Virtual PC 2007 in WinXP mode -- sounds like a recipe for disaster!)

Any thoughts?

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Then try a different

by Jimmy Greystone Jan 4, 2010 12:16AM PST

Then try a different one. VirtualPC isn't the only VM software out there. You can give VMWare and VirtualBox a try. VMWare is probably more capable overall, but not free, VirtualBox is free but a bit more basic.

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Not to

by r. proffitt Forum moderator Jan 4, 2010 12:21AM PST

VirtualBox or VMWare.

I couldn't find the details in your post about the host machine so I'll give the nod to the above solutions.
Bob

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Already tried both Virtualbox and VMWare Player ...

by rkr3 Jan 4, 2010 2:54AM PST

I'm running Windows Ultimate 7, 32 bit, on my notebook (a Dell M90).

Virtualbox or VMWare -- Yes, that's what I thought I'd do, when I ran into problems with MS Virtual PC a week ago. So I downloaded and installed both Virtualbox and VMWare Player on my notebook (still have both installed). Here's what I found:

Virtualbox -- not the ideal solution, since it doesn't seem to support drag and drop from host to guest and vice versa. Also, the mouse change from guest to host isn't seamless (not a very big problem, I grant you, but still...MS Virtual PC does this).

VMWare Player -- Seems like a much better solution, but for the life of me I can't seem to download and install the VMWare Tools -- it asks me to download, I click the box, it opens a download box, and doesn't download a thing. Have tried this a dozen times already.

Also, I don't know if it can delete all changes when exiting the VMC (which is essentially what I need to use it as a testing environment).

If I could solve the above two problems with VMWare Player, I'd forget about MS Virtual PC...

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I looked at the first issue.

by r. proffitt Forum moderator Jan 4, 2010 3:47AM PST

Virtualbox supports file sharing so after I read http://forum.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=24146 you may be upset that a network share works fine.

All this is really a kludge albeit a nice kludge.
Bob

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I've had to pass on this

by MarkFlax Forum moderator Jan 4, 2010 3:50AM PST

because that Microsoft web site I linked to doesn't mention system requirements as needing 64 bit over 32 bit, so as far as I can see, your Win 7 Ultimate passes the test.

Therefore I don't understand the "Virtual PC 2007 is not supported on this version of Windows. For more information, contact Microsoft."

Maybe you should do just that, call Microsoft.

Mark

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Think I'll go with Virtualbox for the time being

by rkr3 Jan 4, 2010 2:37PM PST

Well, I think I'll have to settle for Virtualbox.

After adding the Virtualbox Additions (?), the mouse movement is now seamless between the guest and the host. It lets me shut down without saving changes too (so it's good as a test environment). Plus, I believe the snapshots feature might be extremely useful (I don't think MS VPC had this feature).

The only problem is with drag and drop, but I've set it up to share a folder, and like Bob said, it's a kludge -- but I'll learn to live with it...perhaps Sun will come out with an upgrade sometime which'll allow drag-and-drop.

Anyways, thanks for all the help guys.

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The Tools Are There

by raywood Jan 2, 2011 6:58PM PST

I had that problem with VMware Tools. They don't tell you, but after you click Install Tools, the tools are loaded as a pseudo-CD. Look in your virtual CD drive and run Setup there.

Using Virtual PC on Windows 7

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