[serverguy]

Virtual Machines (or VMs) are an exciting new technology that are quickly gaining in popularity. They allow you to simulataneously run and use two or more operating systems at the same time, and seamlessly change between the two with a click of the mouse. Whilst more commonly used on servers for server consolidation, they are equally useful for the ordinary user. The latest incarnations from Microsoft is Virtual PC 2007 and it is provided as a free download on the Microsoft site.

They are ideal for testing out ideas / theories, playing with viruses, beta testing OSs, etc etc. The possibilities are endless.

This guide is not a complete reference, but is enough to get you started. Most of it is pretty self explanatory, and once you get the hang of it it will become easy.

System Requirements:

The Physical Computer Requirements:

The minimum system requirements for the host computer (which is the computer system that you are physically installing the Virtual Machine software) is as follows:

Supports any Pentium compatible processor with at least:

• 400MHz (1 GHz is recommended) with L2 cache.
• At least 20 MB of hard disk space
• DVD or CD-ROM Drive
• Monitors using at least Super VGA (800x600) resolution.

Can be installed on any of the following operating systems:

• Vista Enterprise
• Vista Ultimate
• Vista Business
• Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition
• Windows Server 2003 Standard x64 Edition
• XP Professional
• XP Tablet PC

Note: Whilst the above operating systems are the ones officially supported by Microsoft, you can install Virtual PC on the home version of Windows OSs as well. For example, you can install Virtual PC 2007 on XP Home and Vista Home Premium. However you may get a message saying that it is not supported or similar. This is not a problem. Just click OK or Ignore to the message and everything will be as normal.

The reason for this message is that Microsoft doesn't officially support Virtual Machines on Home OSs, ie you can't ring MS up and ask for phone support.

Supported Processors:

• AMD Athlon/Duron
• Intel Celeron
• Intel Pentium II
• Intel Pentium III
• Intel Pentium 4
• Intel Core Duo
• Intel Core2 Duo

Note: In a dual processor environment, only one processor is recognized by Virtual Machine 2007.


Installing Virtual PC 2007:

Once you have calculated all of the necessary system requirements and find your physical computer is capable of handling the additional memory loads and your hard drive has plenty of space available, you are ready to start installing the Virtual PC software. Follow the steps below to install Microsoft Virtual PC 2007:


1. To download Microsoft Virtual PC 2007, click the link below:
Virtual PC 2007

2. Once you have downloaded the proper Setup.exe file, locate the file and double-click Setup.exe to start the installation.

3. When the installation wizard appears, click Next.

4. You will need to accept the terms in the license agreement to continue. Click Next.

5. Enter your customer information and choose whether you would like to make Virtual PC available to all who use the computer (default) or make it available only to a certain user name. Click Next to continue.

6. Virtual PC 2007 will recommend installing to your program files folder. If this is fine with you, simply click the Install button or click the Change button to install Virtual PC 2007 to a location of your choosing.

7. Click the Finish button

Create a Virtual Machine:

Once you have successfully downloaded Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 to your computer, you can now install the operating system(s) of your choice. Follow the instructions below to install an operating system to Virtual PC 2007:


1. Open Virtual PC 2007 and select New.

2. The Virtual Machine wizard will start. Select Create a Virtual Machine, then click Next.

3. In the Name and Location window, browse to a location where you would like to place your Virtual Machine. I suggest you create a folder and store all your virtual machines in it. Click Next.

4. Select the operating system that you would like to install from the "Operating System" drop down menu. Click Next.

5. In the Memory window, Virtual Machine will calculate the memory usage for the operating system you are installing. You can either use the recommended value or change the memory usage to a specified amount. Click Next.

6. In the Virtual Hard Disk Options windows, Virtual Machine will need to add a new virtual hard disk to your system. Select the option: A new virtual hard disk. If you already know that you have an existing virtual hard disk install, select the option: "An existing virtual hard disk". Click Next.

7. In the Virtual Hard Disk Location window, click the Browse button and locate the new hard disk that Virtual Machine has created and type in a name for it. Review the calculated sizes for your hard disk size making sure that there is enough space allotted for the operating system and any other software you plan to install on it. Once you are satisfied with these figures, click Next.

8. Click Finish.

Congratulations! You now have a bootable Virtual PC installed on your physical computer system. The next step is to install the Virtual Operating System.


Install a Virtual Operating System using Virtual PC 2007:


1. Open your Virtual PC Console. From here you will see 4 available options:

• New: Use this option to install a Virtual operating system. Using Microsoft Virtual PC 2007, you can install up to 3 virtual operating systems. Once installed, they will show up in the left pane of the Virtual PC Console window.

• Settings: Use this option when it is necessary to change the settings of your virtual operating system.

• Remove: You can easily remove a virtual operating system from the console using this option.

• Start: Click any of the available virtual operating systems in the left pane of your console window and select the "Start" button to start the selected virtual operating system.

Now that you are familiar with the option in your Virtual PC Console, let's begin the installation of your virtual operating system. Select your configured virtual machine from the left pane and then click the Start button.


2. Virtual Machine will boot to its Main window. Insert your installation media in to your CD or DVD drive for the operating system you are attempting to install.

3. Once the media is installed, reset your Virtual Machine by selecting Action - Reset.

4. The installation process should begin. You may need to press any key to continue.

5. Follow the on-screen prompts and continue the installation just as you would any operating system installation.

Once the installation of your virtual operating system is complete. You can re-enter your Virtual PC Console and start using your new virtual operating system. Enjoy!


Update: Download Preconfigured Virtual Hard Drives with OS

It is also possible to download many preconfigured virtual hard drives (VHD) from Microsoft.
The best way of finding them is by searching here:
http://search.microsoft.com/results....GB&PageType=99

Once downloaded, you simply create a new Virtual Machine, and then assign the VHD you downloaded to it, and boot.

Great way to try out Vista or Server OSs for free. There is a catch though, they have time limits as they are evaluation software. However, most of them last at least 3 months.

[evilfantasy]

Very nice tut thanks!!

[serverguy]

Thanks!

[thingie2]

Nice, but it seems I can't use it as I have XP home.

[serverguy]

Originally Posted by thingie2

Nice, but it seems I can't use it as I have XP home.

Sorry. That is a typo on my behalf. Any version of XP is fine.

[thingie2]

Originally Posted by serverguy

Sorry. That is a typo on my behalf. Any version of XP is fine.

Oh, ok, I might give it a go then.

[thingie2]

Na, it wasn't a mistype, XP home isn't supported. I downloaded it and tried to install and it said it wasn't supported, so I went to check the download page, and it also doesn't mention XP home on the supported list there either.

[serverguy]

I have updated the guide with regards to XP Home and Vista Home Premium.

I also added a section about downloading preconfigured virtual hard drives from Microsoft for free to test with. Great if you don't have a XP install CD and spare key.

[thingie2]

Ah, ok, great, I've got it installed now.

A little off topic, but when did you become a moderator serverguy? congrats anyway

[serverguy]

Ah, ok, great, I've got it installed now.

A little off topic, but when did you become a moderator serverguy? congrats anyway

Glad you've got it working.

I got promoted sometime this evening

P.S. I apologise for editing your post above this one, it was an accident, I meant to click on Post Reply but hit the edit button instead, and then couldn't understand why my post came up under your name!
Shows my newbiness!