Windows Virtual PC Tips

Microsoft Corporation Published: May 2009

Abstract
Windows Virtual PC is a new optional component for Windows 7. This document provides some additional insight into Windows Virtual PC and provides some useful tips to help make your experience better.

This is a preliminary document and may be changed substantially prior to final commercial release of the software described herein. The information contained in this document represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation on the issues discussed as of the date of publication. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information presented after the date of publication. This White Paper is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT. Complying with all applicable copyright laws is the responsibility of the user. Without limiting the rights under copyright, no part of this document may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), or for any purpose, without the express written permission of Microsoft Corporation. Microsoft may have patents, patent applications, trademarks, copyrights, or other intellectual property rights covering subject matter in this document. Except as expressly provided in any written license agreement from Microsoft, the furnishing of this document does not give you any license to these patents, trademarks, copyrights, or other intellectual property. 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. The names of actual companies and products may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

Contents
Info for existing users of Microsoft Virtual PC .............................................................................. 5 Set up and Install.......................................................................................................................... 7 Windows XP mode ..................................................................................................................... 10 Virtual Application....................................................................................................................... 11 Networking in VMs ..................................................................................................................... 14 VM Creation & Management ...................................................................................................... 16

Info for existing users of Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 and earlier

These are the new features in Windows Virtual PC:

WindowsVirtualPCissupportedonlyonWindows7host. USB2.0supportinvirtualmachines(VM). WindowsXPModeVirtualizedapplicationsrunninginaVMrunseamlesslyon Windows7desktopasiftheywerenativeWindows7. AutopublishingofvirtualizedapplicationsrunninginaVMtoWindows7. MultithreadingEachVMrunsinitsownthread. Supportforhigherresolution,supportforDirectXinWindows7&Windows VistaVMs. IntegratedwithWindows7ExplorershellandSuperBarfeatures. SimplifiedUI. SupportforDEP/NXinVMs. SupportforEPT/NPTforVMs.

FollowingisNOTsupported: Snapshots 64bitguests Draganddrop NonWindowsOS

Supported Host and Guest Operating Systems and Windows XP Mode
Windows Windows 7 Professional 7 Home Basic, Home Premium Windows Server 2008 R2 Vista Business Vista Enterprise, Ultimate Windows XP SP3 Professional

Windows 7 Ultimate, Windows 7 Enterprise

Host OS: VPC installs on the both 32 and 64 bit of - Windows XP Mode Is available for the following Host OS Yes Yes No No No No No Yes Yes Yes No No No No

Guest OS: VPC supports 32 bit Guest OS of - Integration Feature: Available on the following Guest OS - Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes

Compatibility of VHDs VirtualPC2007VHDs

VirtualPC2007VHDswillworkwithWindowsVirtualPCprovidedyou:(1)uninstall theAdditionsforVPC2007;and(2)installWINDOWSVIRTUALPCintegration components. Steps: CreateanewVMusingVPC2007VHD(oryoumayusetheVPC2007VMC andVHDfiles).StarttheVMinWindowsVirtualPC. Install/upgradetheIntegrationComponents(ICs). UsingWindowsVirtualPCVHDinVPC2007willworkafteruninstallingtheICs. HyperVVHDs WindowsVirtualPCVHDwillworkinHyperVafteruninstallingtheIntegration components(ICs).UninstalltheICsbeforemovingtheWindowsVirtualPCVHDto HyperV. However,aVHDcreatedinHypervcannotbeusedtocreateavirtualmachinein WindowsVirtualPC(orVPC2007)duetoanincompatibleHardwareAbstraction Layer(HAL).(Formoredetails seehttp://blogs.technet.com/jhoward/archive/2008/02/28/arevhdscompatiblebetween hypervandvirtualserverandvirtualpc.aspx)
Where are Additions and VPC console?

InWindowsVirtualPC,AdditionsarenowcalledIntegrationComponents(seemore detailsonICs).Thisisonlyaterminologychange.
Note:Otherterminologychanges:SaveisnowHibernate;RestoreisnowResume.

TheVPCconsoleisnowintegratedintoWindowsExplorershellasaknownfolder VirtualMachines.ThisknownfolderdisplaysalistofVMsregisteredbytheirVPC serviceandtheirstate(e.g.,running/poweredoffetc.).

Set up and Install

Special Hardware requirement

WindowsVirtualPCrequiresaCPUwiththeIntelVirtualizationTechnologyorAMDV featureturnedon(enabledintheBIOS).Mostmodernsystemsshipwithvirtualization extensionsdisabledintheBIOS.Youmustenabletheseextensions,andtheinstructions toenablevirtualizationdifferdependingonthehardwarevendor.AMD'svirtualization isreferredtoasAMDV;Intel'svirtualizationiscalledIntelVT.Inadditionyouneedto disableTXT(TrustedexecutiontechnologyinBIOS). o Afteryouenablethevirtualizationextensions,youmustdoahardreboot(i.e., fullypowerdownthecomputerandthenstartitagain).

o Furtherinformationonhowtodetectandenableprocessorvirtualizationextensionsmay befoundhere:http://blogs.msdn.com/taylorb/archive/2008/06/19/hypervwillmy computerrunhypervdetectingintelvtandamdv.aspx. Backgroundhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X86_virtualization.

How to enable processor virtualization extension

ThisisdoneinthesystemBIOS.BecauseeachOEMhasadifferentBIOSlayout,there arenostandardstepstoenableprocessorvirtualizationextensionsintheBIOS;itis vendorspecific. Forexample: StepsforLenovolaptop(X61): o ToEnterBIOSPressThinkVantagebuttonthenF1. o GotoConfig>CPU>Intel(R)VirtualizationTechnologySetittoenabled o SaveExit o Shutdownthelaptopbypressingthepowerbutton(DoNOTmissthisstep) StepsforHPCompaq(Modeldc7700): o ToEnterBIOS PressF10 o SelectLanguage o GotoSecurity>OSsecurity>Enter
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o o o o

FromPopupdialogSelectIntelVirtualizationTechnology>Enable(Ensure toenableitifitisDisabled) PressF10toAccept. SavechangesandExit Shutdownthecomputerbypressingthepowerbutton(DoNOTmissthis step)

Note:Sometimesuserswillgetanerrormessagethatprocessorvirtualizationisnotenableddespite enablingprocessorvirtualizationintheBIOSandcompletelypoweringdownthesystem.Thisisa knownissuewithtrustedexecutiontechnology(TXT)andvirtualization.Microsoftisworkingwith Inteltounderstandandresolvethisissue.Asaworkaround,Microsoftrecommendsthatcustomers turnofftrustedexecutionwhenenablingprocessorvirtualization. Installation of Integration Components (ICs)

IntegrationComponentsruninsidetheguestVMandcommunicatedirectlywith theoperatingsystemonthehostcomputertherebyenablingsmootheruser interaction. IntegrationComponentsaresetofbinariesthatimprovetheVMexperience.For example,youcanmovethemousefrombetweenguestandhostapplications;it alsoenablesfeatureslikedrivesharing,printerredirection,clipboardsharingand smartcardsharing.

Thisenablesusersto: o Cutcopypastethetext/files/foldersfromthevirtualapplicationorfromthe virtualmachinedesktoporthevirtualapplicationtoanyotherapplicationon hostcomputer. o Accessthehostdrivesfromthevirtualapplicationorfromthevirtualmachine desktopwhilesaving/openingthefiles. o UsetheMyDocumentsandMyDesktopfoldersfromtheguestinvirtual applications. o Printanydocumentfromavirtualapplicationusingthehost/guestdefault printers. o Shareasmartcardbetweenthehostandguest. o AccesstheUSBmassstoragedevice/smartcard/phones/camerasattachedto Windows7computerfromavirtualapplication. ToinstallIntegrationComponentsinyourGuestOperatingSystem o o o StarttheVMandlogin. ClickonInstallIntegrationComponents(orUpgradeIntegrationComponents) buttonseenintheVMWindowtoolbarunderTools. Followtheinstructions/anymessagesandrestarttheGuestOS.

Note:VirtualWindowXPVMcomeswiththeICspreinstalled. 8

Installation over earlier version of VPC

ThoughyoucaninstallWindowsVirtualPCoverVPC2007,bothcannotrun concurrentlyonWindows7.TorunVPC2007onWindows7,youneedtouninstall WindowsVirtualPC,oryoucanalsoturnoffWindowsVirtualPC.InControlPanel, clicktheProgramsandFeaturesicon,thenclickTurnWindowsfeaturesonor offinthelefthandpane,andthenunchecktheboxunderWindowsVirtualPC. UninstallmeansyouwillhavetoredownloadtheMSUinstallerandrunifitagain(if youhavenotsavedacopyoftheWindowsVirtualPCdownload). DirectupgradetoanewerversionWindowsVirtualPCisnotpossible.Forupgrade youarerequireduninstallthecurrentversionofWindowsVirtualPC.Toupgrade: o Start>Run:appwiz.cpl o Clickon'ViewInstalledUpdates' o Uninstall'VirtualPC(KB958559)' o Restartasrequested o NowlaunchthenewVPC7installationpackage(MSU) IfyouupgradeWindows7,theWindowsVirtualPCbinarieswillbedeleted.Youcan reinstallWindowsVirtualPCaftertheWindows7upgradeiscomplete.Theupgrade willnotdeletethedatafilesE.g.VHD. Note:WindowsWindowsVirtualPCwillnotrunontheWindows7Betabuild,you needtoinstallitonaWindowsRCbuild(Build7100orabove). Youwillgetthismessageifyoutrytoinstallthe32bitversionofWindowsVirtual PCona64bitversionofWindows7orviceversa.Youmustinstallthecorrect version(x86orx64version)ofWindowsVirtualPCthatcorrespondswithyour installedversionofWindows7(x86orx64version).

Impact of upgrading Windows 7 and Windows Virtual PC versions

While installing I see this error message The update is not applicable to your Computer Why am I receiving this message?

 UninstallingWidowsVirtualPC

WindowsVirtualPCisinstalledasanupdatetoWindows7.Ifyouneedtouninstallthe update,thestepsare: o Controlpanel>Programsandfeatures>Viewinstalledupdates. o LookforWindowVirtualPCandrightclickonittoselectUninstall.

Windows XP Mode
WhatisWindowsXPMode? WindowsXPModeisapreactivatedcopyofWindowsXPSP3inVHDfileformat.For licensedusersofWindows7Professional,UltimateorEnterpriseeditions,Virtual WindowsXPmakesiteasierforuserstoadoptWindowsVirtualPCasasolutionfor applicationcompatibility.Tomaketheuserexperienceeasier,asyspreppedand compressedWindowsXPSP3VHDisavailablefromtheDownloadCenter atwww.microsoft.com.TheVHDsimplifiesinstallationandsetupofWindowsXPMode withminimumuserintervention. WhenyousetupWindowsXPModeforthefirsttime,thedefaultusernameforthe WindowsXPvirtualmachineisUSER(withoutquotes).Thepasswordisspecifiedby theuserduringWindowsXPModesetup.Thisuseristheonlymemberoftheadmin group.TheAdministratoraccountisdisabledbydefault. Ifyouforgetyourpassword,yourcannotrecoveryourpassword.Youwillhavetore setup(i.e.,reinstall)theWindowsXPVMbydeletingtheexistingWindowsXPVM.This willmostlikelyresultinlosingalldatastoredinthecurrentWindowsXPVM.
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Ifthereismorethanoneuseronthehostcomputer,theneachuserwillhaveaseparate WindowsXPVM.However,thereisonlyoneparentVHDforallusers.Eachuserwill haveaseparatediffdiskandaseparateWindowsXPVM. WindowsXPVMtakesspacefromsystemdrive TheWindowsXPVMtakesspacefromthesystemdrivebecausethedefaultpathforVM andVHDcreationissettothesystemdrive.TheWindowsXPVMuses: o AparentVHDwhichiscopiedtoProgramFiles/VirtualWindowsXPthispath canbechangedbyuserattimeofWindowsXPVMinstallation. o Adiffdiskwhichgetscreatedat%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\WindowsVirtual PC\VirtualMachines.Thiscannotbechangedattimeofinstallationbutthe usercanmovethediffdisktoanotherlocationaftersetup. o DiffdiskcanbemovedjustasyouwouldmoveanyVHDfile.Ausercanmove theVHDtoanydesiredlocationandupdatethenewlocationinVMsettings. PatchingWindowsXPVMwithlatestupdates TheWindowsXPVMreliesontheWindowsUpdateserviceforWindowsXPtoobtain updates.ToensurethattheWindowsXPVMreceivesupdates,boththehostcomputer runningWindows7andtheWindowsXPVMmustbeconnectedtotheInternet;and theWindowsUpdateservicemustbeappropriatelyconfiguredintheWindowsXPVM (theusershouldoptintoreceiveAutomaticUpdates).

Virtual Application
Virtualapplicationpublishing VirtualapplicationasusedherereferstoanapplicationinstalledwithinaVMthat canruninaseamlesswayasiftheapplicationwereinstalledonthehostcomputers operatingsystem.Theuserwouldnotnecessarilybeawareoftheexistenceof underlyingVMonwhichtheapplicationisrunning. LinkstothevirtualapplicationgetpublishedtothestartmenuofWindows7.Files residingonWindows7hostcomputergetassociatedwiththeseremoteapplications. ThepublishedVirtualapplicationsaresometimesreferredtoasRAILed applications.RAILstandsforremoteapplicationintegratedlocally. TheusercanpublishmanyapplicationsinaVM.Thelaunchingofthefirstvirtual applicationinaVMtakeslongerduetothetimeneededtostartandlogintotheVM.
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ThisisaonetimedelayobservedforthefirstvirtualapplicationforagivenVM. LaunchingofsubsequentapplicationsintheVMshouldbemuchfasterastheVMis alreadyupandrunninginthebackground. ApasswordisrequiredforstartingaVMorlaunchingavirtualapplication.TheVM communicateswithhostoveraTSconnectionwithhostandthisconnectionrequires apassword.Theusercansavethecredentialstoavoidrepromptingforcredentials. ApplicationswhichcomeintheboxwiththeWindowsoperatingsystem(e.g., Calculator,Notepad,etc.)arenotpublishedasthesearealreadyavailableinthehost computersoperatingsystem.However,applicationsthatusersexpresslyinstallin guestOSarepublished. SomepublishedapplicationsdonotworkasexpectedinRAILmode.Forexample,the GoogleTalkclosebuttononVMwindowdoesnotwork. HowdoIpublishInternetExplorer6(inWindowsXPVM)tomyWindows7start menu?

InternetExplorer6(IE6)isinstalledinaperuserprofile.WindowsVirtualPC publishesonlyapplicationsthatareinstalledintheAllUserprofile.Followthesteps belowtopublishIE6toyourWindows7startmenu: o Onthevirtualmachinedesktop,openthecommandprompt. o Onthecommandprompt,execute: o Copy%USERPROFILE%\StartMenu\Programs\InternetExplorer.lnk %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\StartMenu\Programs o One(1)fileshouldgetcopied. o WaitforafewsecondsandverifythatIE6isnowpublishedonthehost (Windows7)computer. o Logoffandclosethevirtualmachinewindow. o YoucannowuseIE6fromyourWindows7startmenu. IseeaclosedesktopdialogwhenIlaunchavirtualapplication.Why?

Thisoccursifthevirtualmachineisrunningandyoualsolaunchavirtualapplication fromthehostcomputeratsametime.Thevirtualmachinewindowandthevirtual applicationwindowaremutuallyexclusiveandwillnotbevisibleatsametime. VirtualApplicationisnotgettingpublished.Whatcouldbethereason?

Checkforthefollowing: o IntegrationComponentsareinstalled/updated(UseToolsmenu). o TheAutoPublishsettingisenabledinVMSettings. o Doestheapplicationinstallunder%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs\filesunderAllUsersifnot;SeamlessAppPublishingwillnot work.TopublishityoucanmanuallycopyashortcuttotheapplicationtoAll Userprofile.TodosobringupAllUserfolder; ForWindowsXP,rightclickStartbutton>OpenAllusers.

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InWindowsVistaandWindows7,rightclickAllPrograms>OpenAll users.Nowcreateashortcutfortheapplicationthatyouwouldlike topublishtotheguest. o Iftheapplicationislistedinexcludelist,itwillnotgetpublished.Togetthe applicationpublishedyouneedtoremoveitfromthislist.Theexcludelistis storedatfollowinglocation: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\VirtualMachine\VPCVAppExcludeList]

Note: Some installers do not install applications over RDP. In such cases, you can disable ICs in order to install the application.

Icannottalk(voice)toapersonusingMicrosoftOfficeCommunicator.Why?ORHow doesbidirectionalaudioworksinWindowsVirtualPC? ThisisbecausevoicerecordingandvoicetransmissionisnotsupportedinWindowsXP andWindowsVistavirtualmachines.Howevertheusermayswitchoffaudio redirectioninICsenabledmodebysettingAudio_redirecttoFalseinvirtualmachine settingfile.

OpentheVMCfileandgotosection<ui_options>andmanuallyaddthelinegivenbelow:
(Note:makingchangestoVMCisnormallynotrecommendedasanyinadvertentadditionorremoval canrendertheVMunusable.)

<audio_redirecttype=boolean>false</audio_redirect>tothefileandsavetheVMCfile.
<ui_options> <onclose_showmessage type="boolean">false</onclose_showmessage> <onclose_defaultaction type="string">save</onclose_defaultaction> <vxp_setup_complete type="boolean">true</vxp_setup_complete> <guest_rail_enabled type="boolean">true</guest_rail_enabled> <window_xpos type="integer">142</window_xpos> <window_ypos type="integer">57</window_ypos> <full_screen type="boolean">false</full_screen> <resolution_height type="integer">768</resolution_height> <resolution_width type="integer">1024</resolution_width>

<audio_redirecttype=boolean>false</audio_redirect>
</ui_options>

IamusingaRAILedMicrosoftOfficeOutlook(orotheremailapplication)andI receiveaPDFasattachmentintheemail.IhaveAdobeReader(orAdobe
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Acrobat)onmyhostcomputerbuttheattachedPDFfailstodiscovertheassociated program.Why? ThishappensbecausetheapplicationsinstalledontheWindows7hostcomputer donotgetassociatedwithfilesintheguestvirtualmachineoperatingsystem.For thisfileassociationtowork,youwillneedtoinstallAdobeAcrobat(orAdobe Reader)intheguestVM.

PublishingapplicationsinWindowsXP&WindowsVistaVMscreatedbyUsers A IfyouwanttopublishapplicationsinVMsthatyouhavecreated,youneedto: Install/updateIntegrationcomponents Restartyourvirtualmachine EnsureAutopublishsettingisenabled EnsurethatRAILQFEisinstalledinWindowsXPandWindowsVistavirtual machines.InWindows7VMandinVirtualWindowsXP(providedbyMicrosoft) thisstepisnotrequired.YoucaninstallRAILbinariesfrom<Givepathfor downloading/installingtheRDP> Installtheapplicationintheguestoperatingsystem.(EnsureitisinAlluser profile,elsecreateapplicationshortcutinAlluserprofile.)

Networking in VMs
NetworkoptionsavailableinVM

In virtual machine settings, you can specify up to four (4) emulated network adapters. You can assign each emulated adapter card to any network card installedonthephysicalcomputer.Thevariousadapteroptionsare: Notconnected:Withthisoption,networkingisnotavailableinVM. InternalNetwork:ThisoptionprovidesnetworkingbetweenVMsonly. SharedNetworking(NAT):ThisisavirtualNAT(networkaddresstranslation) that allows the virtual machine to leverage the external TCP/IP network connected to the Windows 7 host. This is very useful if you are regularly movingyourcomputerbetweendifferentnetworkconfigurations.However, NATperformanceisnotasgoodasthatofBridgedmode. NetworkAdapteronhost:(NoteThisoptionappearsasNameofadapterin the drop down). This is also known as Bridged mode. When this option is selected, the virtual machine is connected directly to the selected network connection of the Windows 7 host. The virtual machine will appear and behave like a separate physical computer on the same network. If your systemhaswirelessadapter,itsnamewillappearindropdownlist.
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Note:VirtualWindowsXPVMusesNATmodeasdefaultsettingbecausemostusersuse broadband/dialupathomeandarenotexpectedtohaveseparateIPforguestVMandwillmake useofHostcomputerIP.

ConnectingtoVPNfromVirtualmachine

YesyoucanaccessVPNinguestVM.IftheNetworksettingissettouseShared Networking(NAT),itshouldtakecareofconnectiontoIntranetorinternet providedyourhostcomputerisconnectedtonetwork.

IamunabletoconnecttoEnterprisedomain.WhatshouldIdo?

IncaseyourVMisconfiguredtouseNATitshouldtakecareofconnectionto Intranetorinternetprovidedyourhostcomputerisconnectedtoanetwork.In
caseyourVMisconfiguredtoexternal(anyHostNICotherthanwireless)youcanaccess thecorpnetorEnterprisedomainjustaswoulddoforanyphysicalcomputer.

Pleasecheckthefollowingifthingsdonotwork: 1. Specifyfullyqualifieddomainnameinthedomaintextbox. 2. Yourcomputernameisuniqueorelseyouwillgetduplicatenameexists error.Onceyouchangeit,itrequiresarebootandthenonlyyoucanjoin thecomputertodomain. 3. Username/passwordiscorrect. 4. Iftheabovestepsdidnothelp,pleasewaitforsometimeandthentry againastheservermaynotbeavailableforsometime.

WhentouseNATmode WhenthereisashortageofIPaddress,orthereisaneedtohideVMfromexternal network,orwanttoconnectusingWWANorwanttousethenetworkaccessible throughVPNconnection. HowtogetnetworkconnectivityinVMifIhaveWWANdeviceconnectedtohost? ThisrequiresnetworkoptioninVMtobeconfiguredtoNAT. GotoTools>Settings>NetworkingandChooseSharedNetworking(NAT)forthefirst adapter.YoucandialuponyourWWANdeviceinWindows7andbrowsethewebfrom theguest. IsIPassignedtoNATVMconfigurable?
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No.DHCPhasnotbeenmadeavailableforconfiguration.Also,staticIPcannotbe assignedtoNATVM.

VM Creation & Management

CreateaVirtualMachineusinganexistingVHD Stepsare:
o GotoStart>AllPrograms>WindowsVirtualPC>VirtualMachines.

ClickonCreatevirtualmachinecommandbarbuttontoalunchthevirtualmachinecreation wizard.

FollowtheinstructionsintheVMcreationWizard

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On the third page title Add a virtual hard disk choose the existing VHD file.

Afterthevirtualmachineiscreated,youcanstartthevirtualmachinesfromthevirtualmachines folder.

InnewlycreatedVM,mouseissluggishandIcannotclickoutsidemyVMwindow.
ToreleasethemousefromtheGuestVM,usetheCtrl+Shift+Leftkeycombination.Toimprove thekeyboard/mouseexperience,install/upgradeIntegrationComponents(earliercalled Additions)intheVM.

WhatisthedefaultpathforVMC(virtualmachinesettingsfile)andVHDfiles?
The default location of VMC and VHD files is LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows Virtual PC\Virtual Machines.

ChangeSettingsoftheVirtualMachine GotoStart>AllPrograms>WindowsVirtualPC>VirtualMachines. ChoosetheVMforwhichyouwanttochangethesettings. ClickthebuttontitledSettingfromtheMenubar.

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OrRightclicktheselectedVMandchoosecontextmenuitemSettings

WhenVMisrunningyoucanalsoinvokethesettingsdialogfromavirtualmachine desktopusingthemenu,select:Tools>Settings. ChangetheRAMallottedtovirtualmachine VMRAMallocationcanbechangedfromVMsettingsonlywhenVMispoweredoff. SelecttheVMandthengotoVMsettingeitherbyrightclickingtheVMorfrommenu item RestartoptionismissingfromStartmenuinVM.HowdoIrestart? ClickontheActiononmenubarandselectRestartfromthedropdown EnteringPreBootenvironment(BIOSscreen/networkboot) ClickontheToolsonmenubarandselectDisableIntegrationFeaturesfromthe dropdown. NexttimewhenVMrebootshitDelkeytogotoBIOSsetup.

ShutdowndownaVM

Thedefaultactionofhittingonthe buttonontheVMwindowwillpertheClose settingdefinedinVMsettings.ForVirtualWindowsXPVMitisHibernate(whichmeans savethecurrentstateofVM). ClickingClosefromActionmenuitemwillhavethesameeffectasactionofhittingon the buttonontheVMwindow YoucanchangethedefaultbehaviorofVMonhitting buttonontheVMwindow formVMsettings.ORyoucanconfiguretheVMsettingstoPromptforaction,inwhich caseuserwillchooseoneoffollowingchoiceseverytimeuserhits buttononthe VMwindow o Hibernate(savesthecurrentstateofVM.NextstartupofVMwillnotgo throughthebootsequence) o Shutdown(ShutsdowntheVM.NextstartupofVMwillgothroughboot sequence)
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o Turnoff(Thisislikepullingoutthepowerplug) Thus,inordertoshutdownaVM,usercaneithersetthedefaultbehaviortoshutdown theVMorsettheVMsettingtoPromptforactionandthenchooseshutdownoption fromthedropdownmenu,whenuserhits buttonontheVMwindow.

Note:

1. ThisVMsettingcanbechangedevenwhenVMisrunning.VMisnotrequiredtobein poweredoffstate. 2. AnotherwaytoshutdownaVMistoselectCtrl+Alt+DelfromVMwindowmenu, youwillseeataskmanagerdialog.ClickonShutdownbutton.

3. Hibernate is not the native Windows hibernate. VPC does not support hibernation in guest OS.

PXEinstallationofOSinaVM AnyVMwhichiscreatedisboundtothehostNIC(1wiredand1wirelessifavailable). So,whenyoubootyourVM,youwillbeabletoPXEinstallanOSintheguestby contactingtheserver

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ButthiscannotbedoneiftheNetworksettingintheVMisconfiguredtoShared Networking(NAT).ThisisbecauseDHCPrequestfromNATVMisinterceptedandserved byinternalbuiltinDHCPserver.AndthisdoesnotreachtheDHCPofthePXEserver.

InoticedthatIamunabletoresizeorgotofullscreeninaWindowsXPVM.Why? ThishappensifFastuserswitching(FUS)isenabledinWindowsXPVMsthatarenot joinedtoadomain.PleaseensurethatFUSisdisabledinnondomainjoinedWindows XPVMs.Stepstodosoare: o o o o Logontothecomputerasanadministrator. ClickStart,clickControlPanel,andthenclickUserAccounts. ClickChangethewayuserslogonoroff. Ifitisnotalreadyselected,clicktoselecttheUsetheWelcomescreencheck box. NOTE:TheUseFastUserSwitchingcheckboxisunavailableuntilyouclickto selecttheUsetheWelcomescreencheckbox. UnchecktheUseFastUserSwitchingcheckbox,andthenclickApplyOptions. QuittheUserAccountstool.

RenamingaVM AVMcanberenamedafteritisshutdown.Youcannotrenamearunning/hibernated VM.EachVMhasaVMCandVMCXfileassociatedwithit.IfyoutrytorenameaVMC filewhileVMisrunningyouwillgetanerrorsayingFileisinUse.Ifyoutrytorename aVMfromthevirtualmachinesfolder,youwillnotgetanyerror,butthechangesyou makewillbediscardedandthenamewillrevertbacktooriginalname. Pleasenoteifyourename.VMCfilewhenVMisinnotrunning,youmuststarttheVM using.VMCfileandnotusingthe.VMCXfileas.VMCXfileisnotawarethatthe corresponding.VMCfileischanged. VMalsohasaVHDfilewhichrepresentsthevirtualharddiskoftheVM.Thisfileagain cannotberenamedwhileVMisrunning.IfVMispowereddownandyourenamethe VHD,youneedtoupdatetheVHDfilenameintheVMsettingfortherespectivevirtual machine.

MovingaVMC,VHDorVMCXfile IfyoumoveVMCandVHDtosamelocationthentheirrelativepathremainssameand doubleclickingtheVMCwillpointtocorrectVHDfile.

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IfyoumoveonlyVMCthenrelativelypathbetweenthetwowillchange,inthiscase VMCwillusetheabsolutepathtolocatetheVHDfile. Pleasenote:whenyoumovetheVMCfileanddoubleclickit,yougettheerror messageVirtualmachinealreadyexistsasshownbelow.ThisisbecauseintheVMCX filetheVMisstillregisteredwitholdpath.ToregisterwithnewpathclickOkelseclick Cancel.

IfyoumovetheVMCXfileonlyandtrytostarttheVMbydoubleclickingityougetan errorCouldnotregisterthevirtualmachineasVMCXfileismeantonlyforcreatingan entryintoknownfolderVirtualmachinesinWindowsExplorer. Ifyoumovethe.VHDfiletonewlocation,youneedtoupdatetheVHDlocationinthe VMSettings.Otherwise,theVMwillnotbeabletofindtheVHDfile. DeletingaVMC,VMCXorVHDfile A Yes,youcandeleteanyofthesefileslikeanyotherfile.However,thecaveatsareas under. IfyoudeleteVMCXfile,youwillnotseetheVMlistedinVirtualmachineknownfolder. However,yourVMCandVHDfilesareintactandifyoudoubleclickVMCfiletheVMCX filewillgetrecreated. IfyoudeleteVMCfile,thendoubleclickingVMCXfilewillrecreateVMCfileusingthe backupofVMCfile.Ifyoudeleteboth,VMCanditsbackupfilethendoubleclicking VMCXfilewillremoveVMCXfileaswell. IfyoudeletedVHDfile,doubleclickingVMCorVMCXfilewillresultinerrorstatingthat VMcouldnotbestartedasoneofitsVHDcouldnotbelocated. WhydoIneedtoprovidemylogoncredentialswhenIresizeVMwindow?
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VirtualPCusesanRDPconnectiontothevirtualmachinetoenableintegration components.Resizingthevirtualmachinedesktoprequiresthisconnectiontobere established,whichrequiresentryofthelogoncredentials.Youcanchoosetosavethe credentialstoavoidfurtherprompts.

IhaveaddedanonadminusertotheVM.ButthenewusercannotloginintotheVM. Why? InordertologinintotheVM,anduseintegrationfeatures,userhastobeamemberof theRemoteDesktopUsersgroupontheguestOS.AnAdministratoruserhasaccess anywaysandneednotbepartoftheRemoteDesktopUsersgroup.However,ifthe userisnonadmin,he/shehastobememberofRemoteDesktopUsersgrouponthe guestOS.

AddingadditionaldisksinVM Forthisyouneedto:ShutdowntheVM(Note:defaultclosebehaviorofWindowsXP VMissettoHibernate.Changethe'Close'VMsettingtoSendmessagetochoose Shutdownoptioninthedropdown). UsingVMsetting,addanewvirtualharddiskforoneofthefreeslot. Afterdoingso,starttheVMandbringupthediskmanagementutility.Run> diskmgmt.msc YouwillseethenewVHD.Assignadriveletterandcreateavolume(dotheformatting asyouwoulddowhenyouconnectanewphysicaldrivetocomputer). Nowyouareallsettousethenewvirtualdisk.

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