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Microsoft Issues Free Virtual PC 2007

By Nate Mook, BetaNews

February 19, 2007, 3:26 PM

The long-awaited update to Microsoft's virtualization software was released Monday. Virtual PC 2007 brings support for Windows Vista -- as both a guest and host operating system -- and takes advantage of new hardware virtualization technology from both Intel and AMD. Virtual PC enables users to run multiple operating systems on a single computer by creating "virtual machines."

Both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Virtual PC 2007 are available free of charge; Microsoft made Virtual PC 2004 SP1 freeware last July and promised to release 2007 for no cost. The move to freeware ups the ante with rival virtualization companies such as VMware and new market entrant Parallels. Download Virtual PC 2007 from FileForum.

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By Chrisworld

edited Apr 29, 2007 - 11:56 AM

No matter what type of thing i use, Physical Floppy, Physical Cd Rom in 3 different drives or virtual floppy/virtual cd rom anything, it always tells me to insert the correct boot device and press any key PLEASE HELP !!!

Score: 0

By chiragbhatt

edited May 4, 2007 - 1:11 PM

i am seeing the same thing. i have removed Virtual PC 2007, reinstalled it, tried EVERYTHING i can think of but i am also seeing the message: "Reboot and Select Proper Media Device..."

Anyone know what is wrong or how to fix it?

Score: 0

By Bananus069

posted Feb 20, 2007 - 9:56 PM

There is still no USB support, unlike VMWare.

Score: 0

By DudeBoyz

posted Feb 20, 2007 - 7:56 PM

Why can't I run Linux in a virtual box?

Score: 0

By Marylka

posted Feb 20, 2007 - 7:12 AM

Windows XP Home Edition it is possible to instal Virtual PC 2007

http://www.microsoft.com...s/virtualpc/sysreq.mspx

Score: 0

By Babylon2x

edited Feb 20, 2007 - 10:55 AM

Contrary to other comments here, VPC2007 will install and run on XP Home absolutely fine. It's just it isn't officially supported. All that happens if you'll receive two warnings before installing which say the OS you're installing it on isn't on the supported list. The same happened for VPC2004.

Note I did previously have VPC2004 installed before running the VPC2007 installer, I don't know if this made any difference :)

Score: 0

By ir0nw0lf

posted Feb 20, 2007 - 10:09 AM

As a guest OS yes, not as a host OS, which is the big(ger) issue.

Score: 0

By kanenas

edited Feb 20, 2007 - 5:50 AM

For all the users that can not run vp 2k7 try virtualbox (www.virtualbox.org)
amazing speed, opensource etc

Score: 0

By ds0934

posted Feb 19, 2007 - 10:53 PM

I reported during the beta that it runs noticeably slower than VMware WS 5 on the same VM configurations. I submitted metrics and logs to back that up. They agreed and said it was because my CPU didn't support HW virtualization, which is one of the core features of VPC07. Anyone else see that issues?

Score: 0

By lissack@lissack.com

posted Feb 19, 2007 - 10:53 PM

If I run VPC 2007 on Vista can I install a version of XP? I ask becuase my fijustu scansanp will NOT run under vista and I hate having to dual boot just to get to my scanner

Score: 0

By uberfly

posted Feb 19, 2007 - 7:51 PM

Yea, nice it's free but weird it doesn't run on any of the Home editions. Maybe it's missing required functionality of the higher-end business class OS's. Home verson users probably don't come anywhere near the demographic for running this either. Just a guess.

Score: 0

By DigitAl56K

edited Feb 19, 2007 - 9:04 PM

It's purely a licensing issue as far as I can tell. The license for the basic versions of Vista doesn't permit Virtualization - this has been covered in the news before. I doubt there is a technical reason why it can't be done.

Probably just MS trying to squeeze a few more $ out of you ;) Give away VPC, but in doing so 'encourage' people to buy the premium versions of Windows to be able to use it. That's where the gravy is. In fact, it might even be a double zinger: Maybe you need a Pro version of the OS to run VPC, and a higher-end version of Vista to actually run virtualized?

Gravy money x 2!

Score: 0

By sjc001

posted Feb 21, 2007 - 5:57 AM

Yes, its the money since VMware, Parallels, and Virtualbox all run under XP Home, Vista Home Basic and Premium with no problems.

Score: 0

By WeezulDK

posted Feb 19, 2007 - 5:27 PM

Microsoft is showing everyone now that the bottom line means everything by limiting a "free" application to running only on the more expensive flavors of their operating systems.

Leveraging monopoly power in more imaginitive ways to generate revenue while avoiding antitrust actions, getting in bed with the media industry through restrictive DRM and also DRM on their own operating system to allow them to deactivate anyone at any time, all to protect the bottom line.

Why have 5 or 6 versions of Vista? And why have Home Basic at all, when the new Aero interface is crippled/inoperative in Basic? Why have so many overpriced versions???

Ballmer's recent statements as to blaming poor Vista sales on piracy also illustrates their mentality, which I think is one of entitlement...

Using estimated sales forecasts to justify their blanket statements proves they think they are entitled to receive the sales figures they think they should have.

Vista isn't ready for market, the market really doesn't *want* what Vista and what it represents, and the market knows it, and has shown it by the numbers.

Woopty doo

Score: 0

By Psythik

edited Feb 7, 2008 - 4:10 PM

What the hell are you talking about? I'm running it right now on XP Home and not having a single problem.

Score: 0

By zridling

posted Feb 19, 2007 - 10:30 PM

[WeezulDK]: Vista isn't ready for market, the market really doesn't *want* what Vista and what it represents, and the market knows it, and has shown it by the numbers.

I bought Vista a week ago and there's so much crap that you have to undo (tweak) just to get it working so that it's merely less annoying that's it's really shameful. Microsoft really should be embarrassed, not proud, that Vista took five years. The only good thing I've found so far is its disk and file management. Everything else is substandard to XP Pro. And Aero is just awful. Trust me, you'll want to turn it off as fast as you did UAC.

Score: 0

By Joe Dirt

posted Feb 20, 2007 - 10:30 AM

This has been my experience also.

I will not run Vista. I will run XP Pro until I get a new Mac. Then, I can dual boot MacOS with Windows XP Pro on an Apple computer. :)

Microsoft sux0rs.

Score: 0

By school1012

posted Feb 19, 2007 - 5:39 PM

Then why has everyone complied that MSFT should have gotten the OS out sooner?

Score: 0

By The MAZZTer

edited Feb 19, 2007 - 3:51 PM

Some people may notice Virtual PC 2004 will install on Windows XP Home with only a warning that it is not supported.

Virtual PC 2007 will not allow installs onto XP Home at all.

Fortunately the only real improvement I see, other than Vista support, is the support for full DVD-sized ISO images. If you cannot load a large (>2 gb) ISO in 2004, use a tool like Daemon Tools to mount it as a drive letter and then use that drive letter in Virtual PC.

I keep 2004 around for XP and have used the 2007 beta in Vista. I don't believe I have had any problems with backwards/forward compatibility with VMs.

Score: 0

By ir0nw0lf

posted Feb 19, 2007 - 4:53 PM

From the MS site, the following are not listed as supported:

XP Home
Vista Home Basic
Vista Home Premium

That makes no sense.

Score: 0

By bsf

posted Feb 19, 2007 - 10:27 PM

Just a question.
What do people do running multiple OSes at home?

Score: 0

By bsf

posted Feb 21, 2007 - 7:26 AM

what kind of apps?
I know some business apps that won't run under anything other than NT4.0 and so some companies use virtual PC and emulate NT on XPs or 2ks but at home?

Score: 0

By ir0nw0lf

posted Feb 20, 2007 - 10:07 AM

ROFL, you are serious right? There are a pile of people who need to run DOS apps still (gasp!), or even older Windows 95 apps that won't play nice in XP. By running them in a virtual OS, they can still run those programs without having to resort to crazy drastic dual-booting or worse scenarios. There is no real excuse why those three operating systems were left out.

Score: 0

By steve6375

edited Aug 2, 2008 - 5:47 AM

There is a GNU licensed DOS Game emulator utility called DOSBox which will run under Vista.
I had a problem where MS Masm and link v6 would not run under Vista. I used this DosBox and now I can compile and link my DOS utilities!
Its main use is to run old DOS apps and games.
HTH

Score: 0

By Silentmaster101

posted Feb 21, 2007 - 12:30 PM

sure there is. they dont want to have to provide tech support to home users. makes perfect sense.

Score: 0

By Joe Dirt

posted Feb 19, 2007 - 4:57 PM

Force you to upgrade to a more expensive OS just so you can use Virtual PC 2007?

Buttholes.

Score: 0

By tmcb82

edited Feb 19, 2007 - 7:42 PM

It works on XP Pro fine, so I'm happy.

Score: 0

By Psythik

posted Feb 7, 2008 - 4:12 PM

It works fine on XP Home, a $90 OS...

Score: 0

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