Microsoft Virtual PC 2007

Schnieds

Senior member
Jul 18, 2002
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I use VPC 2007 to do development in all day long at work. Visual Studio 2005, SQL Server, etc. Runs great! You can't play 3D games, but that is the only limitation I know of.

One tip though, you need a fast HDD. If you have more than one HDD, put your VPC images on your non-OS drive.
 

evilharp

Senior member
Aug 19, 2005
426
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Originally posted by: ChAoTiCpInOy
So on a Vista Home Premium computer, VPC 2007 should run XP and 3ds max just fine?

Probably not:
Supported Operating Systems: Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition (32-bit x86); Windows Server 2003, Standard x64 Edition; Windows Vista Business; Windows Vista Business 64-bit edition; Windows Vista Enterprise; Windows Vista Enterprise 64-bit edition; Windows Vista Ultimate; Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit edition; Windows XP Professional Edition ; Windows XP Professional x64 Edition ; Windows XP Tablet PC Edition
Source

Microsoft is dividing Vista features heavily amongst the various SKUs. Virtual PC is considered a "business tool" so it is unlikely that it will work with Vista Home or Home Premium. If you check out the Vista Anytime Upgrade (under Computer> Properties) Virtual PCs are listed as "upgrades" if you move from Vista Home Premium to Vista Ultimate.

However some sites indicate that it does work, so you may as well try.
Well apart from the warning messages saying "this version of Windows is not supported by VPC 2007" I was able to successfully install VPC 2007 on Vista Home Premium.
Link
 

RyanHirst

Junior Member
Aug 13, 2004
7
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Does anyone know what Microsoft's intent is regarding VPC and Vista Home editions?

I understand the division home v. business; tech support for VPC is not something MS can reasonably be expected to provide for just any old home user. I disagree on principle, but I readily aknowledge the reality. My question is rather:

Off the record, does Microsoft really care if Home users run VPC?

Technically, it violates the EULA. But in order to decline support for Home customers, the use HAS to be disallowed in the EULA. And, no, the fact that VPC works on Home versions does not have any necessary relation to intent. If it didn't WORK, you wouldn't be violating the EULA, would you? Pirating Windows works; you can even get security updates. Concluding thereby that Microsoft "doesn't care" if people pirate Windows would be a tad hasty.

Basically, I am stunned that VPC is unsupported on my new Vista Home Premium. Vista x64 is the most wretched computer experience I have ever had. There are too many basic tasks I cannot perform without another OS. I have a legal copy of XP ready to install as a client. And I am happy to operate outside of Microsoft's support umbrella. I am not, however, willing to get myself flagged as having an illegitimate version of Windows.
 

Drakkon

Diamond Member
Aug 14, 2001
8,401
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I think the intent was Virtual PC not to work on Home edition because users of it on home edition arent going to be using it for commercial purposes. Virtual PC is utilized most of the time to test software that is in production across multiple platforms. Why would any regular joe home user need this functionality (I ask hypothetically)? Thus not providing support for the home user implies it was not really ment for home use so if you use it your on your own and dont expect microsoft to help you out when you cant get a virtual machine to do what you want.
 

Czar

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
28,510
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dont look for microsoft for coming up with new features for virtual machines, they have already shat themselves with the next virtual server version, delays and feature cuts

look at what vmware is doing
 

WildHorse

Diamond Member
Jun 29, 2003
5,006
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My experience has been that Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 runs great IF you allocate lots more than the default amount of RAM to it.

I've been using it for testing slipstreamed configurations prior to burning disks.
 

RyanHirst

Junior Member
Aug 13, 2004
7
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Drakkon: I understand you're just explaining Microsoft's perspective; it is no less baffling to me. Why would I run Virtual PC at home? Have they seen the LIST of working client OSes ( http://vpc.visualwin.com/ )?
Um. They can't think of ANY reason I might want to run one? Really? REEEEALLY?
Let's see:

1) FreeBSD to host a wiki and some generic PC-gen style content for our circle of friends.
2) My copy of Windows XP and all the WORKING programs that I need to use... that don't work on Vista x64.
(Now, after seeing the list of working clients, I want to try out MORE of 'em).

I'm stuck on #2. I upgraded XP to Vista x64, and too many of my programs, software I paid a pretty penny for and use daily, simply DO NOT RUN. I'm supposed to stop using them because I'm not a business? I can't use Photoshop again, because I have no business loading an environment that can run it? Um. What?
As long as any old thing makes sense, can I put ponies in the oven and turn them into carob pumpkin cake? Because I'm a business? And business ovens are designed for baking ponies? My brain tastes loud, like staples.

Still, this doesn't answer the question. And maybe none of us know. We can guess all day long; I'd just prefer something a little more concrete, if someone out there happened to know.
 

RyanHirst

Junior Member
Aug 13, 2004
7
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And holy crap, Drakkon, I'm not ranting at YOU (I realized the attributions in my post weren't clear). When the giant Zardoz head descends to earth and starts barfing guns, sometimes you just have to stand there a minute and yell, "what in the hell just happened?" a few times.
 

RyanHirst

Junior Member
Aug 13, 2004
7
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Czar:
*sigh*
Yes. I've...ah... noted that fact.
Usually, when I'm talking to myself, the thought doesn't take such a polite form.

But, just for the record, my computer died. It wasn't a planned upgrade. And, while it's nice that OEMs are selling XP again (and I built my own, so I actually MADE the dreadful choice myself), I think you'll get a cool response to that statement from the millions of people who don't build their own computers and didn't HAVE the choice not to get Vista.

No matter what I do from here, I either violate my EULA or lose $140 making the Vista "mistake."

Can't they just block the VPC with the 4-month copy of XP from working on Vista Home?

Today is a sad, sad day because:
I could, as a home user, buy a Macintosh running OSX and, out-of-the-box, install my copy of XP Pro as a native, parallel VM.
If I buy a Windows PC, as a home user I am forbidden to use a VM, even to run a previous version of Windows.

Because I don't test web pages at work.

Oh.
Of course.
(Flying angry heads. Barfing guns.)