Microsoft Windows Virtual PC (Windows XP Mode, Virtual PC 2007, Connectix Virtual PC) : Use different operating systems on one physical computer

Windows Virtual PC (formerly Microsoft Virtual PC and Connectix Virtual PC) is a virtualization program for Microsoft Windows. In July 2006, Microsoft released the Windows-hosted version as a free product. In August 2006, Microsoft announced the Macintosh-hosted version would not be ported to Intel-based Macintosh computers, effectively discontinuing the product as PowerPC-based Macintosh computers are no longer manufactured. The newest release, Windows Virtual PC, is available for Windows 7 hosts.

Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 can be used to run multiple OSs simultaneously within the same personal computer. Switch between virtual machines with the click of a button. Use virtual machines to run legacy applications, provide support, train users, and enhance quality assurance.

Virtual PC lets you create separate virtual machines on your Windows desktop, each of which virtualizes the hardware of a complete physical computer. Use virtual machines to run operating systems such as MS-DOS, Windows, and OS/2.

What is Windows XP Mode?

Windows XP Mode is a new benefit of Windows 7 Professional and Windows 7 Ultimate and provides additional application compatibility.

It allows you to install and run many of your productivity applications for Windows XP directly from your Windows 7-based PC.

It utilizes virtualization technology, such as Windows Virtual PC, to provide a virtual Windows XP environment for Windows 7.

What is Windows Virtual PC?

Windows Virtual PC is the latest Microsoft virtualization technology for Windows 7. It is the runtime engine for Windows XP Mode to provide a virtual Windows environment for Windows 7.

With Windows Virtual PC, Windows XP Mode applications can be seen and accessed from a Windows 7 desktop.

[ Key Features ]

Configurability

After installing Virtual PC, you can configure it to suit your requirements. Virtual PC has a number of settings that control how the product interacts with the physical computer, allocates resources, and so on.

Easy installation

Virtual PC is simple to install. Any administrator can run the Virtual PC guided setup program, and installation doesn’t require a reboot. The first time Virtual PC starts, it guides you through the process of creating the first virtual machine.

Standardization

Configure and test upgrades and installations on virtual machines, and then you can deploy throughout your company a standard configuration that avoids problems caused by minor differences between hardware platforms.

Convenience

Users switch between operating systems as easily as they switch between applications. They simply click the window containing the virtual machine. They can pause individual virtual machines so they stop using CPU cycles on the physical computer. They can also save virtual machines to disk and restore them at a later time. The restoration process normally takes a few seconds-much faster than restarting the guest operating system.

Host integration

Users can copy, paste, drag, and drop between guest and host. Virtual PC provides additions that you install in a guest operating system to enable this functionality.

[ New Features ]

Integration with Windows XP Mode

Users can run many Windows XP productivity applications in Windows XP Mode, which is available for Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Ultimate, and Windows 7 Enterprise. Windows Virtual PC provides the integrated install experience for Windows XP Mode that is simple and easy to use.

USB support

Windows Virtual PC supports many USB devices such as printers, scanners, flash memory/sticks and external hard disks, digital cameras, and smart card readers.

Seamless application publishing and launching

Users can launch and use their line of business applications installed in the Windows XP Mode directly from a Windows 7 desktop, as if these are Windows 7 capable applications.

Support for multi threads

Users will be able to run multiple virtual machines concurrently, each running in its own thread, which improves stability and performance.

Clipboard sharing

Cut and paste between your Windows 7 host and any virtual machine.

Printer redirection

Ability to redirect printing from guest machine to printers attached on host machine. With integration features enabled, the drivers need to be present on the host as well as the guest. However, Basic Mode would not require host side drivers to be present necessarily.

Smart card redirection

Ability to support smart cards connected to the host, inside the guest operating system. Smart card redirection works in a similar way to printer redirection. It is not available with integration features enabled.

Drive sharing

Drive sharing is a more flexible sharing option. This includes sharing any mass storage devices. Virtual PC 2007 allowed folder sharing.

Integration with Windows Explorer

Windows Virtual PC console is integrated with Windows Explorer so that users can manage all of their virtual machines from an easily discoverable folder (%User%\Virtual Machines).

Known folder integration between host and guest

Users can access their Windows 7 Known Folders (such as My Documents, Pictures, Desktop, Music, Video) from within a virtualization Windows environment such as Windows XP Mode.

Support for higher resolutions

The allowable resolution for virtual machines has been extended up to 2048×1920 from 1600×1200.

[ Windows Virtual PC no longer supports following features ]

• Official guest support for operating systems earlier than Windows XP Professional
• Drag-and-drop file sharing between the guest and the host
• Direct sharing of folders between host and guest operating system (Only volumes may be shared between operating systems)
• Ability to commit changes in undo disks upon turning off virtual machines (Doing so is now only possible through virtual machine Settings dialog box)
• Parallel ports
• User interface controls for using virtual floppy disks (Virtual floppy disk functionality, however, is still supported and may be accessed using a script)
• Virtual PC additions for guest operating systems no longer supported have been removed. However, installing Virtual Machine Additions from an older Microsoft virtualization product works for some guest OSes.

[ Related Links ]

Windows Virtual PC Frequently Asked Questions

System requirements for Windows Virtual PC

Configure BIOS for Hardware Assisted Virtualization (HAV) PCs

Microsoft® Hardware-Assisted Virtualization Detection Tool

Compare Windows Virtual PC with Microsoft Virtual PC 2007

Wikipedia article about Windows Virtual PC

[ Version Explain ]

Windows Virtual PC is available free of charge for all editions of Windows 7, either pre-installed by OEMs or via download from the Microsoft website.

Windows XP Mode is available free of charge to users of Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate editions, either pre-installed by OEMs or via download from the Microsoft website.

If you are running Windows Vista or Windows XP on your physical machine, you can still use Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 to run multiple operating systems at the same time on the same physical computer.

Other, your PC must run genuine Windows 7 to install Windows XP Mode.

[ Official Download ]

 (For Windows Vista or Windows XP)

 (For Windows 7)

 (For Windows 7)