Microsoft Virtual PC 2007
About Virtual Technology
Virtual technology is making real world environment in logical or virtual way without using actual components. It may sounds like Simulation. With this technology you can simulate an environment with less effort / resources and cost. Microsoft Virtual PC uses this technology to provide real time OS in Virtual way.
Why I need Virtual Technology?
Virtual technology benefits, such as enabling a software developer to test their software, on different operating systems, before release. For instance, there’s no reason why you can’t host a copy of Windows ME, Windows 2000 and another copy of Windows XP, for testing purposes.
For instance, instead of trying and testing software on your computer, why not install a virtual PC for this purpose? This means that you can freely install as much software as you wish, without the installation affecting your everyday computer – you can decide what software you like to use, before you install on your computer, for real.
With virtual technology, you can simply switch back to a previous state. You can install your virtual operating system and save the current state (ie the current installation) and then switch back to that, at a later date, if your virtual operating system becomes unstable.
Virtual PC 2007 enables to host Windows Server 2003, XP, Vista, Linux, Unix as a virtual operating systems. It supports over 16000 Operating Systems.
Microsoft now provides all its new products in VHD (Virtual Hard Disk) format for evaluation.
The VHD has the OS and product installed by exerts. User just creates a Virtual Machine map the VHD. Ie. Don’t need to allocate a separate PC/Server to evaluate. No need to spend time/effort for Installation. Sounds cool huh?
You don’t need to buy Microsoft Virtual PC. Just visit Microsoft website and download the latest version of Virtual PC for Free. Download Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 SP1 @ http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=28C97D22-6EB8-4A09-A7F7-F6C7A1F000B5&displaylang=en
(Note: This URL taken at the time of creating this article, please check Virtual PC site for latest Version.)
Virtual PC Site: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/downloads/virtualpc/
Hardware requirements
400 MHz Pentium-compatible processor (1.0 GHz or faster recommended)
Min 512 MB RAM (2 GB RAM is recommended)
Min 35 MB of disk space
CD/DVD Drive (to install new OS on VM) or Image Drive Software (PowerISO, Nero) or VHD File of OS
Software requirements
Microsoft Windows (Windows XP/2003/Vista)
Each of the computers must be using the NTFS file system. Windows Server 2003 includes a conversion utility (Convert.exe) that you can use to convert an existing file allocation table (FAT) volume to NTFS without losing data.
Installation
Microsoft VPC installation is straight forward. Just execute the setup and follow the steps mentioned which are self explanatory.
Once Virtual PC setup finished, you’ll see Virtual PC Console. If you’re not getting the VPC console, Right click over Virtual PC icon on System Tray and select Show Virtual PC Console menu.
Now the Virtual PC is ready to use.
Create a New Virtual Machine
Now I gonna show you how to create a New Virtual Machine with Windows 2003 Server. Make sure your PC has minimum 512 MB RAM, 2 GB free space on Hard Disk, Windows 2003 Setup CD and CD Drive or Image file (.iso or .nrg) with Image Drive Software (PowerISO, Nero Full Version) or VHD File of the OS. You can download Evaluation VHD files of Windows 7/Windows Sever 2008 on Microsoft site at free cost. For this demo I use Windows Sever 2003 image file (.nrg) with PowerISO software.
1. We’ll create new Virtual Machine with required configuration. In virtual PC Console select File -> New Virtual Machine Wizard.
2. Click Next
Note: Virtual Machine file .vmc has the Virtual Machine settings. I recommend, create a folder in a drive which has more space and select for VMC.
! In some PCs, other programs try to take VPC’s RAM which results unexpected System reboot. Don’t execute High memory consuming applications while running Virtual PC.
7. Select A new virtual hard disk option.
8. Specify a name for VHD (Virtual Hard Disk) and memory space.
Note: VHD file grow rapidly based on programs/files you install/copy in VMC. You can specify even more than your Hard disk capacity, but when you save your VMC machine and it requires more memory than your hard disk have then it’ll show error.
9. Finish the VMC Wizard. The Virtual Machine is created and it’s like a New PC with Empty Hard Disk. You need to install an Operating System (and hardware drivers if required).
10. Now let’s see the VMC configuration. Click “Settings” on Virtual PC Console.
You’ll see the Configuration and you can alter this anytime except when the VMC is running (The settings will be disabled on that time).
11. If you want you can add More Hard disks of different location. This will be useful when you have free space on different drives. Each HD will be shown as different drive in VMC (like C:\, D:\). You can store files on drive which takes memory on location that mapped to the VHD.
12. Select Undo Disks and check “Enable Undo Disks”. This setting allows you to keep your VMC content safe from any crash on current session. (ie. All changes in VMC on current session will be stored in Undo Disk file which is like Buffer/Temp memory). When you wish, you can save all Buffer contents to original VHD which is called Merging VHDs. If the Enable Undo disk option is not selected, then all your changes will be saved directly in original VHD.
I recommend using Undo Disk always.
13. Select Networking and choose Network Adapter.
By default VPC selects the Network card which exists in Host PC.
If you enable this then you can use any shared folders from any PC on Network.
Rest of the settings is self explanatory.
14. Now insert Windows Server 2003 Setup CD on Drive. If you have Windows 2003 image then use PowerISO – Virtual Drive Manager or Nero – Image Drive. As I mentioned I am using Windows Server 2003.ngr image with PowerISO – VDM.
(Note: PowerISO is tiny CD Burning program, sizes about less than a MB having Virtual Drive Manager utility which mounts OS/CD images and shows as content CD inserted in Drive on the PC. You can create any number of virtual drives with this program where Nero 7 provides only 2 Image Drives. )
Right click on PowerISO and select Drive -> Mount Image. Then Select your Image file. Now in My Computer you’ll have new CD Drive icon along with all other drives and have the CD Contents.
Note: VPC identifies Primary CD Drive, if you have CD Drive and try to use OS image with PowerISO then VPC won’t take Virtual Drive. In this case disable CD Drive for sometime. (Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Computer Management -> Systems Tools -> Computer Management. Select, right click on CD Drive and disable.)
15. Now open Virtual PC Console, select the VMC and click Start. In the VMC window, select CD Menu -> Use Physical Drive (E:). Now VMC will show the Windows Server 2003 Setup Screen. Please follow the steps and finish.
16. Now you have a Virtual Machine with Windows Server 2003 on your own.
Try all your applications/programs on the server. The same way you can install Linux, Unix or any other OS. To login on VMC press Right Alt + Delete. (Ctrl + Alt + Delete will be on Host PC’s control)
Note: Once you click on VMC then your mouse may not come outside. Press Right Alt button to get back the mouse on Host PC. For Full screen and Restore use Right Alt + Enter.
17. Install Virtual Machine Additions. (Select VMC Window Action Menu -> Install Virtual Machine Additions.) It’ll install VM Additions which enable you copy files from Host PC to VPC via Drag and Drop and more other options.
18. After completing installation save State via VMC Action Menu -> Close -> Save State and Changes. This turns the VMC like stand by/Hibernate mode. Now you exit from Virtual PC. If you select Shut down option in VMC then you’ll get option only to save changes on Hard disk or delete changes. Save changes option will store all temp VHD contents to original VHD.
19. Save VHD after installing Windows Server 2003 and driver setups on Original VHD. For evaluating software start the VMC, install and evaluate. If you want save the state or delete the changes which keep your Server State untouched.
20. You can move the VHD to any other PC by copy the VHD and map a new VMC in the other PC. Note: You can’t copy VHD when VMC is running. Always save the state permanently on VHD before copying/moving to other PC. Same way you can use VHDs downloaded from Microsoft. Just Create new VMC and Map the VHD.
Disclaimer
This article created by me and no copyrights reserved. You are free to distribute, if you wish. Feedbacks/Suggestions are always welcome.
- Venkatesh R
2007
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