Virtual PC

Connectix Virtual PC, Microsoft Virtual PC 2004, Microsoft Virtual PC 2007, and Windows Virtual PC are successive versions of the same software. Versions of Virtual PC by Microsoft runs on several versions of Windows, beginning with Windows 2000 in Virtual PC 2004 and later Windows XP in Virtual PC 2007 onwards. These older versions were still available and support operating systems older than Windows XP. Windows Virtual PC only runs on Windows 7 and only supports versions of Windows beginning with Windows XP. Starting in Windows 8, Microsoft replaced Virtual PC with Hyper-V.

File:Virtual PC 3 for Mac OS running Windows 95.png Virtual PC version 3 in Mac OS 9, running a Brazilian Portuguese edition of Windows 95]]

Virtual PC was originally developed as a Macintosh application for System 7.5 and released by Connectix in June 1997.{{cite web|title=PC in a Mac|url=http://www.yale.edu/engineering/eng-info/msg00234.html|website=Yale Engineering Home newsgroup|publisher=Yale University|access-date=21 March 2015|date=8 April 1997|quote=[...]Connectix Virtual PC is designed to run on Power PC systems running System 7.5 or later. Pricing will be announced when the product becomes generally available for the retail channel in June 1997.|archive-date=October 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018045531/http://www.yale.edu/engineering/eng-info/msg00234.html|url-status=live}} The first version of Virtual PC designed for Windows-based systems, version 4.0, was released in June 2001. Virtual PC 4 was the first version with expandable drive images.

Connectix sold versions of Virtual PC bundled with a variety of guest operating systems, including Windows, OS/2, and Red Hat Linux. As virtualization's importance to enterprise users became clear, Microsoft took interest in the sector and acquired Virtual PC and Virtual Server (unreleased at the time) from Connectix in February 2003.

Under agreement with Connectix, Innotek GmbH (makers of VirtualBox, now part of Oracle) ported version 5.0 to run on an OS/2 host.[https://web.archive.org/web/20060324234502/http://www.bityard.com/article.php?sid=100#Adds Innotek/Connectix Virtual PC] This version also included guest extensions (VM additions) for OS/2 guests, which could run on Windows, OS/2 or Mac OS X hosts using Virtual PC versions 5, 6 or 7. A new version of the guest extensions was later included with Microsoft's Virtual PC 2004.

{{More citations needed section|date=March 2011}}

File:Microsoft Virtual PC icon.png

File:Virtualpc.png

File:Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 Running Knoppix.jpg OS Knoppix]]

On July 12, 2006, Microsoft released Virtual PC 2004 SP1 for Windows free of charge, however the Mac version remained a paid software. The equivalent version for Mac, version 7, was the final version of Virtual PC for Mac. It ran on Mac OS X 10.2.8 or later for PowerPC and was a proprietary commercial software product.{{cite web |title=Virtual PC 7 for Mac |url=https://www.microsoft.com/australia/office/mac/virtualpc7/default.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100729173443/http://www.microsoft.com/australia/office/mac/virtualpc7/default.aspx |archive-date=July 29, 2010 |access-date=June 10, 2010 |work=Microsoft for Mac – Australian website |publisher=Microsoft corporation}}

Virtual PC 2007 was released only for the Windows platform, with public beta testing beginning October 11, 2006, and production release on February 19, 2007. It added support for hardware virtualization, "undo disks", transfer statistic monitor for disk and network, and viewing virtual machines on multiple monitors and support for Windows Vista as both host and guest. The Windows Aero interface is disabled on Windows Vista guests due to limitations of the emulated video hardware; however, Aero effects can be rendered by connecting to the guest via Remote Desktop Services from an Aero-enabled Windows Vista host, provided that the guest is running Windows Vista Business or a higher edition.{{cite web |last1=Conner |first1=Matt |title=Virtual PC 2007 User Interface |url=https://www.zdnet.com/pictures/virtual-pc-2007-user-interface/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150920121236/http://www.zdnet.com/pictures/virtual-pc-2007-user-interface/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 20, 2015 |website=ZDNet |access-date=2 November 2021 |language=en-us |date=2007-03-06 |quote=Shows basic Input/Output activity through the network and storage interfaces.}}{{cite web |title= Viewing online file analysis results for 'PXE_Diag.exe' |url=https://www.hybrid-analysis.com/sample/0294fa25155c8cfa4ff5fe9bd73b90a30f4f97dbe0e0cc0342ae3950af8fdba3/5d40771d0388388f827b23cb |website=www.hybrid-analysis.com |access-date=2 November 2021 |date=2019-07-30 |quote=IDE controller, Ethernet controller, Reads, Writes}} It initially did not support home editions of Windows as host OSes such as Windows XP Home Edition,{{Cite web |title=Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 on Windows XP Home Edition |url=https://www.labnol.org/software/tutorials/install-virtual-pc-2007-windows-xp-home/1539/ |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=Digital Inspiration}} Windows Vista Home Basic and Home Premium, however a hotfix for Virtual PC 2007 SP1 issued on February 20, 2009 (see below) rectified this. Windows XP Starter, Windows XP Media Center Edition and Windows Vista Starter is not supported on Virtual PC 2007, however the former and the latter are still supported as a guest OS. Support for Windows 2000 Professional as a host OS was dropped in Virtual PC 2007 and will not install at all on Windows 2000 hosts, however it is still supported as a guest OS.

"Undo disks" make it possible to revert virtual machines' state to an earlier point by storing changes into a separate .vud file since the last save to the main .vhd file, which can be used for experimenting. The VHD file acts as a snapshot. The undo disk file (.vud) incrementally stores changes made by the virtual machine compared to the main Virtual hard disk drive (VHD) image, which can be applied or discarded by the user. If deactivated, changes are directly written to the VHD file.{{cite web |title=Microsoft Windows Virtual PC and Undo Disks |url=http://www.dabcc.com/microsoft-windows-virtual-pc-and-undo-disks/ |website=dabcc.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804071608/http://www.dabcc.com/microsoft-windows-virtual-pc-and-undo-disks/ |archive-date=2017-08-04 |date=2009-08-19}}

On May 15, 2008, Microsoft released Virtual PC 2007 Service Pack 1, which added support for both Windows XP SP3, Windows Vista SP1 and Windows 7 as guest and host OSes, as well as Windows Server 2008 Standard as a guest OS.{{cite web |last=Protalinski |first=Emil |url=https://arstechnica.com/journals/microsoft.ars/2008/05/15/microsoft-drops-some-details-on-upcoming-virtual-pc-2007-sp1 |title=Microsoft releases Virtual PC 2007 SP1 |work=Ars Technica |publisher=Condé Nast |date=15 May 2008 |access-date=16 June 2013 |archive-date=December 7, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207020639/http://arstechnica.com/journals/microsoft.ars/2008/05/15/microsoft-drops-some-details-on-upcoming-virtual-pc-2007-sp1 |url-status=live }}{{cite web | title = Virtual PC 2007 SP1 Release Notes | publisher = Microsoft | date = May 15, 2008 | url = https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=9f3d3eb5-5e03-4712-999c-e96f91bdf128&displaylang=en | access-date = June 28, 2009 | archive-date = June 27, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090627181549/http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=9f3d3eb5-5e03-4712-999c-e96f91bdf128&displaylang=en | url-status = live }} A hotfix rollup for Virtual PC 2007 SP1, released February 20, 2009, solved networking issues and enhanced the maximum screen resolution to 2048×1920 (32-bit),{{cite web |url=http://support.microsoft.com/kb/958162 |title=Description of the hotfix rollup package for Virtual PC 2007 Service Pack 1: February 20, 2009 (revision 2.0) |work=Support |publisher=Microsoft |date=8 October 2011 |access-date=16 June 2013 |archive-date=March 3, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150303211456/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/958162 |url-status=live }} enabling 16:9 resolutions such as 1920×1080. It also added official support for Windows XP Home Edition, Windows Vista Home Basic and Home Premium as both guest and host OSes. A security update was released on July 14, 2009 to address an elevation of privilege vulnerability in guest operating systems.{{cite web |url=https://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS09-033.mspx |title=Microsoft Security Bulletin MS09-033 - Important: Vulnerability in Virtual PC and Virtual Server Could Allow Elevation of Privilege (969856) |publisher=Microsoft |date= March 9, 2010 |access-date=October 19, 2016 |archive-date=June 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628014722/http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/Bulletin/MS09-033.mspx |url-status=live }}

Microsoft Virtual PC (2004 and 2007) does not work at all on Windows 10 64-bit,{{Cite web | url=https://www.betaarchive.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=61&t=38406&p=430953&hilit=virtual+PC+windows+10#p430953 | title=View topic - Couldn't get sound to work on Whistler server Build 2493 - BetaArchive | access-date=August 28, 2018 | archive-date=August 28, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828134554/https://www.betaarchive.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=61&t=38406&p=430953&hilit=virtual+PC+windows+10#p430953 | url-status=live }} and even on 32-bit platforms lack internet connectivity due to the lack of the VPC driver. This also impacts Windows Mobile emulators.

Windows Virtual PC entered public beta testing on April 30, 2009,{{cite web | last = Hachman | first = Mark | title = Microsoft Posts Windows Virtual PC Beta | work = PC Magazine | publisher = Ziff-Davis | date = April 30, 2009 | url = https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2346296,00.asp | access-date = June 28, 2009 | archive-date = May 4, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090504083659/http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2346296,00.asp | url-status = live }} and was released alongside Windows 7 on July 22, 2009.{{cite web | title = Windows Virtual PC | publisher = Microsoft.com | url = http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/default.aspx | access-date = May 29, 2009 | archive-date = May 28, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090528055804/http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/default.aspx | url-status = live }} Windows Virtual PC is available free of charge for certain editions of Windows 7, either pre-installed by OEMs or via download from the Microsoft website. Unlike its predecessors, it supports only Windows 7 host operating systems. It originally required hardware virtualization support but on March 19, 2010, Microsoft released an update to Microsoft Virtual PC which allows it to run on PCs without hardware support.

New features include:{{cite web |title= Compare some of the many features of Virtual PC 2007 to Windows Virtual PC |publisher= Microsoft Corporation |url= http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/features/compare.aspx |access-date= May 29, 2009 |archive-date= May 4, 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090504101610/http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/features/compare.aspx |url-status= live }}

• USB support and redirection – connect peripherals such as flash drives and digital cameras, and print from the guest to host OS printers. However, USB isochronous transfer mode is not supported{{cite web |url=http://www.acommit.ch/Portals/0/Windows%207%20RC%20Partnerevent%20Mischa%20Faden.pdf |first=Michael |last=Faden |title=Selling Windows 7 to Enterprise |publisher=Acommit AG |work=acommit.ch |date=13 May 2009 |access-date=16 June 2013 |archive-date=July 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706221154/http://www.acommit.ch/Portals/0/Windows%207%20RC%20Partnerevent%20Mischa%20Faden.pdf |url-status=live }} Other methods involve simply just treating an active drive letter from a USB flash drive as a virtual hard drive.
• Seamless application publishing and launching – run Windows XP Mode applications directly from the Windows 7 desktop
• Support for multithreading – run multiple virtual machines concurrently, each in its own thread for improved stability and performance
• Smart card redirection – use smart cards connected to the host
• Integration with Windows Explorer – manage all VMs from a single Explorer folder (%USERPROFILE%\Virtual Machines)

• The Virtual Machine console is replaced by an integrated Virtual Machines shell folder. Several options from the console have been removed such as Restore at start, CPU time performance settings, muting sound in inactive virtual machines, full-screen resolution related options, configuring the host key, mouse capture options and settings for requiring administrator permissions.{{cite web |url=http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7itprovirt/thread/38fa2da8-5a22-4dad-8521-d4e108b0f2df/ |title=Are Windows Virtual PC "Options" Still available ? |work=TechNet Forums |publisher=Microsoft |date=January 3, 2011 |access-date=16 June 2013 |archive-date=July 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714090300/http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7itprovirt/thread/38fa2da8-5a22-4dad-8521-d4e108b0f2df/ |url-status=live }}{{Unreliable source?|date=June 2013}}{{Unreliable source?|date=June 2013}}
• Official guest support for operating systems earlier than Windows XP Professional
• Drag-and-drop file sharing between the guest and the host{{cite web | url = http://blogs.technet.com/windows_vpc/archive/2009/08/04/windows-virtual-pc.aspx#3273920 | title = Windows Virtual PC | work = Windows Virtual PC blog | publisher = Microsoft corporation | date = August 4, 2009 | access-date = June 9, 2010 | quote = @EnricoG: Drag and Drop is not a supported feature in WVPC. Clipboard sharing (for cut, copy and paste) and drive/folder sharing are supported. | archive-date = April 10, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100410151402/http://blogs.technet.com/windows_vpc/archive/2009/08/04/windows-virtual-pc.aspx#3273920 | url-status = live }}{{Unreliable source?|reason = This information is given in the comments section, not in the blog post itself.|date=June 2010}}
• Direct sharing of folders between host and guest operating system (Only volumes may be shared between operating systems){{cite web | url = http://blogs.technet.com/b/windows_vpc/archive/2009/12/22/folder-sharing-between-windows-7-and-vm.aspx | title = Folder Sharing between Windows 7 and VM | work = Windows Virtual PC blog | publisher = Microsoft corporation | date = December 21, 2009 | access-date = August 20, 2010 | archive-date = June 17, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110617110803/http://blogs.technet.com/b/windows_vpc/archive/2009/12/22/folder-sharing-between-windows-7-and-vm.aspx | url-status = live }}
• Ability to commit changes in undo disks upon turning off virtual machines (Doing so is now only possible through virtual machine Settings dialog box){{cite web | url = http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2009/08/18/windows-virtual-pc-and-undo-disks.aspx | title = Windows Virtual PC and Undo Disks | work = Virtual PC Guy's Blog | publisher = Microsoft corporation | date = September 18, 2009 | access-date = June 9, 2010 | last = Armstrong | first = Ben | archive-date = February 8, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100208235756/http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2009/08/18/windows-virtual-pc-and-undo-disks.aspx | url-status = live }}
• Ability to use physical and virtual Parallel ports{{cite web | url = http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2009/06/26/creating-virtual-hard-disks-with-windows-virtual-pc.aspx#9831105 | work = Virtual PC Guy's Blog | publisher = Microsoft corporation | title = Creating Virtual Hard Disks with Windows Virtual PC | date = June 26, 2009 | access-date = June 9, 2010 | first = Ben | last = Armstrong | quote = Windows Virtual PC does not support parallel ports. As Tom mentions, you will have to use a USB adapter if you want this functionality. | archive-date = February 1, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100201050654/http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2009/06/26/creating-virtual-hard-disks-with-windows-virtual-pc.aspx#9831105 | url-status = live }}
• User interface controls for using virtual floppy disks (Virtual floppy disk functionality, however, is still supported and may be accessed using a script){{cite web | url = http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2009/10/01/using-floppy-disks-with-windows-virtual-pc.aspx | title = Using Floppy Disks with Windows Virtual PC | work = Virtual PC Guy's Blog | publisher = Microsoft corporation | date = October 1, 2009 | access-date = June 9, 2010 | first = Ben | last = Armstrong | archive-date = October 4, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091004072451/http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2009/10/01/using-floppy-disks-with-windows-virtual-pc.aspx | url-status = live }}
• 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.{{cite web |url=http://blogs.msdn.com/b/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2007/10/30/installing-dos-additions-under-vpc-2007.aspx |title=Installing DOS additions under VPC 2007 |work=Ben Armstrong's Virtualization Blog |publisher=Microsoft |date=Oct 31, 2007 |access-date=16 June 2013 |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629020441/http://blogs.msdn.com/b/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2007/10/30/installing-dos-additions-under-vpc-2007.aspx |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://blogs.msdn.com/b/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2010/05/27/installing-windows-98-on-windows-virtual-pc.aspx |title=Installing Windows 98 on Windows Virtual PC |publisher=Blogs.msdn.com |access-date=16 June 2013 |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629224840/http://blogs.msdn.com/b/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2010/05/27/installing-windows-98-on-windows-virtual-pc.aspx |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://blogs.msdn.com/b/cjacks/archive/2010/07/19/using-virtual-pc-2004-additions-to-enhance-the-windows-2000-guest-experience-on-windows-virtual-pc.aspx |title=Using Virtual PC 2004 Additions to Enhance the Windows 2000 Guest Experience on Windows Virtual PC |work=The App Compat Guy |publisher=Microsoft |date=19 July 2010 |access-date=16 June 2013 |archive-date=July 24, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100724014104/http://blogs.msdn.com/b/cjacks/archive/2010/07/19/using-virtual-pc-2004-additions-to-enhance-the-windows-2000-guest-experience-on-windows-virtual-pc.aspx |url-status=live }}
• Properties of the virtual machine, like guest OS, processor, processor features, video mode, video RAM, code cache, IDE controller reads and writes, Ethernet reads and writes, video frame rate and command line options can no longer be viewed.{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}}

System requirements for Windows Virtual PC:{{cite web |url=https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx%3Fid=8002 |title=Download Windows Virtual PC from Official Microsoft Download Center |publisher=Microsoft.com |access-date=2017-07-19 |archive-date=July 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170720030919/http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8002 |url-status=live }}{{cite web | title = Windows XP Mode for Windows 7 brochure | publisher = Microsoft corporation | url = http://download.microsoft.com/download/7/5/A/75A2C993-BFCC-47D0-8B6C-7C8CE2BA9833/Windows%20XP%20Mode%20for%20Windows%207_brochure.pdf | year = 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160825230747/http://download.microsoft.com/download/7/5/A/75A2C993-BFCC-47D0-8B6C-7C8CE2BA9833/Windows%20XP%20Mode%20for%20Windows%207_brochure.pdf | archive-date = 2016-08-25 | access-date = 2017-07-19}}

• Computer running Windows 7 (all editions except Starter)
• 15 GB of hard disk space per virtual Windows environment
• Optional: if the processor supports hardware-assisted virtualization technology such as AMD-V or Intel-VT, it will be used. Before March 19, 2010, such a processor was mandatory.

File:Windows 7 XP Mode.png Mode.]]

Windows XP Mode (XPM){{cite web |url = https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8002|title = Download Windows XP Mode|work = Official Microsoft Download Center|publisher = Microsoft Corporation|access-date = January 2, 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140723215537/http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/confirmation.aspx?id=8002|archive-date = July 23, 2014|url-status = live}}{{cite web | title=Windows XP Mode in Windows 7 and Virtual PC – Part 1: Maintaining Application Compatibility | url=http://capitalhead.com/articles/windows-xp-mode-in-windows-7-and-virtual-pc---part-1-maintaining-application-compatibility.aspx | access-date=June 16, 2009 | archive-date=June 1, 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090601220911/http://capitalhead.com/articles/windows-xp-mode-in-windows-7-and-virtual-pc---part-1-maintaining-application-compatibility.aspx | url-status=live }} is a virtual machine package for Windows Virtual PC containing a pre-installed, licensed copy of Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 3 as its guest OS. Previously, both the CPU and motherboard of the host had to support hardware virtualization,{{cite web |last=Heng |first=Christopher |title=Free PC/Intel x86 Emulators and Virtual Machines |url=http://www.thefreecountry.com/emulators/pc.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130105022509/http://www.thefreecountry.com/emulators/pc.shtml |archive-date=January 5, 2013 |access-date=16 June 2013 |work=thefreecountry.com |publisher=TheFreeCountry}} but an update in early 2010 eliminated this requirement.{{cite web |url = http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/support/faq.aspx |title = Windows Virtual PC: FAQ |work = Windows Virtual PC website |publisher = Microsoft Corporation |access-date = November 22, 2010 |archive-date = March 16, 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130316070239/http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/support/faq.aspx |url-status = live }} Pre-installed integration components allow applications running within the virtualized environment to appear as if running directly on the host,{{Cite web |url=http://withinwindows.com/within-windows/2009/04/24/secret-no-more-revealing-windows-xp-mode-for-windows-7 |title=Secret No More: Revealing Windows XP Mode for Windows 7 |work=Within Windows |first1=Rafael |last1=Rivera |first2=Paul |last2=Thurrott |date=April 24, 2009 |access-date=16 June 2013 |archive-date=June 30, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130630104452/http://withinwindows.com/within-windows/2009/04/24/secret-no-more-revealing-windows-xp-mode-for-windows-7 |url-status=live }} sharing the native desktop and start menu of Windows 7 as well as participating in file type associations. Windows XP Mode applications run in a Terminal Services session in the virtualized Windows XP, and are accessed via Remote Desktop Protocol by a client running on the Windows 7 host.{{cite web |url = http://www.withinwindows.com/2009/04/28/windows-xp-mode-internals-part-2-application-publishing-magic/|author = Rafael Rivera|title = Windows XP Mode Internals – Part 2 (Application Publishing Magic)|access-date = April 30, 2009|publisher = WithinWindows.com|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150511135410/http://withinwindows.com/2009/04/28/windows-xp-mode-internals-part-2-application-publishing-magic/|archive-date = May 11, 2015|url-status = dead}}

Applications running in Windows XP Mode do not have compatibility issues, as they are actually running inside a Windows XP virtual machine and redirected using RDP to the Windows 7 host. Windows XP Mode may be used to run 16-bit applications; it includes NTVDM, however it is impossible to run 16-bit applications that require hardware acceleration, as Windows Virtual PC does not have hardware acceleration for such applications.

Windows XP Mode is available free of charge to users of Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate. Users of other editions of Windows 7 are not eligible to download and use it.{{cite web | url = http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx | title = Download Windows XP Mode | work = Windows Virtual PC website | publisher = Microsoft Corporation | access-date = November 22, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120628234800/http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx | archive-date = June 28, 2012 | url-status = dead | quote = (After selecting an inappropriate edition of Windows 7) You are not eligible to download Windows XP Mode. You must have Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, or Ultimate to run Windows XP Mode.}} This restriction does not apply to Windows Virtual PC itself.

Windows XP Mode can also be run with VMware Player and VMware Workstation. However, like with Windows Virtual PC itself, VMware products only import Windows XP Mode on Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, or Ultimate versions in order to adhere with Microsoft licensing requirements.{{cite web |url = http://www.mydigitallife.info/run-xp-mode-in-vmware-workstation-or-player-with-activation-intact/ |title = Run XP Mode in VMware Workstation or Player with Activation Intact |work = My Digital Life |date = May 13, 2010 |access-date = May 28, 2014 |archive-date = May 29, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140529051709/http://www.mydigitallife.info/run-xp-mode-in-vmware-workstation-or-player-with-activation-intact/ |url-status = live }}

Virtual PC emulates the following environments:{{cite web|work=Microsoft.com|title=Overview of the technical specifications of virtual machines in Virtual PC 2004|date=October 27, 2004|access-date=May 23, 2010|url=http://support.microsoft.com/kb/833144|archive-date=March 28, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100328153230/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/833144|url-status=live}}

• Intel Pentium II (32-bit) processor (but virtualizes the host processor on Windows versions) with an Intel 440BX chipset (with PIIX4E southbridge).
• Standard SVGA VESA graphics card (S3 Trio32 PCI with 4 MB video RAM, adjustable in later versions up to 16 MB by manually editing a virtual machine's settings file).
• System BIOS from American Megatrends (AMI).
• Creative Labs Sound Blaster 16 ISA PnP. (When Windows Vista is installed as both the host (main) and guest (virtual) operating systems, settings are synchronized with the host and audio configuration is not required.)
• DEC 21041 (DEC 21140 in newer versions) Ethernet network card.
• Programs using undocumented features of hardware, exotic timings, or unsupported opcodes may not work.

Implementation:

• The Macintosh version of Virtual PC uses dynamic recompilation to translate the x86 code used by PCs into equivalent PowerPC code for Macs.
• The Windows version of Virtual PC also uses dynamic recompilation, but only to translate x86 kernel mode and real mode code into x86 user mode code; original user mode and virtual 8086 mode code run natively.
• Guest call traps are used, especially for guest extensions, to accelerate emulation or offer additional features, such as integration with the host environment.
• Virtual PC and Virtual Server encapsulate virtual hard disks in the Virtual Hard Disk (VHD) file format, for which Microsoft has made all documentation available under the Open Specification Promise.

Virtual PC 4 requires Mac OS 8.5 or later on a G3 or G4 processor, but running Windows Me, Windows 2000 or Red Hat Linux requires Mac OS 9.0 or later. Virtual PC 5 requires Mac OS 9.1 or newer or Mac OS X 10.1 or later. For USB support, Mac OS X is recommended. To run Virtual PC 5 in Mac OS X, a 400 MHz or faster processor is required.

Earlier versions of Virtual PC supported the following features: (now removed in Microsoft Virtual PC 2004, 2007, and Windows Virtual PC):

• Older versions of Virtual PC (v5.0 or earlier) may have the hard disk formatted after creating the Virtual Hard Disk file. Newer versions must partition and format the Virtual Hard Disk file manually.
• A Virtual Switch available in Virtual PC version 4.1 or earlier allows adding multiple network adapters.
• Older operating systems are supported with Virtual Machine additions.
• Older versions of Virtual PC for Macintosh can run on Mac OS 9.2.2 or earlier. Support for System 7.5 was dropped in version 3.

Windows Virtual PC may enable guest operating systems running inside virtual machines to interact with their host operating system beyond what is feasible between two physical computers, such as sharing physical hardware components or exchanging data. To do so however, integration components must be installed on the guest operating systems. When no integration component is installed, the only mean of communicating between two machines (either virtual or physical) is through a virtual network interface. Even the mouse cursor can only be controlled by one operating system (either real or virtual) at any given time. However, once the Integration Components are installed on the guest operating systems, the following features are automatically activated:{{Cite book | last = Tulloch | first = Mitch | year = 2010 | title = Understanding Microsoft Virtualization Solutions, From the Desktop to the Datacenter | edition = 2nd | publisher = Microsoft Press | location = Redmond, WA | pages = 133–136 | url = http://download.microsoft.com/download/5/B/4/5B46A838-67BB-4F7C-92CB-EABCA285DFDD/693821ebook.pdf | access-date = November 27, 2010 | archive-date = November 6, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101106000502/http://download.microsoft.com/DOWNLOAD/5/B/4/5B46A838-67BB-4F7C-92CB-EABCA285DFDD/693821EBOOK.PDF | url-status = live }}

• Mouse cursor sharing: Mouse cursor can be moved freely between the machines.
• Host-initiated shutdown: Virtual machine can be shut down, restarted or put into standby or hibernation via a set of API functions.
• Time synchronization: The virtual machine's clock will be automatically synchronized with the host operating system's clock.
• Process responsiveness monitoring: Host operating system will be able to detect whether the software on the guest operating system is responsive or hung.
• Dynamic screen resolution: The screen resolution of the guest operating system can be changed by simply resizing the window in which it is running. However, the VM can be configured to allow only standard resolutions.

In addition to features described above, guest operating systems may also take advantage of the following integration features but only when the administrator activates them:

• Audio sharing: Audio played on the guest operating system may be brought to the host operating system and played on it.
• Clipboard sharing: Contents such as text, picture or everything that is cut or copied to Windows Clipboard maybe pasted in other machines.
• Printer sharing: Guest operating systems may print on the host operating system's printer. This feature should not be confused with File and Printer Sharing over an emulated network connection.
• Smart card sharing: Smart cards connected to host operating system may be accessed on guest operating systems.
• File sharing: Windows Virtual PC can also share disk partitions and disk drives of the host operating system with guest operating systems. This includes USB mass storage devices that are connected later.{{cite web | url = http://blogs.technet.com/b/windows_vpc/archive/2009/12/14/usb-architecture-in-windows-virtual-pc.aspx | title = USB Architecture in Windows Virtual PC | work = Windows Virtual PC blog | publisher = Microsoft corporation | date = December 13, 2009 | access-date = August 20, 2010 | archive-date = June 17, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110617110833/http://blogs.technet.com/b/windows_vpc/archive/2009/12/14/usb-architecture-in-windows-virtual-pc.aspx | url-status = live }}

In Windows Virtual PC, enabling integration features automatically makes the virtual machine user account accessible using Remote Desktop Connection.

Virtual PC allows multiple guest operating systems to run virtualized on a single physical host. Although a number of popular host and guest operating systems lack official Microsoft support, there are sometimes few, if any, technical obstacles impeding installation. Instead, a configuration may be unsupported due to Microsoft's own licensing restrictions, or a decision to focus testing and support resources elsewhere, especially when production use of a legacy product fades.

A program manager on Microsoft's core virtualization team explains what official support entails:

{{blockquote|With each release of Virtual PC we spend a significant amount of time trying to decide which (guest) operating system should be officially supported. While Virtual PC is capable of running many operating systems, official support for an operating system means that we will test it thoroughly, not ship Virtual PC if an issue exists with that operating system, and provide full support for customers who encounter problems while running these operating systems under Virtual PC.{{cite web | last = Armstrong | first = Ben | title = Why won't the Virtual PC 2007 Virtual Machine Additions load on Windows 95? | work = Virtual PC Guy's Weblog | publisher = MSDN Blogs | date = January 3, 2007 | url = http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2007/01/03/why-won-t-the-virtual-pc-2007-virtual-machine-additions-load-on-windows-95.aspx | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = January 25, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100125040143/http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2007/01/03/why-won-t-the-virtual-pc-2007-virtual-machine-additions-load-on-windows-95.aspx | url-status = live }}|Ben Armstrong, "Virtual PC Guy"}}

As a product positioned for desktop use, Virtual PC provides official support for a different set of operating systems than its server-oriented counterpart, Microsoft Virtual Server and the more advanced Hyper-V.{{cite web | title = Microsoft Virtualization Technologies | work = Infrastructure Planning and Design | publisher = Microsoft TechNet | date = February 25, 2008 | url = https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb897466.aspx | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = March 1, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090301054721/http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb897466.aspx | url-status = live }} While the latter products support a range of server operating systems,{{cite web | title = Virtual Server 2005 Frequently Asked Questions | work = Microsoft Virtual Server | publisher = Microsoft.com | date = May 14, 2008 | url = http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/virtualserver/evaluation/virtualizationfaq.mspx | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = July 3, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090703094510/http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/virtualserver/evaluation/virtualizationfaq.mspx | url-status = live }}{{cite web | title = Virtualization with Hyper-V: Supported Guest Operating Systems | work = Windows Server 2008 – Product Information | publisher = Microsoft.com | date = | url = http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/hyperv-supported-guest-os.aspx | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = August 25, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090825175116/http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/hyperv-supported-guest-os.aspx | url-status = live }} Virtual PC 2007 supports only one variety as host and another as guest; its successor, Windows Virtual PC, supports none. And, whereas Virtual Server and Hyper-V have officially supported select Linux guests since 2006{{cite web | last = Armstrong | first = Ben | title = Linux is now supported under Virtual Server | work = Virtual PC Guy's Weblog | publisher = MSDN Blogs | date = April 3, 2006 | url = http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2006/04/03/566273.aspx | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = August 26, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090826235657/http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2006/04/03/566273.aspx | url-status = live }} and 2008, respectively, {{as of|2009|lc=on}}, no Microsoft release of Virtual PC has officially supported Linux. Nonetheless, a number of Linux distributions{{cite web | last = Earp | first = Sean | title = Linux on Hyper-V | work = The Sean Blog | publisher = Microsoft TechNet | date = June 29, 2008 | url = http://blogs.technet.com/seanearp/archive/2008/06/29/linux-on-hyper-v.aspx | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = March 14, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090314102402/http://blogs.technet.com/seanearp/archive/2008/06/29/linux-on-hyper-v.aspx | url-status = live }} (Also links to individual posts on installing various Linux distributions in Virtual PC 2007.) do run successfully in Virtual PC 2007, and can be used with the Virtual Machine Additions from Virtual Server (see below).{{cite web | title = Virtual Machine Additions for Linux | work = Microsoft Download Center | publisher = Microsoft.com | date = October 24, 2007 | url = http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=bf12642f-77dc-4d45-ae4e-e1b05e0a2674&DisplayLang=en | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = July 6, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090706003836/http://www.microsoft.com/downloadS/details.aspx?FamilyID=bf12642f-77dc-4d45-ae4e-e1b05e0a2674&displaylang=en | url-status = live }} Lastly, while 64-bit host support was introduced with Virtual PC 2007, {{as of|2009|alt=no}} release has been able to virtualize a 64-bit guest;{{cite web | last = Cummings | first = Joanne | title = Microsoft Virtual PC: Good Enough – for the Price | work = Redmondmag.com | publisher = 1105 Media | date = November 1, 2006 | url = http://redmondmag.com/Articles/2006/11/01/Microsoft-Virtual-PC-Good-Enough--for-the-Price.aspx?Page=1 | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = July 27, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110727112251/http://redmondmag.com/Articles/2006/11/01/Microsoft-Virtual-PC-Good-Enough--for-the-Price.aspx?Page=1 | url-status = live }}{{cite web | last = Woolsey | first = Jeff | title = Microsoft Virtualization and Virtual PC 2007 | work = Microsoft Virtualization Team Blog | publisher = Microsoft TechNet | date = July 10, 2007 | url = http://blogs.technet.com/virtualization/archive/2007/07/10/microsoft-virtualization-and-virtual-pc-2007.aspx | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = February 23, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090223003850/http://blogs.technet.com/virtualization/archive/2007/07/10/microsoft-virtualization-and-virtual-pc-2007.aspx | url-status = live }}{{cite web | last = Savill | first = John | title = Does Windows Virtual PC in Windows 7 support 64-bit guest OSs? | work = Windows IT Pro | publisher = Penton Media | date = May 7, 2009 | url = http://windowsitpro.com/article/articleid/102040/q-does-windows-virtual-pc-in-windows-7-support-64-bit-guest-oss.html | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = March 31, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210331163405/https://www.itprotoday.com/ | url-status = live }} Microsoft has thus far reserved this functionality for Hyper-V, which runs only on 64-bit (x64) editions of Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2016, Windows 8/8.1 Pro and Enterprise, and Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education.

In the following table and notes, "support" refers to official Microsoft support, as described above.

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{{refbegin}}

Notes – details of Microsoft support

{{ordered list|list-style-type=upper-latin|style=font-size:95%

|1= {{note label|A|A|1}}{{note label|A|A|2}} Supported editions: OS/2 Warp Version 4 Fix Pack 15, OS/2 Warp Convenience Pack 1, and OS/2 Warp Convenience Pack 2.

|2= {{note label|B|B|1}} Support added in Virtual PC 2004 Service Pack 1 (SP1) for Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition as a host.

|3= {{note label|C|C|1}}{{note label|C|C|2}}{{note label|C|C|3}}{{note label|C|C|4}}{{note label|C|C|5}} For Virtual PC 2007, Microsoft designated the following legacy operating systems "compatible", but discontinued official support: MS-DOS 6.22, Windows NT 4.0 Workstation, Windows 95, the original release of Windows 98 and Windows Me.

|4= {{note label|D|D|1}}{{note label|D|D|2}}{{note label|D|D|3}}{{note label|D|D|4}} For Windows Vista guests in Virtual PC 2007, the Windows Aero graphical user interface is disabled due to limitations of the emulated S3 Trio{{cite web | last = Armstrong | first = Ben | title = Why we emulated the devices that we do? | work = Virtual PC Guy's WebLog | publisher = MSDN Blogs | date = January 26, 2005 | url = http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2005/01/26/361361.aspx | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = June 6, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090606040136/http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2005/01/26/361361.aspx | url-status = live }}

graphics card; the interface falls back to the Vista Home Basic theme. However, Aero effects can be rendered by connecting to the guest via Remote Desktop Connection from an Aero-enabled host.{{cite news | last = Savill | first = John | title = Running the Aero UI When Using Virtual PC 2007 | work = Windows IT Pro | publisher = Penton Media | date = June 2007 | url = http://windowsitpro.com/article/articleid/95814/running-the-aero-ui-when-using-virtual-pc-2007.html | format = Fee required | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = March 31, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210331163350/https://www.itprotoday.com/ | url-status = live }}{{cite web | last = Schweigert | first = Marc | title = Get the Windows Vista Aero theme in a Guest OS using Virtual PC 2007 | work = Microsoft Public Sector Developer and Platform Evangelism Team Blog | publisher = MSDN Blogs | date = March 14, 2007 | url = http://blogs.msdn.com/publicsector/archive/2007/03/14/get-the-windows-vista-aero-theme-in-a-guest-os-using-virtual-pc-2007.aspx | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = June 19, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090619125408/http://blogs.msdn.com/publicsector/archive/2007/03/14/get-the-windows-vista-aero-theme-in-a-guest-os-using-virtual-pc-2007.aspx | url-status = live }}

|5= {{note label|E|E|1}} Support added in Virtual PC 2007 Service Pack 1 (SP1) for Windows Server 2008 Standard as a guest.

|6= {{note label|F|F|1}}{{note label|F|F|2}} Microsoft's January 2008 EULA supplement{{cite web | title = Microsoft Software License Terms | work = Microsoft Use Terms | publisher = Microsoft | year = | page = 13 | url = http://download.microsoft.com/documents/useterms/Windows%20Vista_Ultimate_English_36d0fe99-75e4-4875-8153-889cf5105718.pdf | access-date = July 10, 2009 | quote = If you [install the software within a virtual system], you may not play or access content or use applications protected by any Microsoft digital, information or enterprise rights management technology or other Microsoft rights management services or use BitLocker. | archive-date = March 31, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210331163348/http://download.microsoft.com/documents/useterms/Windows%20Vista_Ultimate_English_36d0fe99-75e4-4875-8153-889cf5105718.pdf | url-status = live }} (The later [http://download.microsoft.com/documents/useterms/Windows%20Vista%20SP1_Ultimate_English_c64c444e-952d-497f-9f69-5811ffdcd774.pdf Vista SP1 EULA] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605001701/http://download.microsoft.com/documents/useterms/Windows%20Vista%20SP1_Ultimate_English_c64c444e-952d-497f-9f69-5811ffdcd774.pdf |date=June 5, 2011 }} adopted the amended terms of the January 2008 Supplement.){{cite web | title = Microsoft Software Supplemental License Terms | work = Microsoft Use Terms | publisher = Microsoft | date = January 2008 | url = http://download.microsoft.com/documents/useterms/Windows%20Vista_Ultimate%20and%20Ultimate%20SP1,%20Supplemental_English_d512375b-79d7-41e5-852d-45f69f7378dd.pdf | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = January 26, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090126201320/http://download.microsoft.com/documents/useterms/Windows%20Vista_Ultimate%20and%20Ultimate%20SP1,%20Supplemental_English_d512375b-79d7-41e5-852d-45f69f7378dd.pdf | url-status = live }} for Windows Vista lifted restrictions{{cite web | last = Armstrong | first = Ben | title = Virtualization Announcements | work = Virtual PC Guy's WebLog | publisher = MSDN Blogs | date = January 22, 2008 | url = http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2008/01/22/virtualization-announcements.aspx | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = March 27, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080327144054/http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2008/01/22/virtualization-announcements.aspx | url-status = live }}{{cite web | last = Oiaga | first = Marius | title = The Windows Vista Virtualization Doors Are Wide Opened | work = Softpedia News | publisher = Softpedia | date = January 22, 2008 | url = http://news.softpedia.com/news/The-Windows-Vista-Virtualization-Doors-Are-Opened-Wide-76958.shtml | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = February 13, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090213032156/http://news.softpedia.com/news/The-Windows-Vista-Virtualization-Doors-Are-Opened-Wide-76958.shtml | url-status = live }} barring installation of Vista Home Basic and Home Premium as guest operating systems.{{cite news | last = Bergstein | first = Brian | author-link = Brian Bergstein | agency = Associated Press | title = Microsoft puts up roadblocks on Vista for Mac owners | work = The New York Times | location = New York | date = February 28, 2007 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/28/technology/28iht-ptvista.4752719.html | access-date = July 10, 2009 | quote = Microsoft says the blockade is necessary for security reasons … Cherry says that what is really going on is that Microsoft wanted to create more differences between the multiple editions of Vista, presumably giving people more reason to buy the most expensive versions. | archive-date = May 21, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130521225809/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/28/technology/28iht-ptvista.4752719.html | url-status = live }}{{cite book | author = Microsoft Partner Program | title = Licensing Reseller Handbook for Microsoft Partners | date = March 2008 | publisher = Microsoft | page = 58 | url = http://download.microsoft.com/download/2/4/f/24f49403-31b4-4cf3-a4f5-6c439f92be24/MS_ReselleRev0308_LoRes.pdf | access-date = July 10, 2009 | quote = Windows Vista Home Basic and Windows Vista Home Premium cannot be used within a virtual (or otherwise emulated) hardware system. | archive-date = June 5, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110605001708/http://download.microsoft.com/download/2/4/f/24f49403-31b4-4cf3-a4f5-6c439f92be24/MS_ReselleRev0308_LoRes.pdf | url-status = live }}{{cite web | last1 = Albro | first1 = Edward N. | first2 = Eric | last2 = Dahl | title = The Most Annoying Things About Windows Vista | work = PC World | publisher = International Data Group | date = February 20, 2007 | url = http://www.pcworld.com/article/129126-3/the_most_annoying_things_about_windows_vista.html | access-date = July 10, 2009 | quote = Well, this is only a licensing provision, so nothing in the software will prevent you from running either Home version in a virtual machine. But that would be wrong. | archive-date = June 4, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090604210520/http://www.pcworld.com/article/129126-3/the_most_annoying_things_about_windows_vista.html | url-status = live }}

|7= {{note label|G|G|1}}{{note label|G|G|2}}{{note label|G|G|3}} January 2008 EULA supplement for Windows Vista lifted restrictions barring use of BitLocker{{cite web | last = Armstrong | first = Ben | title = Using BitLocker under Virtual PC / Virtual Server | work = Virtual PC Guy's WebLog | publisher = MSDN Blogs | date = January 23, 2008 | url = http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2008/01/23/using-bitlocker-under-virtual-pc-virtual-server.aspx | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = June 16, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090616061016/http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2008/01/23/using-bitlocker-under-virtual-pc-virtual-server.aspx | url-status = live }} (Instructions were reposted the day after Microsoft released its Vista EULA Supplement in January 2008.){{cite web | last = Armstrong | first = Ben | title = Using Vista BitLocker under Virtual PC / Virtual Server | work = Virtual PC Guy's WebLog | publisher = MSDN Blogs | date = April 30, 2007 | url = http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2007/04/30/using-vista-bitlocker-under-virtual-pc-virtual-server.aspx | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = August 29, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080829143044/http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2007/04/30/using-vista-bitlocker-under-virtual-pc-virtual-server.aspx | url-status = live }} (Instructions provided in the post were deleted to comply with Microsoft's original Vista EULA).{{cite web | last = Malach | first = Eyal | title = Encrypting Vista with BitLocker in Virtual PC or Virtual Machine | work = Eyal Malach Blog | publisher = Microsoft Blogs – Israel | date = February 19, 2008 | url = http://blogs.microsoft.co.il/blogs/eyalm/archive/2008/02/19/encrypting-vista-with-bitlocker-in-virtual-pc-or-virtual-machine.aspx | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = October 25, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091025114058/http://blogs.microsoft.co.il/blogs/eyalm/archive/2008/02/19/encrypting-vista-with-bitlocker-in-virtual-pc-or-virtual-machine.aspx | url-status = live }} and Microsoft-DRM-protected content within virtualized environments.{{cite web | last = Lai | first = Eric | title = Analysis: DRM may be why Microsoft flip-flopped on Vista virtualization | work = Computerworld | publisher = International Data Group | date = June 22, 2007 | url = http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9025466 | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = September 25, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080925100751/http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9025466 | url-status = live }} (Microsoft originally planned to rescind the restrictions in June 2007.){{cite web | last = Oiaga | first = Marius | title = Install Windows Vista Ultimate in Windows Vista – Vista Virtualization Guidelines | work = Softpedia News | publisher = Softpedia | date = June 2, 2007 | url = http://news.softpedia.com/news/Install-Windows-Vista-Ultimate-IN-Windows-Vista-56273.shtml | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = February 10, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090210043909/http://news.softpedia.com/news/Install-Windows-Vista-Ultimate-IN-Windows-Vista-56273.shtml | url-status = live }}

|8= {{note label|H|H|1}}{{note label|H|H|2}}{{note label|H|H|3}}{{note label|H|H|4}}{{note label|H|H|5}}{{note label|H|H|6}} Support added in a Virtual PC 2007 Service Pack 1 (SP1) hotfix rollup, dated February 20, 2009, for Windows XP Home as both host and guest, and for all Home editions of Windows Vista as hosts.

|9= {{note label|I|I|1}}{{note label|I|I|2}}{{note label|I|I|3}}{{note label|I|I|4}} The pre-configured XP Mode of Windows Virtual PC is restricted to Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate hosts. However, an equivalent environment can be configured manually by installing Windows XP SP3 as a guest (requires an XP license and installation media or files) and applying an integration components update (available for download from Microsoft) to enable seamless mode and other Windows 7 integration features.

|10={{note label|J|J|none}} The integration components enabling seamless mode and other features{{cite web | title = Windows Virtual PC Evaluation Guide | work = Windows 7 Technical Library | publisher = Microsoft TechNet | date = May 4, 2009 | url = https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd744684%28WS.10%29.aspx | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = July 6, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090706123408/http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd744684(WS.10).aspx | url-status = live }} Also available for [http://www.microsoft.com/Downloads/details.aspx?familyid=62CD2E63-52F8-4CF5-A7D5-7ABAAB270451&displaylang=en download] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090703233150/http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=62cd2e63-52f8-4cf5-a7d5-7abaab270451 |date=July 3, 2009 }}. of Windows Virtual PC support only the following guests: Windows XP Pro Service Pack 3 (SP3);{{cite web|title=RAIL QFE Beta Windows XP SP3 |work=Microsoft Download Center |publisher=Microsoft.com |date=May 4, 2009 |url=http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=943B6AC7-87F2-45DF-A516-21321D559AC3&displaylang=en |access-date=July 10, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090704215326/http://www.microsoft.com/downloadS/details.aspx?familyid=943B6AC7-87F2-45DF-A516-21321D559AC3&displaylang=en |archive-date=July 4, 2009}} Windows Vista Business SP1, Enterprise SP1, and Ultimate SP1;{{cite web|title=RAIL QFE Beta for Vista SP1 |work=Microsoft Download Center |publisher=Microsoft.com |date=May 4, 2009 |url=http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=DB29EB2B-F095-4172-8E83-9C5623045D4E&displaylang=en |access-date=July 10, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090704215326/http://www.microsoft.com/downloadS/details.aspx?familyid=DB29EB2B-F095-4172-8E83-9C5623045D4E&displaylang=en |archive-date=July 4, 2009}} and Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate.

}}

Notes – not supported installations

{{ordered list|list-style-type=lower-greek|style=font-size:95%; margin-bottom:1.5em

|1= {{note label|α|α|1}} Virtual PC 2007 does not include Virtual Machine Additions for MS-DOS as a self installing disk image (installed using a batch file), however the files are included in the Virtual Machine Additions ISO image file (typically found in the 'Program Files' folder where Virtual PC was installed) and can be extracted by various means (a number of file compression software packages support extracting files from ISO image files) for manual installation, also the DOS additions from Virtual PC 2004 can be used without problem as can the DOS additions from Virtual Server 2005.{{cite web | last = Armstrong | first = Ben | title = Installing DOS additions under VPC 2007 | work = Virtual PC Guy's WebLog | publisher = MSDN Blogs | date = October 30, 2007 | url = http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2007/10/30/installing-dos-additions-under-vpc-2007.aspx | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = February 12, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100212123912/http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2007/10/30/installing-dos-additions-under-vpc-2007.aspx | url-status = live }}

|2= {{note label|β|β|1}} The Virtual Machine Additions included with Virtual PC 2007 will not install on Windows 95 guests, but the additions from Virtual PC 2004 can be used.

|3= {{note label|γ|γ|1}} In informal testing, Microsoft virtualization manager Ben Armstrong found XP Media Center 2004 "distorted and unusable" under Virtual PC 2004, but Media Center 2005 worked "beautifully", sans TV features.{{cite web | last = Armstrong | first = Ben | title = Windows Media Center 2005 under Virtual PC | work = Virtual PC Guy's WebLog | publisher = MSDN Blogs | date = November 6, 2004 | url = http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2004/11/06/253225.aspx | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = November 2, 2005 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20051102034638/http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2004/11/06/253225.aspx | url-status = live }}

|4= {{note label|δ|δ|1}}{{note label|δ|δ|2}}{{note label|δ|δ|3}} MSDN blogs reported that pre-release versions of Windows 7, similar to the released Ultimate edition,{{cite web | title = Windows 7 Release Candidate: FAQ | publisher = Microsoft.com | year = 2009 | url = http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/faq.aspx | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = June 5, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090605075202/http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/faq.aspx | url-status = live }} run successfully as both host and guest operating systems on Virtual PC 2007 Service Pack 1 (SP1). Integration features provided by Virtual Machine Additions function normally, but Virtual PC 2007 must be SP1 or later.{{cite web | last = Armstrong | first = Ben | title = Windows 7 on Virtual PC on Windows 7 | work = Virtual PC Guy's WebLog | publisher = MSDN Blogs | date = January 13, 2009 | url = http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2009/01/13/windows-7-on-virtual-pc-on-windows-7.aspx | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = February 12, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100212125030/http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2009/01/13/windows-7-on-virtual-pc-on-windows-7.aspx | url-status = live }}{{cite web | last = Krishnamoorthy | first = Ajoy | title = Installing Virtual PC 2007 SP1 in Windows 7 | work = Ajoyk – Patterns and Practices, VSTS, Process | publisher = MSDN Blogs | date = January 19, 2009 | url = http://blogs.msdn.com/ajoyk/archive/2009/01/19/installing-virtual-pc-2007-sp1-in-windows-7.aspx | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = September 27, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090927180410/http://blogs.msdn.com/ajoyk/archive/2009/01/19/installing-virtual-pc-2007-sp1-in-windows-7.aspx | url-status = live }}{{cite web | last = Manning | first = James | title = Upgrading to SP1 fixes VM Additions for Win7 Beta! | work = James Manning's Blog | publisher = MSDN Blogs | date = January 10, 2009 | url = http://blogs.msdn.com/jmanning/archive/2009/01/10/upgrading-to-sp1-fixes-vm-additions-for-win7-beta.aspx | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = June 25, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090625130536/http://blogs.msdn.com/jmanning/archive/2009/01/10/upgrading-to-sp1-fixes-vm-additions-for-win7-beta.aspx | url-status = live }} See [http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2009/01/13/windows-7-on-virtual-pc-on-windows-7.aspx "Windows 7 on Virtual PC on Windows 7"] for more caveats.

|5= {{note label|ε|ε|1}}{{note label|ε|ε|2}} Although Windows NT 3.1 and NT 3.5 refuse to install on newer processors (NT 3.51 fixes this), it is possible to modify files on the install CD to allow install.

}}

{{refend}}

Installing a Linux-based guest environment in Virtual PC is possible. RedHat and SuSe Linux guests are supported. Linux additions are supported in Microsoft Virtual Server, and these additions should also work in Virtual PC.{{cite web | last = Armstrong | first = Ben | title = Updated Virtual Machine Additions for Linux available | work = Virtual PC Guy's WebLog | publisher = MSDN Blogs | date = October 23, 2007 | url = http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2007/10/23/updated-virtual-machine-additions-for-linux-available.aspx | access-date = June 28, 2009 | quote = As always – this is only supported on Virtual Server – but should work just fine on Virtual PC. | archive-date = June 11, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090611114805/http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2007/10/23/updated-virtual-machine-additions-for-linux-available.aspx | url-status = live }}

Some Linux distributions must be installed in text mode, as they do not support Microsoft Virtual PC's emulated graphics chip. Ubuntu 8.10 "Intrepid Ibex" must be installed in SafeMode, but does not require other changes.

Some websites specialize in listing operating systems that run successfully as Virtual PC guests, to help users avoid issues when installing Linux distributions or other operating systems lacking official Microsoft support.{{cite web |url=http://vpc.visualwin.com/ |title=What Works and What Doesn't in Microsoft Virtual PC 2004 |work=visualwin.com |publisher=Self published |first=Jonathan |last=Maltz |access-date=16 June 2013 |archive-date=October 31, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071031131904/http://vpc.visualwin.com/ |url-status=live }}{{Unreliable source?|date=June 2013}}

Microsoft announced on August 7, 2006, that Virtual PC for Mac would not be ported to the Intel Mac platform. Microsoft stated, "Alternative solutions offered by Apple and other vendors, combined with a fully packaged retail copy of Windows, will satisfy this need."{{cite web |last=Cohen |first=Peter |date=August 7, 2006 |title=WWDC: Microsoft kills Virtual PC for Mac |url=http://www.macworld.com/news/2006/08/07/vpc/index.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014063546/http://www.macworld.com/news/2006/08/07/vpc/index.php |archive-date=October 14, 2007 |access-date=October 8, 2007 |publisher=MacWorld}} Similar products available or announced at the time were Parallels Desktop and VMware Fusion.

;About Microsoft virtualization technology

• Features new to Windows 7: Virtual hard disks
• Microsoft Virtual Server
• Windows 365

;About virtualization

• Virtual disk image
• x86 virtualization
• Comparison of platform virtualization software

{{reflist|1=30em}}

• {{Official website}}
• [https://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/ Virtual PC Guy blog] on MSDN
• [https://blogs.technet.com/b/chenley/archive/2011/02/21/windows-xp-mode.aspx Windows XP Mode], TechNet

{{Microsoft}}

{{Virtualization software}}

Category:1997 software

Category:2009 software

Category:Classic Mac OS emulation software

Category:Freeware

Category:MacOS emulation software

Category:Microsoft software

Category:Virtualization software

Category:Windows 7

Category:X86 emulators