Windows 7: Windows Virtual PC - Create Virtual Machine

   Information

This will show you how to create a new virtual machine in Windows Virtual PC, and install the 32-bit guest operating system that you want to run in the virtual machine on your 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 7 as the host.

   Note

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-based PC.

You will need to download and install the 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) version of Windows Virtual PC for your 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 7.

   Warning

Windows Virtual PC: Minimum Requirements

• 1 GHz 32-bit / 64-bit processor that supports Intel® Virtualization Technology or AMD Virtualization.
• Memory (RAM)
  • 1.25 GB required, 2 GB memory recommended
• Recommended 15 GB hard disk space per virtual Windows environment
• Supported host (your computer) operating systems:
  • Windows 7 Home Premium (32-bit or 64-bit)
  • Windows 7 Professional (32-bit or 64-bit)
  • Windows 7 Ultimate (32-bit or 64-bit)
  • Windows 7 Enterprise (32-bit or 64-bit)
    NOTE: Windows XP Mode can only be installed on Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Ultimate, and Windows 7 Enterprise.
• Supported "guest" (virtual machine) 32-bit only operating systems:
  • Windows XP 32-bit only
    • Virtual Applications feature is supported only on Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) Professional
  • Windows Vista 32-bit only
    • Virtual Applications feature is supported only on Windows Vista Enterprise and Windows Vista Ultimate
  • Windows 7 32-bit only
    • Virtual Applications feature is supported only on Windows 7 Enterprise and Windows 7 Ultimate

   Tip

UPDATE: Windows XP Mode now accessible to more PCs - Windows 7 Team Blog - The Windows Blog

1. If you have not already, then you will need to first download and install Windows Virtual PC. If you did, then go to step 2 below.

A) At the Windows Virtual PC webpage, select your language, and click on the Continue button. (see screenshot below)

B) If you have not already, you will need to validate your Windows 7 first. Click on Install to install the Genuine Windows Validation Component, or follow on screen instructions. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: You will need to have Windows 7 activated and cookies enabled to be able to do this.

C) Select your language, and click on the Download button for either the Windows6.1-KB958559-x86-RefreshPkg.msu (32-bit) or Windows6.1-KB958559-x64-RefreshPkg.msu (64-bit) file for your same 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 7 version you have installed.

D) Save the Windows6.1-KB958559-x86-RefreshPkg.msu or Windows6.1-KB958559-x64-RefreshPkg.msu file to your desktop.

E) Double click on the downloaded Windows6.1-KB958559-x86-RefreshPkg.msu or Windows6.1-KB958559-x64-RefreshPkg.msu file to start installing it.

F) If prompted by UAC, click on Yes.

G) Click on Yes.

H) Click on the I Accept button.

I) When it is finished, click on the Restart Now button.
WARNING: This will restart your computer immediately. Be sure to save and close anything that you have open first.

J) When the computer is finished restarting, continue on to step 2 below.

2. Do step 3 or 4 below for what you would like to do.

3. Open the Start Menu, type vpcwizard.exe in the search box, press Enter, and go to step 5 below.

4. Open the Start Menu. Click on All Programs, expand Windows Virtual PC folder, double click on the Virtual Machines shortcut, and go to step 5 below. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: You can also open the Virtual Machines folder at C:\Users\(User Name)\Virtual Machines.

5. Click on the Create Virtual Machine button on the toolbar. (See screenshot below)

6. Type in a name (ex: Vista) you want for the new virtual machine, then select a location where you want the .vmcx and .vhd files saved at. Click on the Next button. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: You can save them anywhere you like, but the default location is the hidden C:\Users\(user name)\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Virtual PC\Virtual Machines folder or the C:\Users\(user name)\Virtual Machines folder.

7. Enter how much of your RAM (1 GB = 1024 MB) you want to be used by the virtual machine. (See screenshot below)

8. Check the Use computer on network connections box if you would like the virtual machine to have network or internet access, then click on the Next button. (See screenshot above)

9. To Create a Dynamically Expanding VHD
NOTE: This is the usual default option.

A) Select (dot) Create a dynamically expanding virtual hard disk. (See screenshot below)

B) Verify that the name and location is correct (from step 5), then click on the Create button. (See screenshot above)

C) Go to step 12.

10. To Use an Existing VHD File

A) Select (dot) Use an existing virtual hard disk. (See screenshot below)

B) Click on the Browse button and navigate to and select the VHD file that you want to use to create a virtual machine (VM) with, then click on the Create button. (See screenshot above)
WARNING: Windows Virtual PC only supports using a VHD up to 127 GB (130,048 MB) for a dynamic VHD, and up to 41 GB (42,023) for a fixed VHD. Any larger and you will not be able access the VM from within Windows Virtual PC.

C) Right click on this new virtual machine (Ex: Vista.vmcx file), and click on Open. (See screenshot below)

D) Go to step 17.

11. To Create a VHD with Advanced Options

A) Select (dot) Create a virtual hard disk using advanced options, then click on the Next button. (See screenshot below)

B) Select the type of VHD to create. (See screenshot below)

C) Verify that the name and location is correct (from step 5), then click on the Next button. (See screenshot above)

12. Right click on this new virtual machine (Ex: Vista.vmcx file), and click on Settings.

13. To Use a ISO File to Create the Virtual Machine From

A) In the left pane select DVD Drive, then select (dot) Open an ISO image in the right pane. (See screenshot below)

B) Click on the Browse button and navigate to the location of the .ISO file of the operating system (ex: Vista) that you want to install in the VM, then select the ISO file and double click on it. Click on OK. (See screenshot above)
NOTE: If you do not have a ISO file of the operating system, then you can use a free program like ImgBurn to create a ISO file from the operating system's installation DVD.

C) Go to step 15.

14. To Use a DVD or Bootable USB to Create the Virtual Machine From

A) In the left pane select DVD Drive, select (dot) Access a physical drive in the right pane, then select the drive letter of the installation DVD or bootable USB. (See screenshot below step 13A)

15. Right click on this new virtual machine (Ex: Vista.vmcx file), and click on Open.

16. Install the OS (Ex: Vista) in the virtual machine.
WARNING: Be sure to give the user account a password. Blank passwords are not supported, and can cause you to have problems with logging on to the VM. If you did leave the password field blank, then you should get a option after trying to log on without a password to continue to login without the password for now. You can then create a password for the user account in the VM.

17. To Install Integration Components

A) For how, see: Windows Virtual PC Integration Features - Install, Enable, and Disable

18. Close or shutdown the new virtual machine.
NOTE: See yellow TIP box below for how to close the virtual machine.

19. Open the Windows 7 Start Menu in your computer (host).

20. Click on All Programs, expand Windows Virtual PC folder, then right click on this new virtual machine (Ex: Vista.vmcx file), and click on Settings.

21. In the left pane select DVD Drive, then select (dot) Access a physical drive in the right pane. Select the DVD drive letter from the drop down menu that you would like to use in the virtual machine, and click on OK. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: If you do not want to use a DVD drive in the virtual machine, then select (dot) None instead.

22. You now have a newly created virtual machine.

   Tip

• You can close the virtual machine by shutting down the virtual machine from the Start menu inside the virtual machine, or by clicking on the close X at the top right corner of the virtual machine window. Afterwards, select the Turn Off option and click on OK. (See screenshot beow)

• You can open the virtual maching by opening the Start Menu, click on All Programs, expand Windows Virtual PC folder, and double click on the virtual maching shortcut.