Windows 7 - Virtual PC with win XP freezes on Windows 7 Home edition

rw06 · 12-10-2011

Hi,

I have two PC's, one is a Dell with Windows 7 Professional. The other one is a Vaio with Windows 7 Home Premium.

I installed virtual PC on both laptops, and I am trying to run a windows XP VHD.

Strangely enough, it works perfectly on the 7 Pro machine, while the Virtual PC freezes up in the booting screen with the Windows logo and the scroll bar. I can boot in safe mode or safe mode with networking, but that is not useful.

Thanks!

cluberti · 12-10-2011

Are you using the same Windows XP Mode VHD from Microsoft on both machines, or did you create your own XP VHD?

rw06 · 12-11-2011

Hi Cluberti

I am using the same one.

The strange thing is that now VPC won't work at all... it tells me that my computer does not support virtualizations and I need to tweak the BIOS. Funny enough it was working when I posted this message.

jimbo45 · 12-12-2011

Hi there
It's Monday so perhaps I'm mis-reading something -- but XP Mode WON'T WORK on Home Premium. You need Professional / Ultimate or Enterprise versions of Windows 7 for this to work.
There *might be* "unofficial" workarounds but these aren't supported by MS.

If you want to run an XP VM on Home premium or even Starter edition you'll need either vmware or vbox and an XP installation disk.

On Windows 7 pro it should work OK which your post implies that it does.

Virtual PC itself is actually a bit of an "Iffy" program in any case --so unless using it for running in "XP Mode" you would be well advised to get rid of it.

Note however that you CAN still use the previous version of Virtual PC : Virtual pc 2007 for XP VHD's which might help you. Current version of Virtual PC is really only for use with XP Mode.

I assume these XP VHD's are what you've already built yourself one way or another.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/vir...l-pc-2007.aspx

Cheers
jimbo

ElectricRider · 12-12-2011

Quote: Originally Posted by jimbo45

Hi there
It's Monday so perhaps I'm mis-reading something -- but XP Mode WON'T WORK on Home Premium. You need Professional / Ultimate or Enterprise versions of Windows 7 for this to work.
There *might be* "unofficial" workarounds but these aren't supported by MS.

XP mode using Virtual PC WILL indeed work on Home Premium. It will work just fine - However you are not supposed to do that because it's against the XP Mode EULA.

I believe his problem is the Virtual PC software itself. VPC is very buggy and runs XP Mode horribly.

A special application was designed to combat the bugginess and limitations of running XP Mode with Virtual PC. The Op can use a program called VM Lite to run XP Mode instead of using Virtual PC.

(It's a Free download after joining their forum, also free.) VM Lite was actually designed to run XP Mode as an alternative to Virtual PC. It runs XP mode better and faster with full integration than Virtual PC can.

http://www.vmlite.co/index.php?optio...=47&Itemid=128

It solves most problems people have running XP Mode.

Everyone should get it through their heads by now, ( I and others have talked about this many times) You should NEVER use Virtual PC to run XP mode - it simply does not work well and there is a much better solution in the form of VM Lite. This would solve most of the problems with XP mode people on this forum complain about.

I'm so serious about this, info on VM Lite should be a sticky ! Otherwise you guys are just going to keep chasing the same ghosts for no good reason.

jimbo45 · 12-13-2011

Hi there
I did mention that for "Non XP Mode" the OP should use VPC version 2007 still available for download - although using any version of VPC for VM's other than XP mode was not a good idea.

I think VMLITE also has some issues concerning its legitimacy -- also if you post a link PLEASE ENSURE IT WORKS.

Cheers
jimbo

Kari · 12-13-2011

Quote: Originally Posted by ElectricRider

XP mode using Virtual PC WILL indeed work on Home Premium. It will work just fine - However you are not supposed to do that because it's against the XP Mode EULA.

As it is licenced, it does not work in Home Premium. Any other use is, as you mentioned, against EULA.

Quote: Originally Posted by ElectricRider

I believe his problem is the Virtual PC software itself. VPC is very buggy and runs XP Mode horribly.

Virtual PC runs very well on all of my rigs. It still is my favorite virtualization platform for XP, Vista and Seven vm's. Could you please give a few examples of the bugs you have found on Virtual PC?

Quote: Originally Posted by ElectricRider

A special application was designed to combat the bugginess and limitations of running XP Mode with Virtual PC. The Op can use a program called VM Lite to run XP Mode instead of using Virtual PC.

According to my own tests and experience, I will never again use any software from VM Lite.

Quote: Originally Posted by ElectricRider

http://www.vmlite.co/index.php?optio...=47&Itemid=128

Non functioning link.

Borrowing your words, "everyone should get it through their heads by now", that Virtual PC and XP Mode is a well working combination, doing well what it is intended to do by offering a platform to run older legacy applications on Seven.

Kari

M1GU31 · 12-13-2011

why don't you just partition your hdd and install the real xp there so that way you have both xp and win 7 that's what i did

ElectricRider · 12-13-2011

Kari, if you are one of the people that don't happen to have a problem running XP Mode with virtual PC, that's great. If it works for you, stick with it.

Just read these forums to see the problems people have with VPC. As I said, for those with problems with VPC they often find XP mode running slow and causing problems. Here is a comparison as to why VM Lite is better and can run XP Mode better than VPC.

Quote:

These are the main pros and cons of VMLite.

Pros:

(1) Runs faster. No RDP/RemoteApp is getting in the way.

(2) no requirement for VT-x or AMD-V

(3) supports more virtual disk formats

(4) vpc has a disk capacity limit of 127G, while VMLite has a limit of 2TB. 127G is way too small to run virtual machines converted from a physical computer.

(5) supports 64-bit guests, vpc only works with 32-bit guest OSes.

(6) supports multiple virtual CPUs, whereas vpc only works with a single vcpu.

(7) better and faster graphics. VMLite supports 32-bit true colors, and supports 3D/2D acceleration from version 3.1.2. VPC seems to have only 16-bit colors, and no support for 3D/2D. For example, if you play Google Earth in vpc, it will be very slow. Another example, you won't be able to play SecondLife in VPC, whereas VMLite 3.1.2 has no problems in playing SecondLife.

(8) VMLite file sharing is much faster than vpc, since we don't use tcp/ip to transfer files, instead we forward kernel level IRPs between host and vm, and between VMs.

Cons:

(1) VMLite does not support USB devices at the moment, while VPC/XP Mode has strong supports for USB devices. (We are working on it, takes quite some time, though)

(2) VPC/XP Mode does better job to integrate individual virtual apps, with taskbar integration. We are implementing this feature on VMLite too.

In summary, after we implement USB and single application mode, VMLite will be superior to VPC in every aspect.

http://www.vmlite.com/index.php?opti...catid=9&id=163

The two Cons above were fixed in a later release after this post was made, so VM Lite is superior to VPC in every way. Granted MS did lessen the requirments on no requirement for VT-x or AMD-V with VPC.

I copied that link from another post so it looks like the forum turnicated it somehow. Try this link

VMLite XP Mode Overview Or just Welcome to the VMLite