Solved Cannot install Windows Virtual PC

[Plunder6459]

Hey guys, I have had this strange issue for a while now; every time and every way I try to install Windows VPC (Windows Update) the update fails no matter how I try the install. I do have the 2007 version however I am sure that is not the issue because I have tried uninstalling Microsoft VPC 2007 and the update still fails. I have even tried many versions of Fixit without yield.

I am stuck; any help would be much appreciated.

 

[strollin]

Virtual PC 2007 is different than Windows Virtual PC which is newer and since you have Win 7 Pro you are entitled to run Windows Virtual PC which is a component of XP Mode for Win 7. Try downloading from this page: Install and use Windows XP Mode in Windows 7

 

[Kari]

...since you have Win 7 Pro you are entitled to run Windows Virtual PC which is a component of XP Mode for Win 7. ...

Let's clear this obvious misunderstanding:

WindowsVirtual PC is a free virtualization application like VMware or VirtualBox. It can be downloaded and installed on every edition of Windows 7.

Windows XP Mode is a pre-made virtual machine containing Windows XP Professional SP3 made for Windows Virtual PC. XP Mode vm is free, too, but requires Windows 7 Professional or better.

Conclusion: Windows XP Mode is a vm running on Windows Virtual PC exactly as any self installed XP vm on any other virtualization platform. Windows Virtual PC is most definitely not a component of Windows XP Mode but instead a complete, full-fledged virtualization application to run guest operating systems on virtual machines.

Kari

 

[strollin]

You are correct that Windows Virtual PC can be installed separately from XP Mode BUT since XP Mode doesn't run without installing WVPC first, that makes it a required component of XP Mode.

 

[Kari]

You posted "Windows Virtual PC which is a component of XP Mode". That is most definitely not true, and should not be posted here. Any "I did not mean that!" do not change the untruth of your statement.

Quite a many Windows users might read this thread also in the future, a so totally invalid and false statement can cause issues and misunderstandings.

If not sure, we should at least add "in my opinion" or "as far as I know" or something similar in our posts. Presenting untruths as facts is never a good thing.

Kari

 

[Kari]

Back to OP's issue:

First, Virtual PC 2007 must be completely uninstalled and removed before you can install and run the Windows Virtual PC. If you have started Windows Virtual PC installation before uninstalling the older VPC 2007, you might want to try this:

• Using a restore point, restore your system as it was before you installed Windows Virtual PC
• Now uninstall VPC 2007 and reboot
• Download and install Windows Virtual PC

It should work now. Notice that Windows Virtual PC installation can be done to every edition of Windows 7. Additionally, if you have Windows 7 Professional or better you can install Windows XP Mode, a free pre-installed vm for Windows Virtual PC.

   Note

Windows Virtual PC installation checks your Windows validity, you must have an authentic Windows installation with a valid product key in order to install and use WVPC.

Kari

 

[strollin]

I don't want to argue semantics with you. If you don't like the term "component" use whatever terminology you wish but it doesn't change the fact that WVPC is a required piece of XP Mode regardless of whether or not it can be installed and used separately. WVPC doesn't require XP Mode but XP Mode requires WVPC, therefore it is a part of it. No opinion required.

You're right though that my wording could have been better as I did not mean to imply that WVPC could only be installed on certain versions of Win 7, which is the case for XP Mode.

Regardless, the OP should follow your advice to uninstall VPC 2007 and then install WVPC.

Here's where my opinion comes into play: If the OP is not interested in XP Mode then there is little reason to download WVPC because there is better virtual software out there such as VirtualBox and VMWare Player.

 

[Kari]

Using your logics, Windows is just a component of Microsoft Solitaire as in order to play Solitaire you need Windows.

For posterity:

• Your first post in this thread shows absolutely clearly that you did not know Windows Virtual PC being an independent, full-fledged virtualization application and XP Mode just a vm running on it. To start with, OP's question had nothing to do with XP Mode
• In my first post I did not argue with you nor did I be unpolite, I simply corrected a clear misunderstanding in a very polite and valid way, even if I say so myself. I find it important we correct false information here when we see it
• You response to my correction was and is below your standards; you are the one using semantics here, not me. There's nothing shameful to sometimes admit "I did not know that", but you selected to use obscure explanations and semantics instead
• In my opinion, based on quite extensive usage, Windows Virtual PC is an extremely good virtualization platform to run all Windows XP, Vista and Seven virtual machines. It's usage goes far beyond XP Mode, its integration components make Windows virtual machines work really well
• Notice how I used the words "in my opinion" above. It's because I am not bold enough to tell as a fact that Product A is better than Product B. This is quite important especially when you have first clearly shown you do not know the product you tell to be inferior compared to a product you know

This has been an ongoing theme for me here at the Seven Forums: let's not tell our opinions as facts, let's not pretend knowing when we do not.

Kari

 

[strollin]

Ok, I promise I will never use the word component to describe the relationship between WVPC XP Mode again.

I assure you that I am well aware that WVPC is a separately installable piece of software but again, IMO, it is only really useful with XP Mode since other virtualization products are superior and support a much wider array of Guest OSes.

 

[Plunder6459]

So Kari, I have tried uninstalling 2007 previously and that failed; which led me to make this thread.

 

[Kari]

How do it fail? Download OK, install stops with an error message?

 

[Plunder6459]

The installer is actually a windows update file and the update goes ok until the post reboot, where there seems to be an error and windows rolls back all changes.

 

[Kari]

That suggests that not all Virtual PC 2007 components have been uninstalled.

I repeat my earlier suggestion as told here with one change: after rebooting when Virtual PC 2007 has been uninstalled, run Windows System File Checker (tutorial) as many times as it finds errors, rebooting always between running it again. When done, download Windows Virtual PC again (do not use the one you already downloaded) and proceed to install it.

Kari

 

[Plunder6459]

Ok, I will try that

 

[Plunder6459]

Thanks Kari (and everybody else); I it to install and it works just fine now.

 

[Kari]

Just for future reference, did you do as suggested by restoring to earlier point, then uninstalling VPC 2007, and finally reinstalling Windows Virtual PC?