Virtual XP Machine - Copy

How to Copy a Virtual XP Machine in Windows 7​

   Note

Notice please:

This tutorial was written when we were still using first beta versions of Virtual PC and XP mode. This method to copy a VPC virtual machine was the most practical at that time. It still is a fully working and secure way to copy a virtual machine.

Today, with the current version of VPC and XP Mode, copying a virtual machine is much easier. Basically, all you have to do is to copy a vhd-file to another location on same computer and create a new virtual machine using an existing vhd as told here.

Kari
November 2010

   Information

This tutorial will show how to make a working copy of a Virtual XP Machine. Same priciple can also be used to make a copy of any Virtual PC virtual hard disk.

By default, XP Mode virtual machine consists of five files when installed and run first time, plus two additional files if XP Mode is hibernated or the Undo Disk feature is enabled. The file names, extensions and default locations are:

• Windows XP Mode base.vhd
  • XP Mode base disk, contains the core elements of operating system (XP), no user data is saved on this virtual disk
  • default location C:\Program Files\Windows XP Mode
• Windows XP Mode.vhd
  • Virtual Machine virtual hard drive image, all user data and content is saved on this virtual disk
  • default location C:\Users\Your_Username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Virtual PC\Virtual Machines
• Windows XP Mode.vmcx
  • Virtual Machine description and registration settings
  • default location C:\Users\Your_Username\Virtual Machines
• Windows XP Mode.vmc
  • Virtual Machine settings file
  • default location C:\Users\Your_Username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Virtual PC\Virtual Machines
• Windows XP Mode.vmc.vpcbackup
  • Virtual Machine settings backup
  • default location C:\Users\Your_Username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Virtual PC\Virtual Machines
  Additional files, only exist when certain criteria is met:
• Windows XP Mode.vsv
  • Virtual Machine saved state file (hibernation data)
  • default location C:\Users\Your_Username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Virtual PC\Virtual Machines
  • This file exists only when XP Mode is hibernated or is running. It is deleted automatically every time XP Mode is shut down
• VirtualPCUndo_Windows XP Mode_X_Y_ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.vud
  • Virtual machine Undo-disk (X, Y & Z in the file name are replaced with digits)
  • default location C:\Users\Your_Username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Virtual PC\Virtual Machines
  • This file exists only if so called Undo Disk is enabled in XP Mode settings

Copying Virtual XP or any other virtual hard disk created with Virtual PC is very easy and fast. Here's what you have to do:

1. Turn off your Virtual XP, do not hibernate it
2. Open Folder Options, choose Show hidden files, folders and drives. Uncheck Hide extensions for known file types
   
   
3. Goto C:\Users\Your_Username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Virtual PC\Virtual Machines
4. Copy Windows XP Mode.vhd and Windows XP Mode.vmc files
5. Paste files to the same folder. Windows adds word Copy to both filenames, so now you have two new files: Windows XP Mode - Copy.vhd and Windows XP Mode - Copy.vmc
6. Open Windows XP Mode - Copy.vmc with Notepad. It is a xml-file, so you can edit it normally with Notepad
7. Find the following string containing virtual drives name: <drive_type type="integer">1</drive_type>
   
   
8. Under the <drive_type...> change the vhd-file name to Windows XP Mode - Copy.vhd both in <absolute type="string"> and <relative type="string">
9. Find the following place under <virtual_network> containing MAC-adress for Virtual XP's ethernet adapter: <id type="bytes">
   
   
10. To allow two copies of Virtual XP to connect to network simultaneously , we have to change the MAC-adress of the ethernet adapter to avoid MAC-adress conflict. Adress is given in hex, 0-9 and A-E. It is enough to change one bit. In this example we have changed the last bit from 1 to 0
11. Save and close the file
12. Go to C:\Users\Your_Username\Virtual Machines , copy Windows XP Mode.vmcx and paste it to same folder
    
13. Open the file Windows XP Mode - Copy.vmcx with Notepad
14. Change the file names to Windows XP Mode - Copy.vhd in <primary_disk1 type="string"> and to Windows XP Mode - Copy.vmc in <vmc_path type="string">
    
    
15. Save and close the file
16. Open Folder Options and choose Don't show hidden files, folders or drives. Check Hide extensions for known file types and click OK.

That's it. Now you can run two Virtual XP's simultaneously.

Have fun,

Kari

EDIT: Thanks to Brink for visual appearance.

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Install and Setup Virtual Windows XP Mode in Windows 7
• How to Enable the Built-in Administrator Account in Windows XP Mode
• How to Create a Virtual Machine in Windows Virtual PC
• How to Create Differencing Disks in Windows Virtual PC
• How to Delete a Virtual Machine Created with Windows Virtual PC
• How to Change Virtual Machine Settings in Windows Virtual PC
• How to Add Limited User Accounts to Windows Virtual PC XP Mode
• How to Boot from a CD or DVD in a Windows Virtual PC
• How to Install, Enable, and Disable Windows Virtual PC Integration Features
• How to Select Host Devices to Share with Virtual Machines in Windows Virtual PC

 

[Tjerk Drouen]

I suggest you change the computernames

After creating a copy of the Virtual XP machine, I suggest you change the computername! Only changing the mac-address is not good enough.

 

[Kari]

Hello Tjerk, welcome to the Seven Forums.

An important point, though I have never had any problems with similar computer names.

Kari

 

[rfeague]

Disappearing .vmcx

I've been through the steps a few times with care, and I see the same strange behavior JackStockton mentioned where the .vmcx disappears as soon as I click on it. I will post a solution if I figure it out, but I just wanted to reinforce that JackStockton is not imagining things, and as near as I can tell, not failing to follow the directions with care.

For those of you who have experienced this problem, I did find a simple solution:

1. Copy the .vhd file (this is the virtual disk image), which is found in C:\Users\yourusername\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Virtual PC\Virtual Machines. Let's say my source VM is old.vhd, and I copy it to new.vhd.
2. Create a new VM that references that .vhd file. Go to the Virtual Machine folder at C:\Users\yourusername\Virtual Machines and click Create Virtual Machine. Set up your desired settings on the first two pages of the wizard, and on the third page, click the "use an existing virtual hard disk" option, and browse to c:\Users\yourusername\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Virtual PC\Virtual Machines\new.vhd. Finish the wizard, and it creates a new VM based on the hard disk image.

For my needs, just copying the virtual disk file and making a new VM that references it is very simple and satisfactory. One possible caveat: I don't know what will happen if you don't specify the same settings for the VM (e.g. RAM and networking) as you used when the original VM was created. My guess is it won't matter, but I haven't tried it.

Good luck to all,
-Roy

 

[silverpetdragon]

I've been recently having major problems with multiple VM's but I found out a little trick to getting around it. it's simple but it seems to work very well. this is what I did

once XP mode is installed, copy it into a safe folder. this will serve as a backup set of files.
run regular logon on xp machine
change account name
shut down the VM
change VHD image name
redirect settings to new VHD
change configuration file name to match (makes it easier to differentiate between them if you have a lot
log back on

the VM should then log on as "XPMuser" but the title bar, start menu name, and all files should be completely different. Whenever you want to make more VM's, just copy the files from your backup to the main folder, and repeat the steps. The parent disk stays the same so you don't have to deal with that headache, but you get all the benefits of having multiple VM's

 

[Dingeling]

Parent hard disk missing

Hi Kari,

Thanks for your great tutorial.

In my case however, I don't want multiple English copies, but copies in different languages (Japanese, Chinese, and Korean).

When I tried to install the Japanese version of Windows XP Mode, I received an error stating that Windows XP Mode was already installed. So I did the following:

1. Created a copy of XP Mode, named "Windows XP Mode - English", and modified VHD, VMC, and VMCX files accordingly.
2. Unistalled Windows XP Mode via Control Panel > Remove Programs.
3. Installed Japanese version of Windows XP Mode.

Now I can run the newly installed Japanese version, but when I try to run the copied English version I get the error: "One of the parent hard disks of 'Windows XP Mode - English' is missing."

What have I done wrong?

 

[mark281]

Hi Kari,

Thank you.

I appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. I have not seen this information anywhere else. XP mode had been a curious tool and now becomes a very useful sandbox that I know I can restore, should I blow it up.

Mark

 

[Kari]

Dingeling, welcome to the Seven Forums. I'm sorry it took almost a week before I noticed your question. I had accidentally deleted my subscription of this thread and did not receive a notification about new post.

Xp Mode consists of two virtual hard disk files, the base and the actual XP Mode. You get that error message because the base vhd and XP vhd must have the same language.

Your issue is quite easily solved using merged, single file XP Mode instead of differencing two vhd system. You should first merge your Japanese differencing disks, mount the merged vhd to a new virtual machine renaming it, then install the English XP Mode.

Some links for you to read, both to explain the terms used and to show how to merge differencing disks:

• http://www.sevenforums.com/virtualization/80378-backup-xp-mode-2.html#post751417 (1)
• http://www.sevenforums.com/virtualization/80378-backup-xp-mode.html#post711304 (2)
• http://www.sevenforums.com/virtualization/59287-xp-mode-where-does-hard-disk-come.html#post535646
  

Come back if you have more questions, I renewed my subscription so it's not going to take another week to get answers

Kari

 

[Kari]

Hi Kari,

Thank you.

I appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. I have not seen this information anywhere else. XP mode had been a curious tool and now becomes a very useful sandbox that I know I can restore, should I blow it up.

Mark

You are welcome, Mark. Come back if you have any more questions, don't forget to check our Virtualization section for tips and tricks

Kari

 

[jaegerj]

the Solution that worked for me

I followed these instructions carefully several times and it was not working for me (although I have no doubt it worked for others).

Here is what did work:
1) follow instructions 1-5
2) Go to manage your virtual machines and choose Create Virtual Machine
3) Give it a name and click next
4) set your ram and networking options and click next
5) Check "use existing virtual hard disk" and then browse to and choose Windows XP Mode - Copy.vhd
6) click "Create" and you are good to go

I now have 3 running side by side (to run IE6, IE7, and IE8 for web testing purposes).

It is also worth noting that I can change the resolution in these copies but not in the original "Windows XP Mode" virtual machine although I have no idea why.

 

[Kari]

Hi Jaegerj, welcome to the Seven Forums.

The tutorial was written when we were still using and testing Virtual PC and XP Mode beta's. Copying XP Mode was then only possible using the method described. You are right, with todays final product, it is much easier. I'm happy to hear you found the easy way and it works.

I might know why you can change the resolution in copies but not in original. The thing is integration features; when integration is enabled, you change the resolution in every Virtual PC machine, including XP Mode, simply by resizing the XP Mode window. Just drag from a corner and you'll see the resolution is changed. You can not change the resolution from display settings when integration features are enabled.

Only when integration features are disabled, you are able to change the resolution from display settings.

Conclusion: to me it sounds like if you had integration features enabled in original, and disabled in copies (?).

Kari

 

[jaegerj]

Thanks for the reply Kari. I did not change the integration features settings although they are different in that the drives are not checked in the copies.

 

[Kari]

When you run your virtual machines, original or copies, did you also check if integration really is enabled? I mean, I am 100% sure you can not change the resolution from display settings if integration is enabled.

Kari

 

[salvelinus]

This worked flawlessly. The name of the VM is totally flexible too, in case anybody cares to rename the copy. Also, the disk location for these VMs can be anywhere rational.

Copying saves the entire OS installation process, so this is a huge help.

Kittoksia, Kari.

 

[Kari]

Hi Salvelinus, welcome to the Seven Forums.

Nice it worked for you.

Kari

 

[salvelinus]

Worked fine for me

I tried not to think too much and followed the instructions. I am wondering if some folks do not have the right flavor of Windows 7???? Mine is Ultimate 64, no patches or whatever.

Anyway, worked for me as advertised.

 

[Trex78]

Hello all,
Very nice tutorial.
I'm setting up a brand new 7 Pro machine, and made a mistake installing virtual XP machine in a test account. And wasting a security suite license if I recreate under the good account.
So, I'm trying to move this machine from the test account.

Stopped the machine, copied the "Virtual Machines" folder itself to a backup unit. But only .vhd, .vmc and .vmc.vpcbackup are visible, no vmcx file, although it said "4 files copied" ?
So I opened Start Menu "Windows Virtual PC", and copied .vmcx by right click > copy.

Logged to the good account, copied and renamed the 4 files to "Virtual Machines" folder, and did the updates to .vmx and .vmcx.
Opening Start Menu "Windows Virtual PC" didn't show the machine ?
So, created a new one, browsing to the copied .vhd file to use it.

Well, it works, although copy / paste was not active at 1st boot. I now have a true clone of the VM.
- Virtual applications start successfully
- Antivirus software successfully updates.
(I can resize window)

But :
- this machine does'nt appear in Windows Virtual PC menu, although the virtual applications are there. How can I add it ? (Seems to be just a shortcut to add, but ...)
- why can't I see any .vmcx file in explorer, only in Virtual PC window ?
- have I missed something that could cause problems later ?

Many thanks

 

[spatel]

virtual xp machine for public use

Is there a way to install vm in public folder so everyone can access it? currently we have setting with novell logging where user profile get deleted once they log off. so every time user log in they need to install windows xp mode from the start. any suggestion how to save xp mode in public folder?

Thanks

 

[boxterduke]

Can I use the same virtual on 2 or more host PCs? on a domain environment?
I need to use the same virtual that is joined to a domain, on multiple PCs.
I can change the name and then rejoin the domain however what about SIDs?
Is that even possible or am I stuck to creating a virtual from scratch on each physical PC?
Thanks

 

[DJFarmo]

Thank you to Kari for starting this thread. It has been very useful in helping me resolve my Virtual Machine woes.

I was having the same problem as 'JackStockton' in that whenever I tried to copy, rename or otherwise alter a .vmcx file, it would throw up an error message and disappear.

I was able to create new VMs pointing at old .vhd files (as described by 'rfeague'), but I noticed that there are some differences between the VM that is automatically created when a user first installs XP Mode and subsquent user-created new VMs (even if they are pointed at the same .vmc and .vhd files.), such the lack of a 'Shut Down' button on the Start Menu of the VM.

In the end I have found a good solution that works for me. I simply associated the .vmc file type with 'VMWindow.exe' in the System32 folder. This now means that I don't need to deal with the troublesome .vmcx files and can replicate and copy machines at will using Kari's instructions. The only difference is that to start a VM I have to double-click on a .vmc rather than a .vmcx file.

For those who don't know how to change file type associations, an easy way is to right-click on a .vmc file, go to 'Open with' on the menu and select 'Choose default program...' In the dialogue box that appears, make sure the 'Always use the selected program to open this kind of file' is checked and then click the 'browse' button. Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\ then scroll down the list, select 'VMWindow.exe' and click the 'Open' button. The Windows Virtual PC Shell is now associated with .vmc files on your profile.

Now follow Kari's instructions to replicate machine, but to run a machine double click on the .vmc file, rather than a .vmcx file in the Virtual Machines folder.

 

[richnrockville]

I have several vhd's that I have setup on Virtual PC. I keep them all on my D drive in a virtualdrive directory.
I copied my .vhd's from the old vpc from xp and that is the only file I copied.
When I copy them to a new computer. I install the VPC and then create a new vpc and say that I am
importing an existing vhd. I have windows98, dos 6.22 w windows 3.11 along with ubuntu.
You do not have to keep them in the users\virtualharddisks directory.

As someone has noted, you just can't copy all the files to a new position as the full access path is imbeded
in the vmcx file so you end up pointing to the original vhd.

YMMV
Rich