VMLite - an alternative Windows XP Mode impl

[huisinro]

forgot to ask you to uninstall VPC integration component from the vm, it has some conflicts. I will find a way to redo your changes of BricoPack Vista Inspirat Ultimate 2. Wait for me tomorrow.

Did you take some snapshots? if so, you can roll back.

Otherwise, you can mount the VHD, then change the settings. I will test.

 

[HughShaw]

I didn't take any snapshots. And now my Windows XP mode doesn't work! It say's "Cannot start Windows XP Mode. One or more required files are either missing or not valid. Do you want to create a new Windows XP environment?"

I'm going to try to do a Windows roll back...

 

[huisinro]

is this the theme you wanted? it works well on my VMLite XP Mode. It might be due to your complex configuration. Sorry about the trouble.

I attached the scheme in my vm here

 

[HughShaw]

My Windows is totally messed up now. I can't run VMLite or Windows XPM. Roll back computer didn't help. Please help me when you get the chance. I'm even willing to a remote control.

Edit: That's what the theme wallpaper looks like, but it also changes the icons and taskbar to look like Vista.

 

[huisinro]

let's try something tomorrow, we can take this offline

 

[HughShaw]

I ended up getting Windows XP Mode to work again.

VMLite XP Mode has many problems on my machine. I've tried to delete everything and only use my base vhd (fresh XP vhd), but it still has problems. After I install, I have to do steps 1-3 again, and after I reboot XPM, it doesn't let me log in. It keeps making my Username "XPMUser" when it's supposed to be something else. I tried replacing it and going into the workstation settings and replacing it there, but it just ignores that I made any changes. It just won't let me log in. Keep in mind that I must use a username and password because Windows XP mode has set things that way.

Finally, for some reason I can not merge my Windows XPM virtual hard disk anymore. The base file becomes a readme only and I can not change it no matter what. Therefore, I can't combine the differencing disks anymore.

Now I'm trying to delete the snapshot so I can delete VMLite XP Mode from the Workstation, but it just freezes and crashes. Something is really wrong so I thought I'd let you know so hopefully things will be fixed in the future. For now, I'm going back to the slow Windows XP Mode. Let me know if there's another way I can get things working.

 

[HughShaw]

Ok I finally have things working. I uninstalled everything and reinstalled with the second option. It didn't work at first, but I kept trying and it works now for some reason. I'm not going to install the theme just in case everything goes wrong again. I have a few questions about this program.

1. How do I uninstall VPC integration component and what does it do?
2. I noticed \VMLites\HardDisks has my virtual HD in an unknown format. "VMLite XP Modevhd" Is this the file I would use to install XPM to another computer or would it not be recognized by VMLite?
3. Regarding above, can I change "VMLite XP Modevhd" to "VMLite XP Mode.vhd" and change the storage settings to get it to work? (I need to be able to backup this file on my external hard drive and mount it on another computer to get certain files. But I don't want to mess things up trying)
4. Can I get rid of the bottom bar (IDE Controller, etc. icons) to make it look exactly like Windows XP Mode?
5. Are there any roll-back options instead of the Snapshot feature? (It seems to make VMLite crash for some reason)
6. Will future updates automatically fix known problems such as the scroll issue?
7. Am I able to uninstall Windows Virtual PC, or it it still needed for other applications?

Overall, I do think it's an improvement to Windows XP mode as it is faster and graphics are improved. Yet, graphics and sounds are a still bit choppy for me. But I think it mostly transferred over many of the flaws that were there in my Windows XP mode virtual HD. On a normal XP machine, themes would be no problem, but in XP mode themes seems to work oddly. After choosing the second option and transferring over to VMLite, it seems to have transferred over some of the same problems.

 

[huisinro]

Ok I finally have things working. I uninstalled everything and reinstalled with the second option. It didn't work at first, but I kept trying and it works now for some reason. I'm not going to install the theme just in case everything goes wrong again. I have a few questions about this program.

1. How do I uninstall VPC integration component and what does it do?
2. I noticed \VMLites\HardDisks has my virtual HD in an unknown format. ""VMLite XP Modevhd" Is this the file I would use to install XPM to another computer or would it not be recognized by VMLite?
3. Can I get rid of the bottom bar (IDE Controller, etc. icons) to make it look exactly like Windows XP Mode?
4. Are there any roll-back options instead of the Snapshot feature? (It seems to make VMLite crash for some reason)
5. Will future updates automatically fix known problems such as the scroll issue?
6. Am I able to uninstall Windows Virtual PC, or it it still needed for other applications?

Overall, I do think it's an improvement to Windows XP mode as it is faster and graphics are improved. Yet, graphics and sounds are a still bit choppy for me. But I think it mostly transferred over many of the flaws that were there in my Windows XP mode virtual HD. On a normal XP machine, themes would be no problem, but in XP mode themes seems to work oddly. After choosing the second option and transferring over to VMLite, it seems to have transferred over some of the same problems.

Thanks for trying it again.

1, you can unstall it from Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs, Virtual PC Integration Component.

When you use 2nd option, this intergration is supposed to be removed by VMLite automatically. I think that all is caused by item 2, as you noted "unknown format", then our disk driver won't be able to mount the vhd, and didn't modify your original VHD, which caused so much problems, and you had to manually remove/install things.

2, this is definitely not right, must be a bug. The file is supposed to end with ".vhd". I noted there is no "." in your case. This will give all kinds of problems to our virtual disk driver since it would be considered as "Unknown format"

3, for now, what you can do is to auto hide the task bar from your vm. You can right click Taskkbar to change settings. This is the area we need more work to do a better taskbar integration. Personal, I like to have a xp taskbar, but many other people may not.

4, no, snapshot is the only one from vmlite. You could use XP's builtin System Restore feature if enabled.

5, yes, our internal code already fixed the scroll issue. We will release a build with other fixes soon. You can check out our forums for more info. Someone made wheel scrool to work by using some scripts.

6, VMLite does not need VPC, other apps I am not sure. But since you installed it by yourself in the first place, I would say no hard to uninstall it.

 

[huisinro]

one more thing, when you install stuff, please use Desktop Mode, e.g., don't use the IE in green borders.

When an app is in green border, it's put into Virtual Applications mode, where it's Desktop, Documents, and other special folders are actually redirected to host, same as Microsoft's implementation. This mode is not good for installing applications.

 

[HughShaw]

Thanks for your comments, I always install stuff the correct way. I now have more questions!

1. Can I change "VMLite XP Modevhd" to "VMLite XP Mode.vhd" and change the storage settings to get it to work? (I need to be able to backup this file on my external hard drive and mount it on another computer to get certain files. But I don't want to mess things up trying)
2. Regarding #3, what I meant was an option to hide the bar below the XP taskbar. Personally, I think that bar can be hidden most of the time. I have attached a picture of what I'm talking about.

 

[HughShaw]

Also, I need to explain how the file became "VMLite XP Modevhd". I chose the second option and left the make a copy box checked.

If I were to leave the make a copy box un-checked, then it would not have this behavior.

Edit: I tried to rename "VMLite XP Modevhd" to "VMLite XP Mode.vhd" and then go into the storage settings and release/remove/edit, but it doesn't work. When I try to add it, it doesn't recognize the ".vhd" file.

 

[huisinro]

I just posted a fix of the wheel problem on our forum, you can download the .reg file, and double click it inside vm.

ok, i got what you meant. It's easy to hide the status bar. will check the src code.

 

[HughShaw]

I got the wheel fix from the forums. Let me know what I can do about the "VMLite XP Modevhd" problem when you find out, thanks.

 

[huisinro]

I got the wheel fix from the forums. Let me know what I can do about the "VMLite XP Modevhd" problem when you find out, thanks.

We verified that it's a bug, fix will be available in next build.

 

[HughShaw]

I'm currently trying to get around the "VMLite XP Modevhd" problem by putting the VHD file in the \VMLites\HardDisks, installing with the second option, and unclicking the "make a copy" box. I want to try to use VMLite to convert the Windows XP Mode base VHD to see if that will solve some custom theme problems I've been having. Here's the two important bugs I've found with VMLite.

1. If you install from the base XPM vhd file and unclick the "make a copy" button, it will work until you restart the computer from the start button. Then when you log on, it will ask you for your username and password. It puts in XPMUser for you, but when you change it, it doesn't accept. And when you go into settings and and delete the login credentials, it doesn't accept the new username. The problem is that my username has \ and it doesn't recognize it. Thus I can't log-in...
2. I can install with the 2nd option when clicking the "make a copy" option, but the copy will have the "VMLite XP Modevhd" problem. But I can use it!

 

[huisinro]

try login as "Administrator" and your password. XPMUser is the registered owner, but you won't be able to login as "XPMUser"

 

[catavento]

sfs don't appear

Do you see H: drive in vm? if not, you can map \\.host\sfs as network drive. Each hard disk on host will appear as subdir of H:, e.g., H:\c is the c drive of your host disk.

You can add you USB drive as a shared folder in the same way. Go to mnnu Device > Shared Folders to add more folders

Hi,
I've installed xpmode by vmlite and I don't see "sfs on host H" in my computer. How can I do it? I can't acess my files on my host computer. In menu Device, shared folders it's OK. Can you help me, please?

 

[huisinro]

Hi,
I've installed xpmode by vmlite and I don't see "sfs on host H" in my computer. How can I do it? I can't acess my files on my host computer. In menu Device, shared folders it's OK. Can you help me, please?

You can map network drive H: to \\.host\sfs, or run the following command in command prompt:

"net use H: \\.host\sfs"

Make sure that you have added the shared folders, for example, C:\, using menu Device > Shared Folders ...

 

[huisinro]

A new version, v3.1.2 is available for download

http://www.vmlite.com/index.php/products/vmlite-xp-mode/download

Changes are listed as follows:

http://www.vmlite.com/index.php/products/vmlite-xp-mode/change-logs

• support DirectX 3D acceleration and video 2D acceleration. For example, you should be able to run Google Earth in DirectX mode, and play games with good performance
• fix mouse wheel problem - mouse wheel is not working with some types of mouses in version 3.1.0
• fix invisible mouse pointer after resuming from hibernated virtual machines
• auto handle "Administrator" account name in other languages, e.g., use "Administrador" for Spanish version of XP Mode; use "Администратор" for Russian version, etc.
• assign 512MB memory to vm if host has at least 2G physical memory
• fix "Windows File Protection" when installing some apps, for example, Windows 2000 Office
• fix some missing icons on host Start menu for virtual apps installed inside vm
• automatically add Bridged Network Adapters to improve network performance
• allow a user to specify a folder to store the XP Mode vm

 

[mkehinde2]

It appears the vmlite.com website is down or is being redirected to a travel website