Virtual XP Machine - Copy

Hi Kari,

Thank you very much for your tutorial on running multiple virtual machines. For my work, I am trying to utilize as many VMs as possible (hoping to upgrade by existing computer from 8GB to 24GB).

I have two VMs currently running at the moment. I shut down my original Windows XP Mode (my Windows XP Mode - Copy was still running). I copied by original Windows XP Mode vhd, vmc, and vmcx files to try to create a third VM. However, after changing the file paths and hexadecimal I get the following message:

"Could not register the virtual machine. The virtual machine could not be registered because the configuration file does not exist. You should create a new configuration file for the virtual machine."

Is this because I need to shut down both VMs first before copying the VM or do I need to do some additional steps?

Your help is greatly appreciated.

Kindest Regards,

DNAPL

Hi Kari,

Thank you for your response. Once my models have stopped running on both VMs, I will shut down both and then try to make more multiple copies of XP Mode.

Sorry for bugging you again, but in your experience with Windows XP Mode, what is the most efficient number of VMs that can be run at the same time (4? 6? 8? 10?)? With two VMs running on a 8GB RAM computer, I have allocated 2GB to each VM and I am getting good run times for my models. If I am able to upgrade to 24GB RAM, how many VMs could I efficiently run? As well, should I allocate more than 2GB RAM for even better model run times? My models are in FORTRAN language and I am using a COMPAQ FORTRAN compliler.

Your help is greatly appreciated.

Kindest Regards,

DNAPL

Hi Kari

Please forgive me if I posted this in the wrong section but I found your guide here and it looks so good it's obvious your the person that can advise me.

I just purchased Win 7 Pro version as XP is ending it's service life. I have a lot of older software and freeware that might not run in Win 7 so I specifically purchased the more expensive Pro versions (for 2 home desktop PC's and one portable laptop) so I could use XP Mode. This is on a brand new installation that's been FULLY updated, re-checked for updates, installed, re-booted till updates show fully up to date.

I downloaded and installed Microsoft's Virtual PC (from Microsoft's site) and installed it.
I downloaded and installed Microsoft's XP Mode (from Microsoft's site) and installed it.

I run XP Mode from the dialogue box that says it's ready to launch. It launched OK and so knowing XP updates are nearing the end of their life, wanted to get all 3 systems right up to date before they cease!

Updates were downloaded via MS's update (inside XM Mode) then after the first re-boot (not Win 7) when XP Mode tried to start up again a warning said it had failed to start. It offered a diagnostic check, which failed, the only option being to close. I re-opened XP Mode from programs and it started up OK.

I continued with the next run of updates till a re-boot was requested. Same problem again.
Started again via programs and it started up OK again.

Then there was a final update and re-boot, however this time it failed to start and said "unable to enable integration features" but I could enable these later via Tools in the main window.

I opened tools (the entire window was smaller than the usual XP Mode and was all black) but the option to enable was greyed out. When I tried to shut down and re-start it was the same.

So I went into programs and clicked uninstall XP Mode. It seemed to do this. I re-ran XP Mode installer and did all 122 updates again and this time it seems stable. BUT...

I noticed that in manage virtual PC's, this is showing two entries...
XP Mode 1
XP Mode

Running "XP Mode" seems to be the initial defective version as it still fails to start.
Running "XP Mode 1" it starts and seems OK.

I would like to remove this faulty entry but can't. It didn't uninstall obviously.
I also noticed that on shut down both said Hibernate, so I changed the option to "Shut Down" on close.
I wonder if this is why the initial faulty version didn't uninstall (its default was Hibernate) so if it was still running it wouldn't uninstall. That said, no warning said to close the program and it seemed to uninstall normally.

I don't want to have to try another uninstall and end up with "XP Mode 2" in the list and more HD space allocated. Please can you advise what I can try? I am not installing on my other two machines till I know why I had this problem. Is there a procedure I should follow to do the first installation? I tried to use common sense and installed the Virtual PC first and did all re-boots when instructed.

Hope you can help, I can find lots of info how to run two Virtual PC's but not how to remove a faulty one!
Thanks, best wishes,
Dave.

Hi Kari
Thanks very much for you rapid reply.
Yes you have understood all my text, XP Mde 1 is working OK. I am going to try what you said on my new Win 7 machine (I am using my old XP system at the moment). I will get back to you in the next couple of days, sorry I am out tomorrow and Friday but can't wait to try your fix.
Sincere thanks, you are very kind, best wishes,
Dave.

Hi Kari
Please forgive my late reply. I was delayed with other problems this weekend so I was just about to run through your instructions to remove my duplicated copy of XP Mode when I realised something probably very important. I have just built four new installations on Win 7 Pro (four PC's) so I could use the XP Mode option. In my haste to install them all I forgot to enable the CPU hardware for Virtual Machine. I started on the first machine and installed Virtual PC on it without first enabling the CPU support, I totally forgot. Before I start making changes, perhaps I need to remove and re-instal everything again or can I salvage what I already have, following your previous advice?

As I was having problems installing XP Mode I wonder if this was related to the Virtual PC not being installed with the CPU hardware enabled?

I was rushing to get XP Mode fully updated well before Microsoft drop the XP Updates. A second and very important question that might be good for all users - Is it possible to save all the updates so they can be re-installed in the future, when no longer available again from Microsoft Update? Better, is it possible to save the entire updated installation somehow? I know that security can become a problem when the updates stop, but it's obviously far better to be updated as much as possible, no matter when future users wish to install XP Mode.

I will wait for your advice before I start to follow your instructions, in case you require me to remove all and start again. If this is the case, advice on how to remove "all" would be of value as I know that some parts of the installation will not remove.

Thanks in advance, I appreciate your help very much. Best wishes,
Dave.