can't find virtual PC or XP mode after uninstall/reinstall of them

I'm running the 64bit Ultimate edition while you have the x64 Pro there. This is probably due to the difference in editions. But you should find an MS folder once the XP Mode is on again.

The image there is from a fresh install of the XP Mode just seen to following the latest clean install of 7. The Windows Virtual PC sub folder under that will have two or three more subs for Virtual Machines and Virtual Applications. You may find a VMC Backup folder present as well.

You won't find any exe files there to begin with. The XP Mode places certain files there since that is the admin account. The main executable is found in "C:\Windows\System32\rundll32.dll" with the target being the VMCPropertyHandler.dll file. The VPC also see several driver files there as well.

The XP Mode tutorial folder is under Program Files while the VPC and integrated components are found under Program Files(x86). MS seems to have "spread the wealth" all over as far as these are concerned!

To start, your original issue was simply because you removed the password. When Virtual PC Integration Components are installed, you must use passwords; Virtual PC does not let you to login to an Windows vm user account without password.

If you remove your password when integration is enabled, thus causing that XP Mode (or any other Virtual PC vm) does not let you in, simply disable integration features, log in using your account without password, set a password in Control Panel > Users, logout, enable integration and login this time with password you just set. You can also use the built-in XP Mode administrator account this way; by default it has no password so using it when integration is enabled is impossible.

Reading this thread now through a couple of times, it is not clear for me if you have tried simply to uninstall both XP Mode (Control Panel > Programs and Features) and Virtual PC (Control Panel > Programs and Features > View installed updates). Then reboot, download files again and reinstall.

Remember that Virtual PC is not shown as an installed program. Instead it is shown as an installed update.

If this does not help, do system restore to a point EITHER before you uninstalled and when XP Mode worked, or to a point before you installed Virtual PC and XP Mode.

For you and those others facing similar issue, sudden inability to login to XP Mode or any other Virtual PC vm when password is removed or forgotten, please read these posts:
- Virtual Machine Log on
- can't run programs as administrator in xp mode

BTW, the reason you could not find AppData folder is that it is a hidden folder. You need to allow Windows to show hidden files and folders before you can see it.

Kari

Thanks for the help Kari,

I will try uninstalling both programs, rebooting, and reinstalling.

If that doesn't work i will try the restore points.

Does it matter what order i install the two - XP Mode , Virtual PC?

Doers it matter if i uninstall before or after the restoring?

When i uninstall do i need to go around and delete left over folders for XP Mode or Virtual PC?

IF you succeed with uninstalling both, then I would recommend you install them in the order told on Virtual PC download site: first XP Mode, then after reboot Virtual PC.

If you do not succeed then this is meaningless: just select a restore point when XP Mode was still working, before you removed the password, and try. If it works, everything is OK. If not, do System restore again, now selecting a point before you installed XP Mode and Virtual PC. Then go to download site, download and install.

Kari

That's good to hear. Now just remember this thing with Virtual PC Integration Components and passwords: If you want to use your XP Mode with user profile which has no password set, you need to disable integration.

Kari