upgrading XP to Win 7 inside Virtual Windows xp?

user659 said:

Is the size of that Virtual drive set by default?

If you accept the default settings when creating a virtual machine in Virtual PC, the disk size is dynamic i.e. it can grow or shrink, depending on if you add or remove data. You can also set a fixed size. A Virtual PC vhd can be maximum 127 GB.

An advantage using dynamic disks is that they only use as much from your physical, host system's HD's than they need; even Virtual PC normally reports its vhd as 127 GB, it's because it reports the maximum size. The actual size on host's disk is smaller, just what is actually used.

XP Mode creates when installed a dynamic vhd, meaning it only takes a few gigs from your host hd when installed but reports the disk size as 127 GB (130,000 MB). This is how much data you can add to it, the actual vhd file grows up to maximum if and when needed.

Kari

@user659

Please try XP mode in Windows 7 VM in Windows 7 and then post your screen shots and let us know how well it works. I would like to see that. -WS

@user659

Let's make this clear: you have wiped your XP Mode and replaced it with Windows 7, doing a custom, clean install. If you did not format the XP Mode virtual hard disk when doing this, you have your XP Mode files in Windows 7 windows.old folder. If you formatted virtual hard disk, all files are gone. XP can not be in-place upgraded to Seven, keeping the apps, files and folders.

As such, you have done nothing that every computer user who can enter Windows 7 DVD to drive couldn't do.

Please believe me, I am not trying to underestimate or disparage you or your enthusiasm. New things in life, as well as in computing, are often found by people doing things in untraditional ways. I think this positive and supportive attitude of mine came clear on my earlier posts, showing you in-place upgrading XP with Vista is possible. But not with Seven.

Now you have done something really dumb (please understand, this is the truth, not an insult), activating your virtual Windows 7 with the same product key you have already used on your real computer. This is going to cause you problems. If I was you, I would unregister, uninstall that product key from virtual 7 as soon as possible. This post shows you how.

Then remove this virtual machine and reinstall XP Mode. After that, if you want to experiment with installing Seven on a virtual PC machine, create a new virtual machine and download a free 90-day trial version of Windows 7 Enterprise and experiment with it, rather than your original. Download and more info here: Windows 7 Enterprise | Trial, Evaluation, Test, Download

I hope your understand me.


@pricetech

You told the OP XP Mode is not a true virtual machine. It is not truth. I'm not saying you lied, I'm just saying you clearly don't know what you were talking about. XP Mode is a real, complete, fully working virtual machine. I repeat what I said: If you don't know the subject you are talking, you should not offer your assistance only based on what you think. I'm sure you agree with that; if you posted an issue or problem here, you most surely would like to have valid answers and solutions, rather than untruths from someone who really does not know the answer.

You are right saying that we seem to define virtual machine differently. For me, a virtual machine is a virtual computer running a so called guest operating system on host computer, using a virtualization application such as Virtual PC, VirtualBox or VMware to do this. Like XP Mode running on Virtual PC, or XP installed on VirtualBox.

Your last post clearly shows what I'm talking about. In defending your earlier untruth, you now mix a virtual machine and a virtualization application used to create virtual machines. As mentioned, XP Mode is a true, complete virtual machine. You don't install other operating systems in XP Mode. You install them in virtual machines. If you want to install for instance Ubuntu Linux in Microsoft Virtual PC, here's how to do it: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/...1-8c27ce9b909a

Please try to understand I am saying this only because I think the OP needs real, valid information, instead of rumors and opinions. That is my only motive for posting here.

Kari

Please uninstall the product key on that virtual machine first, before removing it!

Integration features should be first uninstalled on XP Mode, then reinstalled and re-enabled on a new upgraded OS. Works flawlessly done this way.

I repeat what I said: I was most definitely not trying to disparage you. Quite the opposite. I admire your enthusiasm. But if you want to do a tutorial of how to install Seven, use a new virtual machine and that free trial version of Seven instead. Using the same product key was a big mistake which can cause you problems.

Kari

If you are going to have some problems in the future, Windows telling you it's not genuine, we can help you here to reactivate it or at least give some tips on how and what to do. I'm sorry I used the word dumb, but I tried and tried to find an expression that would make you to understand that using the same, valid product key twice is a sure way to get problems.

Let's hope everything is OK.

Really admiring your attitude and enthusiasm. You really are a geek, in its most positive meaning :)

Kari

EDIT:

pricetech said:

and what other operating systems can be installed on that "virtual machine" ??

Linux Mint running on a Microsoft Virtual PC virtual machine: