Windows 7 and the XP Virtual PC

[OldBloke]

If you have the Professional, Enterprise or Ultimate versions of Windows 7 then you can go here and install a Virtual PC running XP Pro SP3 ... and all for free (well, in truth you paid for it by not purchasing the cheapo 'Home' version).

Great for testing those programs of a dubious source :flirty:

[b00n]

Nice find, I was planning to do just that. :thumb:

[GhostMjr]

Thanks for the info OB.

Completely forgot about this



Apparently i need to enable the setting in bios.

Any idea what i am looking for?

[b00n]

Strange, as I recall Virtual PC runs under Windows so I can't imagine what BIOS settings you'd need to change.  It does require processor support for hardware virtualisation (so it says), so you might need to enable that if it's been disabled (and if there's even a BIOS setting for it, not something I recall ever seeing).

[OldBloke]

I just installed and it worked. Did you do the 'tool' thing?

[Penfold]

Working for me too - which is something of a miracle given my lack of skillz innit.

So what's it for then

Are you saying that if I'm worried about a virusy type file or something I run it in the XP window then if it's dodgy and I close the window does it die?

[OldBloke]

Working for me too - which is something of a miracle given my lack of skillz innit.

So what's it for then

Are you saying that if I'm worried about a virusy type file or something I run it in the XP window then if it's dodgy and I close the window does it die?

A virtual machine is a ringfenced OS. If you were to run a file containing a virus then you would infect the VM but not the host. Simply burn the VM and reinstall. I've installed the Microsoft Security Essentials into mine to keep the nasties out.

You're not restricted to the XP VM provided. If, for example, you fancy playing with Ubuntu then grab an ISO, create a VM and install into it. Be aware that they can take up a fair amount of HDD space though.

[Penfold]

Brill thanks.

I'm d/l that link now as well. I guess it's worth installing it on my normal machine as well.

Thanks.

[GhostMjr]

There isn't a function in the BIOS to turn on that kind of option.


Thank you,
Tim S
BFG Support

Confirmed my bios doesn't appear to support it.

So won't be able to use this till my next motherboard i suppose :S

[T-Bag]

Your bios doesn't have anything to do with this.

Your computer is recent enough that your processor supports multiple threads. It should just install and run. Your motherboard shouldn't have anything to do with it.

[kregoron]

Your bios doesn't have anything to do with this.

Your computer is recent enough that your processor supports multiple threads. It should just install and run. Your motherboard shouldn't have anything to do with it.

XP mode requires virtualization, which is a CPU extension within the cpu instructins.
If its by std disabled on his motherboard, and there is not a option available to enable this, then he wont be able to run XP mode..

Just out of curiousity Ghost, what cpu do you have?

[Tutonic]

Your bios doesn't have anything to do with this.

Your computer is recent enough that your processor supports multiple threads. It should just install and run. Your motherboard shouldn't have anything to do with it.

On the contrary, if his BIOS is too old it might not have the option to enable Virtualization - even if his CPU does infact support it.

[GhostMjr]

okidoke.

I left the program well alone and finally tried it again today.

Now its working.

BFG said there was no such feature in bios which would have meant it shouldn't have worked.

For reference i have a bfg 680i sli with a q6600 95 watt edition.

Its running at last so who knows what was stopping it