How to Create a New Virtual Machine in Virtual PC 2007

   Information

This will show you how to create a new virtual machine in Virtual PC 2007 SP1, and install the guest operating system that you want to run in the virtual machine with Vista as the host.

   Note

With Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 SP1, you can create and run one or more virtual machines, each with its own operating system, on a single Windows Vista or XP computer (host). This provides you with the flexibility to use different operating systems on one physical computer. Using Virtual PC allows you to run legacy and custom applications during migration to new operating systems and increases the efficiency of support, development, and training staffs.

   Warning

Minimum System Requirements:



NOTE: For more on this, see: Microsoft Virtual PC - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and Microsoft Virtual PC: Virtual PC 2007

• Processor: AMD Athlon/Duron, Intel Celeron, Intel Pentium II, Intel Pentium III, Intel Pentium 4, Intel Core Duo, and Intel Core2 Duo
• CPU Speed: An x64-based or an x86-based computer with a 400 MHz or faster (1 GHz recommended) processor with L2 cache
• RAM: Add the RAM requirement for the host operating system (your compurer) that you will be using to the requirement for the guest operating system (virtual machine) that you will be using. If you will be using multiple guest operating systems simultaneously, total the requirements for all the guest operating systems that you need to run simultaneously.
• Available disk space: Virtual PC 2007 SP1 requires approximately 35 MB of disk space for installation. To determine the hard disk space required for virtual machines (guest OS), add the requirement for each guest operating system that will be installed.
• Supported host (your computer) 32-bit or 64-bit operating systems:
  
  • Windows Vista Basic
  • Windows Vista Home Premium
  • Windows Vista Business
  • Windows Vista Ultimate
  • Windows Vista Enterprise
  • Windows XP Professional
  • Windows XP Tablet PC Edition
  • Windows XP Home Edition (32-bit only)
  • Windows Server 2003 Standard
• Supported guest (virtual machine) 32-bit only operating systems:
  
  • Windows Vista Starter
  • Windows Vista Basic
  • Windows Vista Home Premium
  • Windows Vista Business
  • Windows Vista Ultimate
  • Windows Vista Enterprise
  • Windows XP Professional
  • Windows XP Tablet PC Edition
  • Windows XP Home Edition
  • Windows XP Start Edition
  • Windows 2000 Server
  • Windows 2000 Professional
  • Windows Server 2003 Standard
  • Windows 98 Second Edition

Here's How:

1. If you have not already, you will need to have a ISO file of the operating system (guest) that you want to use to create the new virtual machine with. You can use a free program like ImgBurn to create a ISO image file from your operating system installation disc.

2. If you have not already, you will need to download and install Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 SP1 first.

3. Run Virtual PC.

4. Click on New. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: If this is the first time you are running Virtual PC, then you will see step 5 below automatically instead.

5. Click on Next. (See screenshot below)

6. Select (dot) Create a virtual machine, and click on Next. (See screenshot below)

7. Type in a name you want to display for the virtual machine, and click on Next. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: This will also be the name of the .vmc file located in the hidden C:\Users\(User-Name)\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Virtual PC\Virtual Machines folder by default.

8. If available, select the guest operating system (step 1) in the drop down menu that you will be installing in the virtual machine, and click on Next. (See screenshot below)

9. Select (dot) Adjusting the RAM, then slide the slider to increase or decrease the amount of your system RAM you want allocated to be used by only this new virtual machine when running. When done, click on Next. (See screenshot below)

10. Select (dot) A new virtual hard disk, and click on Next. (See screenshot below)

11. Click on Browse (left screenshot below). Navigate to and select the folder where you want to save the .vhd (virtual hard drive) file at, and click on Save. (right screenshot below)

12. Specify the size that you want the .vhd file to be in MB (1024MB = 1GB), then click on Next. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: You will want to have at least the minimum amount of hard drive space required by the operating system (step 1) that you are installing as the guest in the virtual machine. For example, 20480MB (20GB) minimum for Vista.

13. Click on Finish. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: You have just finished creating a new virtual machine. You will now need to install the guest operating system using the ISO file (step 1) inside the virtual machine below.

14. Select the new virtual machine (name used in step 7), and click on Start. (See screenshot below)

15. On the menu bar, click on CD and Capture ISO Image. (See screenshot below )

16. Navigate to where you have the ISO image file from step 1 located. Select it, and click on Open. (See screenshot below)

17. On the menu bar, click on Action and Reset. (See screenshot below )

18. Click on Reset. (See screenshot below)

19. You can now finish installing the operating system (ex: Vista) as you would normally for a clean install.

20. When done, you will be able to start this virtual machine with (ex: Vista) as the guest when you click on Start in step 14. (See screenshot below)

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Install Virtual PC 2007 Virtual Machine Additions
• How to Extract Vista System Image Files Using Virtual PC 2007