Vista - How to Get Started?

I want to use Virtual PC.
I downloaded it and installed it.

I created a new m/c using the wizard. But, how do I install the guest OS?
When I started the machine it is doing something but does not seem to go
anywhere.

Can I create an exact replica of my current desktop on my virtual PC?
The windows license at my deskop is an enterprise one and I am using ZP.

Correcting the typo:

I am using Windows XP :-)

"Abhishek" wrote:

Well, you could install an operating system from CD. Pop a CD in the drive and start up the virtual machine (using the "Start" button on the Virtual PC Console.) Once it comes up, go to the "CD" menu and select "Use physical drive X:" (where X: is the CD drive.) Or you can use "Capture ISO image..." if you have the operating system install in an ISO.

You'll basically format the virtual disk, install the OS, everything... just as if it were a full PC.

As for moving your desktop PC over to a virtual PC, that can be pretty tough. You might just start rebuilding your OS inside a new virtual machine. Then you can communicate between the two using the bridged network. How's that?

On Wed, 3 Sep 2008 14:32:04 -0700, Abhishek
<Abhishek@xxxxxx> wrote:
You install an OS in a VM just like you would on a real PC with an
empty hard drive. You'll need a CD or DVD with the OS you want to
install as well as a license for it, if it's a Windows OS.
You can't create an exact replica. A VM, regardless of who's software
you use, creates a set of virtual hardware, your physical hardware
does not show up in a VM.

Check out my TechRef PDF on my website. It will get you started out.

--
Cheers,
Steve Jain, Virtual Machine MVP
http://vpc.essjae.com/
I do not work for Microsoft.

"Abhishek" <Abhishek@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:4538E4BD-C056-47C9-A6D9-88645B65684E@xxxxxx
Exactly like you would on a physical machine. N.B., whatever you may hear, a
virtual machine is just as "real" as a physical machine as far as the
software installed on it is concerned, and works in exactly the same way.
Generally speaking, an OS has no idea that it's running on a virtual machine
as opposed to a physical machine - it has no requirement to know this...
That's because it's behaving exactly like a physical machine i.e. it needs
to have an OS installed on it...


--
Mark Rae
ASP.NET MVP
http://www.markrae.net

Thanks for the responses.

I was under the impression that Virtual PC will clone my current real
machine and may ask for license key or when needed.

Now, that I know better, I am going to try out intalling the fresh OS.. (a
big task in my organization becoz of central IT )

"Mark Rae [MVP]" wrote: