Vista - Using it to Test Software

I have 2 computers All licensed.
1. Toshiba Laptop - Window XP Home
2. Homemade - Windows XP Pro

I like to test beta & new software, before I install it permanently. I hate
it when upgrades can fubar you're whole OS in a heartbeat.

I use 2 programs which help me keep my system from getting mucked up.
Ghost & Sandbox. Both have their advantages if you know about the
programs.
Here are the questions and would like some opinions if this group thinks
Virtual PC is the better way to going to test software.

1. Can I set up Virtual PC on either of my computers?

2. After I download and install Virtual PC, do I need to reinstall the OS in
the Virtual PC?

3. Can I download, install Beta, new software, test it out and if it goes
sideways, will it affect my regular OS?

4. With Sandbox, if I install a program it sometimes needs to reboot. Which
kills Sandbox and the install and testing is impossible.
Is Virtual PC able to install a program, reboot, test the program, use it
for say a week, month and then get rid of 1 of the Virtual PC's?

5. How many VPC's can I run?

6. Is it a resource hog?

7. Is it possible to run VPC when I want? In other words, does it always
have to be running in the process?

8. I have both a USB Keyboard and Mouse. Is that going to be a problem?


Any help would be great.

Thanks
Glee

"Glee" <Glee@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:04E6DC47-E5B5-4561-AB5E-FD0E12A7A995@xxxxxxYes
You need a separate, new licence other than the licenses for your two
computers to install a Windows OS in Virtual PC (unless you are going to use
something under the GPL like Linux....)
Yes
No.
Yes
Depends on your disk space......

No, you can fire it up whenever you want.

On Question #2 - So, if I want to install and test say IE8, I would have to
install Virtual PC, buy a new licence (Windows XP Home) register the licence,
then install and test IE8? I'm a little confused on that one.

On Question # 8 - USB Keyboard and mouse.. Yes? No? I've read some posts
here where it looks like USB does not work with VPC.

Thanks
Glee

"Gordon" wrote:
1. Can I set up Virtual PC on either of my computers?
Yes

2. After I download and install Virtual PC, do I need to reinstall the OS
in the Virtual PC?

You need a separate, new licence other than the licenses for your two
computers to install a Windows OS in Virtual PC (unless you are going to use
something under the GPL like Linux....)

3. Can I download, install Beta, new software, test it out

Yes

and if it goes sideways, will it affect my regular OS?

No.

4. With Sandbox, if I install a program it sometimes needs to reboot.
Which kills Sandbox and the install and testing is impossible.
Is Virtual PC able to install a program, reboot, test the program, use it
for say a week, month and then get rid of 1 of the Virtual PC's?

Yes

5. How many VPC's can I run?

Depends on your disk space......

7. Is it possible to run VPC when I want? In other words, does it always
have to be running in the process?

No, you can fire it up whenever you want.

"Glee" <Glee@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:BE598B92-5FE7-471A-A67D-FEFFECF9FABE@xxxxxxYes - VPC is considered to be a separate computer, so you need an unused
licence to install a Windows OS on it.

Certainly a USB mouse works, I use VPC on my laptop with a USB mouse and
that works perfectly OK. Can't comment on USB keyboards though

USB keyboards work too, they are passed through to the VM as emulated
PS2 devices, just like mice.

--
Bob Comer <Microsoft MVP Windows - Virtual Machine>


On Mon, 15 Sep 2008 15:54:43 +0100, "Gordon"
<gordonbparker@xxxxxx> wrote:

"Robert Comer" <bobcomer-removeme-@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:4eusc41ovo4ma890nalkv5rbfc909gsn4n@xxxxxxThanks for the info!

No problem, glad to help.

--
Bob Comer


On Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:21:06 +0100, "Gordon"
<gordonbparker@xxxxxx> wrote:

Thanks for the fast answers. It looks like I'll be sticking with Ghost and
Sandbox for now. I'm not sure where to buy a seperate licence since MS is no
longer selling XP and I really don't want to move up to Visa at this point.
VPC sounds llike a great program and seems like it would work great for what
I want to do. However, I don't want to drop $100 to test IE8

Thanks & take care
Glee

"Gordon" wrote:

On Question #2 - So, if I want to install and test say IE8, I would have to
install Virtual PC, buy a new licence (Windows XP Home) register the licence,
then install and test IE8? I'm a little confused on that one.

Yes - VPC is considered to be a separate computer, so you need an unused
licence to install a Windows OS on it.

On Question # 8 - USB Keyboard and mouse.. Yes? No? I've read some posts
here where it looks like USB does not work with VPC.

Certainly a USB mouse works, I use VPC on my laptop with a USB mouse and
that works perfectly OK. Can't comment on USB keyboards though

"Glee" <Glee@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1C69C7F7-53E1-4EC6-A6B3-06B00153CF57@xxxxxx
If this is something that you will do regularly, a basic TechNet or MSDN
subscription might suit you better, since that will allow you to create as
many installations of Windows as you like, so long as you do so for
development, testing or demonstration purposes...


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

On Mon, 15 Sep 2008 08:51:01 -0700, Glee
<Glee@xxxxxx> wrote:
You don't need to buy another license of XP for IE testing. Microsoft
provides trial VHDs for VPC for IE6, IE7, and IE8


http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...DisplayLang=en

Overview
This download page contains four separate VPC images, depending on
what you want to test.



IE6-XPSP3_VPC.exe contains a Windows XP SP3 with IE6 VHD file

IE7-XPSP2_VPC.exe contains a Windows XP SP2 with IE7 VHD file

IE8B2-XPSP3_VPC.exe contains a Windows XP SP3 with IE8 Beta 2 VHD file

IE7-VIS1.exe+IE7-VIS2.rar+IE7-VIS3.rar contain a Vista Image with IE7
VHD file.


Note: For The Vista image, you will need all three files, downloaded
and in the same directory, then simply run IE7-VIS1.exe.

This VPC image will expire in January, 2009

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