Vista - Steps to create virtual machine in Vista for noob

I would like to use a virtual machine under Vista Home Premium to test
software installations for compatibility with my system. I would want to run
Vista in the virtual machine. Could someone explain the steps and products
involved in doing this? I have looked here and at VMWare, but I am not clear
just what is involved with this. Thanks.

"mcm" <mcm@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:035817CD-87E8-4969-AB26-E2F541EB568E@xxxxxx
Firstly, Vista Home Premium is not a supported host operating system for
Virtual PC 2007 - however, it runs perfectly well... So long as you're
comfortable with that, do the following:

1) Download VPC 2007 - it's free:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

Make sure you download the appropriate version for your host operating
system... N.B. both versions are actually 32-bit applications, but the
version for 64-bit hosts has 64-bit drivers...
http://vpc.visualwin.com/ngfaq.aspx#18

2) Install VPC 2007, ignoring the warnings that you're installing it on an
unsupported host.

3) Launch VPC 2007 and create a new virtual machine, selecting Vista as the
target OS for it.

4) When the new virtual machine tells you (just like a physical machine
would) that it can't find an operating system to boot from, insert the CD /
DVD of the Vista edition that you want to install. N.B. you can't use the
same licence as your host's installation of Vista - virtual machines are
licensed just like physical machines...

5) Reboot the virtual machine either from the console menu or by pressing
Right-Alt + Del

6) Install Vista on the virtual machine just as you would on a physical
machine - there is no difference...


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

On Sun, 14 Dec 2008 13:28:00 -0800, mcm
<mcm@xxxxxx> wrote:
for step by steps, check out my TechRef on my site.

--
Cheers,
Steve Jain, Virtual Machine MVP
http://vpc.essjae.com/

On Sun, 14 Dec 2008 13:28:00 -0800, mcm
<mcm@xxxxxx> wrote:
1. Make sure that your Vista machine is up to the task of running
Vista both as the host and as the guest!
- RAM >= 2Gb (Vista needs 1024 in *both* guset and host!)
- Free disk space at least 10 Gb

2. Download and install VirtualPC2007SP1.
Notice that there will be a dialog box popping up saying tha Vista
Home is not a supported operating system. THis is true but does not
mean VPC2007 does not run fine, it only means you are not eligible to
call Microsoft *Support* for help...
Click past this dialog and continue installation.

3. Start VPC2007. A console window will appear.

4. Use the button "New..." to start the Vizard for creation of the
virtual machine.

5. Follow the dialogs to create the VM. Vhen asked for the operating
system in the guest select VIsta. This prepares the virtual hardware
in a suitable way for a Vista guest. (It does *not* install Vista of
course.)
When asked for the virtual hard disk, set it to create a new
dynamically expanding 64 Gb disk.
Also check that 1024 Mb of RAM is assigned to the guest.

6. Now you need to get hold of a fresh not previously used Vista
install DVD with the accompanying license to use when installing the
operating system in the VM.

7. Start the virtual machine from the console's Start button.

8. Once the VPC guest window has appeared, click the window to
activate it and insert the Vista DVD in your optical drive.

9. Now go to the VPC guest window's Action menu and select Reset.

10. Now the virtual machine will boot the DVD and start installation
of Vista. This is exactly like on a real physical computer so I won't
babble about that. Do as you are used to...

11. A final task remains once you have succeeded in installing and
starting the Vista guest, that is installing the Virtual Machine
additions into Vista. You do this as follows:
- Log in to Vista in the guest
- From the guest window's Action menu select "Install Virtual Machine
Additions"
- Inside Vista the installation program will start and you have to
confirm thta you want to do this as usual. Let it complete.
- Now it probably asks to restart Vista, if so then let it.

This completes the installation as far as basics go. From now on it is
a second Vista PC.

--

Bo Berglund (Sweden)

Thanks for all the help. I think I have it now.

"Bo Berglund" wrote: