I'm using MS Virtual PC v5.3.582.27 with several virtual machines. I
have noticed that if I install a large program on the virtual machine,
the size of the file increases as expected, but if I then remove the
same program the file size doesn't decrease. When this happens, is there
a way to compact the virtual machine file to get rid of the unused
space? Thanks!



John
--
Please reply in this newsgroup. I never post my true
email address to prevent spam. Thank you.

On Fri, 17 Apr 2009 12:46:37 -0500, John <notme@xxxxxx> wrote:

>I'm using MS Virtual PC v5.3.582.27 with several virtual machines. I
>have noticed that if I install a large program on the virtual machine,
>the size of the file increases as expected, but if I then remove the
>same program the file size doesn't decrease. When this happens, is there
>a way to compact the virtual machine file to get rid of the unused
>space? Thanks!
>
>John

Yes, you would use the tools provided with VPC to compact your VHD.
:-)

1. defrag the VM's hd (inside VM)
2. mount the precompactor ISO and run inside the VM(precompactor.exe),
ISO is in the C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Virtual PC\Virtual
Machine Additions
3. shutdown the VM and on the host use the virtual disk wizard to
compact the disk

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

Steve Jain [MVP] wrote:

> On Fri, 17 Apr 2009 12:46:37 -0500, John <notme@xxxxxx> wrote:
>

>> I'm using MS Virtual PC v5.3.582.27 with several virtual machines. I
>> have noticed that if I install a large program on the virtual machine,
>> the size of the file increases as expected, but if I then remove the
>> same program the file size doesn't decrease. When this happens, is there
>> a way to compact the virtual machine file to get rid of the unused
>> space? Thanks!
>>
>> John

>
> Yes, you would use the tools provided with VPC to compact your VHD.
> :-)
>
> 1. defrag the VM's hd (inside VM)
> 2. mount the precompactor ISO and run inside the VM(precompactor.exe),
> ISO is in the C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Virtual PC\Virtual
> Machine Additions
> 3. shutdown the VM and on the host use the virtual disk wizard to
> compact the disk
>

When I get to step 3, the virtual disk wizard gives me this warning:
"Before you compact this virtual hard disk, you must zero out free space
on it with a third-party tool that you install on the guest operating
system."
Is this what the precompactor did? If not, what is the third-party tool
it is referring to? Thanks!

John
--
Please reply in this newsgroup. I never post my true
email address to prevent spam. Thank you.

>When I get to step 3, the virtual disk wizard gives me this warning:

>"Before you compact this virtual hard disk, you must zero out free space
>on it with a third-party tool that you install on the guest operating
>system."
>Is this what the precompactor did? If not, what is the third-party tool
>it is referring to? Thanks!

Yep, that's exactly what the precompactor does.

--
Bob Comer


On Wed, 22 Apr 2009 09:39:41 -0500, John <notme@xxxxxx> wrote:

>Steve Jain [MVP] wrote:

>> On Fri, 17 Apr 2009 12:46:37 -0500, John <notme@xxxxxx> wrote:
>>

>>> I'm using MS Virtual PC v5.3.582.27 with several virtual machines. I
>>> have noticed that if I install a large program on the virtual machine,
>>> the size of the file increases as expected, but if I then remove the
>>> same program the file size doesn't decrease. When this happens, is there
>>> a way to compact the virtual machine file to get rid of the unused
>>> space? Thanks!
>>>
>>> John

>>
>> Yes, you would use the tools provided with VPC to compact your VHD.
>> :-)
>>
>> 1. defrag the VM's hd (inside VM)
>> 2. mount the precompactor ISO and run inside the VM(precompactor.exe),
>> ISO is in the C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Virtual PC\Virtual
>> Machine Additions
>> 3. shutdown the VM and on the host use the virtual disk wizard to
>> compact the disk
>>

>When I get to step 3, the virtual disk wizard gives me this warning:
>"Before you compact this virtual hard disk, you must zero out free space
>on it with a third-party tool that you install on the guest operating
>system."
>Is this what the precompactor did? If not, what is the third-party tool
>it is referring to? Thanks!
>
>John