How to use the Virtual PC after it is installed
stevemalee
instruction or don't understand.
Have installed the operating system and read all the help notes, but cannot
seem to find how to install the program for which I downloaded the Virtual PC
in the first place.
Thinking maybe and "addition" is supposed to be a program I looked at that
instruction, but no that seems to be something to do with the operating
system.
I have a program that is written in 16 bit and won't run on Vista 64 bit.
So I was told by a Microsoft employee friend to download Virtual PC and use
it to run the 64 bit program.
Now I have the Virtual PC Console on my desktop, and when I click on Start I
get an MSDOS black secreen.
I can't do anything on the MSDOS screen and no other button seems to work.
If I click on the CD icon and click on "capture ISO etc " it takes me to my
documents.
Am I supposed to go to My computer, CD, and then load the program ?
Maybe it is this simple ?
Sorry to be so verbose, but this is quite frustrating.
Thanks for your help.
JosR
The general way to act is:
1. Install Virtual PC as a normal application in your Windows environment
(you have probably done this)
2. Run Virtual PC and create a virtual machine (and a virtual hard disk);
this you have done also, I think.
3. Start the virtual machine and install a Windiows OS on this machine.
4. Install and run the 16 bit program.
My guess is that you did not perform steps 3 and 4.
HTH,
Jos
John D. Sheridan
"stevemalee" <steve...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:D741568D-1417-48A3...@microsoft.com...
You have to install an operating system on the virtual machine, it doesn't
come with one. What you install depends on what you're trying to do.
"Capture an ISO" is for using a image file of a CD, made with the
appropriate program, instead of an actual CD. The virtual machine will see
it as a CD and use it accordingly. The file would have a name that ends in
"ISO".
It is all explained in the "Help" menu in the Virtual PC Console, which is
way more helpful than the installation notes. Click on the Help menu item,
choose "Virtual PC Help". Click on the plus signs to open down to Virtual
PC->How To Help for Virtual PC->Set Up Virtual Machines->Install Operating
System. You will need a CD with the operating system you want to install,
and it really should be a legal copy, but that's up to you. All of the
legalities that apply to physical PCs apply to Virtual PCs as well.
Once you have the operating system installed, you can install whatever
program you want to run on it. It's easiest to install from a CD, but it
can be done from the hard drive. It's a little trickier because the virtual
machine doesn't have access to the host machine's hard drive without
creating a shared folder, the process for which is explained in the help as
well, under "Virtual Machine Additions".
With all due respect, your Microsoft employee friend really should have
explained all of this instead of just saying, "here use this".
John
Mark Rae [MVP]
news:D741568D-1417-48A3...@microsoft.com...
> Now I have the Virtual PC Console on my desktop, and when I click on Start
> I
> get an MSDOS black secreen.
>
> I can't do anything on the MSDOS screen and no other button seems to work.
Microsoft Virtual PC is a piece of software for creating and running virtual
machines. A virtual machine is, as it's name suggests, a computer made from
software which behaves exactly like a physical computer. Just like a
physical computer, a virtual machine's hard disk is completely blank when
it's first created.
So, when you first create a virtual machine and start it up, it tells you
that it needs an operating system to boot from, just like a physical
computer. FWIW, the screen you're looking at isn't MSDOS - it's the virtual
machine's BIOS...
> Am I supposed to go to My computer, CD, and then load the program ?
No - you're supposed to insert the CD of the operating system that you want
to install on the new virtual machine... Then reboot the virtual machine to
start the installation process.
--
Mark Rae
ASP.NET MVP
http://www.markrae.net
stevemalee
checked the box that said what OS do you want.
Now, do have old XP CD, but since is not in original sleeve, and I cannot
find where I put the information, again very stupid.
So, have to find out how to solve this problem.
And, when "help" tells you to "reboot" -- does that mean close down the
Virtual PC and then open again ?
stevemalee
My MS friend did say he would help me. I was just trying to save him the
time.
Obviously, I cannot do this on my own.
Colin Barnhorst
It means use the Action menu on the virtual machine window and choose Reset
(or sometimes Ctrl-Alt-Del). There is also an Action menu on the VPC
console, but don't use that one.
Colin Barnhorst
If you just think of the virtual machine as another computer and not some
special program in Windows you should get the hang of it OK.
FACE
stevemalee <steve...@discussions.microsoft.com>, wrote
>Thanks for your detailed instructions for the Virtual PC Help.
>
>My MS friend did say he would help me. I was just trying to save him the
>time.
>Obviously, I cannot do this on my own.
I would differ with you here -- obviously you can do this. Lose fear of
it. It really is straightforward.
Quite understandable that you thought that the MS Virtual PC 2007 (VPC)
would "create" an OS when it asked you which OS you wanted. Think of that
in the way it is meant -- for which OS should VPC create parameters to
receive.
You say that you did not have the original CD sleeve for XP, and I will
guess that means that you don't have the registration code that came with
it. Consider that the registration code belongs to the OS and not that
particular CD. You will find numerous XP keys on the net.
FACE
stevemalee
Thanks, Face, for your explanations.
I did find a product ID on the bottom of my XP laptop, but it was XP Pro,
and the CD Retail Home Version was for an earlier XP for an earlier computer
I no longer have.
Anyway, the Virtual PC said the product ID was not valid
I did look on the MS XP help page re: what to do when you lose the product
ID and did not find to what you are referring: "You will find numerous XP
keys on the net."
Will you point me in the correct direction to find the product ID numbers?
Thanks so much.
Mark Rae [MVP]
> I did find a product ID on the bottom of my XP laptop, but it was XP Pro,
> and the CD Retail Home Version was for an earlier XP for an earlier
> computer
> I no longer have.
>
> Anyway, the Virtual PC said the product ID was not valid
Just for clarification, Virtual PC didn't actually say that - XP home did,
because.you were trying to use an XP Pro key in an XP Home installation...
XP, like almost all other operating systems, has no idea that it's being
installed on a virtual machine and not a physical machine...
> I did look on the MS XP help page re: what to do when you lose the product
> ID and did not find to what you are referring: "You will find numerous
> XP
> keys on the net."
>
> Will you point me in the correct direction to find the product ID numbers?
There are loads of websites where you can find pirate / stolen registration
keys - I'm assuming that FACE wasn't referring to these...
Alternatively, you should be able to purchase a licence for XP fairly
cheaply from eBay or similar...
And, while we're on the subject of licensing, all Microsoft software (with
very few exceptions) considers a virtual machine exactly the same as a
physical machine when it comes to licensing. Which is to say that if you
purchase an XP licence you can only use it for one installation of XP...
stevemalee
How would I install on Virtual PC the XP Pro from my old computer from
which I did find the product ID on the bottom of the machine ?
Being that I do not have a CD for that XP program since it was an OEM
installation when I purchased the machine.
Is there a way to do this -- it seems that I did read of this possibility
Mark Rae [MVP]
> How would I install on Virtual PC the XP Pro from my old computer from
> which I did find the product ID on the bottom of the machine ?
Legally, you'd need to wipe it from your old computer first...
> Being that I do not have a CD for that XP program since it was an OEM
> installation when I purchased the machine.
Ah, in that case, you're out of luck... As mentioned, a virtual machine is
exactly the same as a physical machine - they both need a CD to install
Windows from... The only exception is that a virtual machine, being nothing
more than software, can mount an .iso image of a Windows CD and treat it
like physical media...
However, chances are that your OEM copy wouldn't install on a virtual
machine anyway. An OEM copy, by its very nature, is customised slightly to
so that it will install only on the hardware for with which it was
originally bundled. It will see a virtual machine as completely different...
stevemalee
I was directed to phone help by MS XP help page, do you think they would
give me a product ID ?
Thanks again.
Mark Rae [MVP]
> So, eBay is my only place to go ?
Unless you can find anywhere still selling XP...
Alternatively, a TechNet or MSDN subscription would allow you to download a
copy of XP and use it as many times as you like so long as it's for
development, testing or demonstration purposes...
> I was directed to phone help by MS XP help page, do you think they would
> give me a product ID?
I don't know, but I'd be amazed if they did. Why should they...?
Paul Adare - MVP
> If you just think of the virtual machine as another computer and not some
> special program in Windows you should get the hang of it OK.
Please do us all a favour if you're going to post a two line response,
please trim extraneous quoted text first.
Thanks.
--
Paul Adare
MVP - Identity Lifecycle Manager
http://www.identit.ca
If a program is useless, it must be documented.
Paul Adare - MVP
> You will find numerous XP keys on the net.
Which is really bad advice and is a clear violation of the licensing terms.
--
Paul Adare
MVP - Identity Lifecycle Manager
http://www.identit.ca
Multitasking = screwing up several things at once.
John D. Sheridan
news:kl4684hg2o24l0mh9...@4ax.com...
>
> You will find numerous XP keys on the net.
Which may be and probably will be deactivated before you have a chance to
use them, resulting in a failure to activate Windows.
Not to mention being illegal and all that.
As for keygens......think virus.
John
stevemalee
Well, I really goofed, and I apologize for wasting your time.
What I needed was the product key, not the product ID -- really got mixed up.
But, MS DID GIVE ME THE PRODUCT KEY !! For a fee of $10.00 which is a
bargain !
So, I was able to install Windows XP, and install my 16 bit software program.
Great !!
NOW, I cannot get the Windows XP program to recognize my thumb drive so I
can copy and paste.
When I copy from the thumb drive on the host machine, and try to paste on
the virtual machine, there is NOT a "paste" option. And the help says there
should be.
So, I tried to get the VM to recognize the thumb drive even after I
rebooted, and it did not.
So, I am again asking for your help re this thum drive/ copy and paste
problem.
David Wilkinson
> Well, I really goofed, and I apologize for wasting your time.
>
> What I needed was the product key, not the product ID -- really got mixed up.
>
> But, MS DID GIVE ME THE PRODUCT KEY !! For a fee of $10.00 which is a
> bargain !
>
> So, I was able to install Windows XP, and install my 16 bit software program.
>
> Great !!
>
> NOW, I cannot get the Windows XP program to recognize my thumb drive so I
> can copy and paste.
>
> When I copy from the thumb drive on the host machine, and try to paste on
> the virtual machine, there is NOT a "paste" option. And the help says there
> should be.
Virtual PC does not support USB.
If you have installed the Additions, you should be able use the Shared Folders
feature. Then, I think, your paste should work.
But I always prefer sharing files using ordinary network sharing. Just share the
thumb drive on the host, and it should appear in My Network Places on the guest.
--
David Wilkinson
Visual C++ MVP
stevemalee
It looks like the Virtual PC will support a DVD drive.
Thanks again --
Mark Rae [MVP]
[top-posting corrected]
>> > I was directed to phone help by MS XP help page, do you think they
>> > would
>> > give me a product ID?
>>
>> I don't know, but I'd be amazed if they did. Why should they...?
>
> What I needed was the product key, not the product ID -- really got mixed
> up.
>
> But, MS DID GIVE ME THE PRODUCT KEY !! For a fee of $10.00 which is a
> bargain !
Er, no they did not *give* you a product key, as I suspected they wouldn't -
they *sold* you one, which is a very different thing...
> NOW, I cannot get the Windows XP program to recognize my thumb drive so I
> can copy and paste.
It won't do natively, because Virtual PC does not support USB.
You're only solution here would be to use standard networking and share the
USB device as a network drive so that the guest OS could map a drive letter
to it... This has nothing to do with Virtual PC per se, it's just standard
networking...
Bo Berglund
<steve...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>Would it be easier to copy the folders from my USB and burn them to a DVD?
>
>It looks like the Virtual PC will support a DVD drive.
>
No, it would not!
It adds extra unneeded hassle in creating a DVD disk. If you really
MUST use the DVD drive then create your "DVD disk" as an ISO image
instead and mount that on the guest...
But it still is a big kludge...
If you want to go between the host and guest the easiest and most
stable way is to share a folder on the guest or host to the network
and then access it from the other side in the normal way.
Example:
Make a folder on the host C:\Shared\MyShare
Share this folder on the network as MyShare
Connect to the share MyShare from the guest
Copy files on the host to this folder
Copy files from this folder on the guest
This is the most stable way of sharing files.
And it is not depending on any VPC function either, it is just plain
vanilla Windows network sharing.
stevemalee
then dragging to the Virtual PC desktop, then copying to the program worked
very well.
You have to install virtual machine additions first, however.