View source for Virtual PC

{{Short description|Emulator for PowerPC Macs and for Windows}}
{{about|the x86 emulator for PowerPC Macs and Windows and formerly by Connectix|the generic term|Virtual machine}}
{{Distinguish|Windows Virtual Desktop}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2012}}

{{Infobox software
| name = Connectix Virtual PC<br>Microsoft Virtual PC<br>Windows Virtual PC
| logo = Virtual pc icon.png
| logo caption = Icon of Windows Virtual PC
| screenshot = Windows virtual pc.png
| caption = Screenshot of Windows Virtual PC running [[Windows XP]] on a [[Windows 7]] host
| replaced_by = [[Hyper-V]]
| developer = [[Connectix]] (1997–2003)<br/>[[Microsoft]] (2003–2011)
| released = {{start date and age|1997}} (as Connectix Virtual PC)
| latest_release_version = 6.1.7600.16393<!-- If you update this, don't forget to update [[Comparison of platform virtual machines]]-->
| latest_release_date = {{end date and age|2011|02|14}}<ref name="wvpc-download">{{cite web |url = https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=3702 |title = Windows Virtual PC |work = Download Center |publisher = Microsoft |date = February 14, 2011 |access-date = April 1, 2014 |archive-date = March 25, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140325030847/http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=3702 |url-status = live }}</ref> (as Windows Virtual PC)
| discontinued = yes
| operating_system = 
| genre = [[Virtual machine]] emulator
| size = 
| license = [[Freeware]]<ref name="wvpc-download" />
| website = {{official url}}
}}

'''Virtual PC''' is a discontinued [[x86]] [[emulator]] software for [[Microsoft Windows]] hosts and [[PowerPC]]-based [[Mac (computer)|Mac]] hosts. It was created by [[Connectix]] in 1997 and acquired by [[Microsoft]] in 2003, after which the program was renamed '''Microsoft Virtual PC'''. In July 2006, Microsoft released the Windows version free of charge.<ref name="NEHUd">{{cite web |date=July 12, 2006 |title=Virtual PC is free! |url=http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2006/07/12/662535.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100127094258/http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2006/07/12/662535.aspx |archive-date=January 27, 2010 |access-date=October 14, 2009}}</ref> The Mac version was discontinued following the [[Mac transition to Intel processors|transition to Intel processors]] that same year.

In 2009, Microsoft released '''Windows Virtual PC''', which is only compatible with [[Windows 7]] hosts,{{Efn|All editions except Starter.<!--
  NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH XP MODE, WHICH RUNS ONLY ON SELECT EDITIONS
  --><ref name="wvpc-desc">{{cite web |url = http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=958559 |title = Description of Virtual PC for Windows 7 |work = Microsoft support |publisher = Microsoft |date = April 1, 2010 |access-date = June 5, 2010 |archive-date = March 28, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140328120514/http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=958559 |url-status = live }}</ref>}} and is the technical foundation for the latter's Windows XP Mode. Windows Virtual PC does not officially support MS-DOS or operating systems older than [[Windows XP#Service Pack 3|Windows XP Professional SP3]] as guests.<ref name="wvpc-desc" /> Virtual PC was discontinued in 2011 in favour of [[Hyper-V]].<ref name="s9aEA">{{cite web | title = Windows Virtual PC – FAQ | publisher = [[Microsoft.com]] | date = <!-- Undated. --> | url = http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/support/faq.aspx | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = March 16, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130316070239/http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/support/faq.aspx | url-status = live }}</ref>

== History and versions ==
Connectix Virtual PC, Microsoft Virtual PC 2004, Microsoft Virtual PC 2007, and Windows Virtual PC are successive versions of the same software. Versions of Virtual PC by Microsoft runs on several versions of Windows, beginning with Windows 2000 in Virtual PC 2004 and later Windows XP in Virtual PC 2007 onwards. These older versions were still available and support operating systems older than Windows XP. Windows Virtual PC only runs on Windows 7 and only supports versions of Windows beginning with Windows XP. Starting in Windows 8, Microsoft replaced Virtual PC with [[Hyper-V]].

=== Virtual PC by Connectix ===
[[File:Virtual PC 3 for Mac OS running Windows 95.png|thumb|[[Connectix]] Virtual PC version 3 in [[Mac OS 9]], running a [[Brazilian Portuguese]] edition of [[Windows 95]]]]

Virtual PC was originally developed as a Macintosh application for [[System 7.5]] and released by Connectix in June 1997.<ref name="Uq7GE">{{cite web|title=PC in a Mac|url=http://www.yale.edu/engineering/eng-info/msg00234.html|website=Yale Engineering Home newsgroup|publisher=[[Yale University]]|access-date=21 March 2015|date=8 April 1997|quote=[...]Connectix Virtual PC is designed to run on Power PC systems running System 7.5 or later. Pricing will be announced when the product becomes generally available for the retail channel in June 1997.|archive-date=October 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018045531/http://www.yale.edu/engineering/eng-info/msg00234.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The first version of Virtual PC designed for Windows-based systems, version 4.0, was released in June 2001. Virtual PC 4 was the first version with expandable drive images.

Connectix sold versions of Virtual PC bundled with a variety of guest operating systems, including Windows, [[OS/2]], and [[Red Hat Linux]]. As virtualization's importance to enterprise users became clear, Microsoft took interest in the sector and acquired Virtual PC and [[Microsoft Virtual Server|Virtual Server]] (unreleased at the time) from Connectix in February 2003.

Under agreement with Connectix, Innotek GmbH (makers of [[VirtualBox]], now part of [[Oracle Corporation|Oracle]]) ported version 5.0 to run on an OS/2 host.<ref name="jG6CD">[https://web.archive.org/web/20060324234502/http://www.bityard.com/article.php?sid=100#Adds Innotek/Connectix Virtual PC]</ref> This version also included guest extensions (VM additions) for OS/2 guests, which could run on Windows, OS/2 or Mac OS X hosts using Virtual PC versions 5, 6 or 7. A new version of the guest extensions was later included with Microsoft's Virtual PC 2004.

=== Microsoft Virtual PC ===
{{More citations needed section|date=March 2011}}
[[File:Microsoft Virtual PC icon.png|thumb|Icon of Microsoft Virtual PC]]
[[File:Virtualpc.png|thumb|Virtual PC 6.1 for Macintosh]]
[[File:Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 Running Knoppix.jpg|thumb|right|Virtual PC 2007 running the [[Live CD]] OS [[Knoppix]]]]
On July 12, 2006, Microsoft released Virtual PC 2004 SP1 for Windows free of charge, however the Mac version remained a paid software. The equivalent version for Mac, version 7, was the final version of Virtual PC for Mac. It ran on [[macOS|Mac OS X]] 10.2.8 or later for [[PowerPC]] and was a [[Proprietary software|proprietary]] [[commercial software]] product.<ref name="vpc-mac-main">{{cite web |title=Virtual PC 7 for Mac |url=https://www.microsoft.com/australia/office/mac/virtualpc7/default.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100729173443/http://www.microsoft.com/australia/office/mac/virtualpc7/default.aspx |archive-date=July 29, 2010 |access-date=June 10, 2010 |work=Microsoft for Mac – Australian website |publisher=Microsoft corporation}}</ref>

Virtual PC 2007 was released only for the Windows platform, with public [[Software release life cycle|beta]] testing beginning October 11, 2006, and production release on February 19, 2007. It added support for [[x86 virtualization|hardware virtualization]], "undo disks", transfer statistic monitor for disk and network, and viewing virtual machines on multiple monitors and support for Windows Vista as both host and guest. The [[Windows Aero]] interface is disabled on Windows Vista guests due to limitations of the emulated video hardware; however, Aero effects can be rendered by connecting to the guest via [[Remote Desktop Services]] from an Aero-enabled Windows Vista host, provided that the guest is running Windows Vista Business or a higher edition.<ref name="aero_savill" /><ref>{{cite web |last1=Conner |first1=Matt |title=Virtual PC 2007 User Interface |url=https://www.zdnet.com/pictures/virtual-pc-2007-user-interface/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150920121236/http://www.zdnet.com/pictures/virtual-pc-2007-user-interface/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 20, 2015 |website=ZDNet |access-date=2 November 2021 |language=en-us |date=2007-03-06 |quote=Shows basic Input/Output activity through the network and storage interfaces.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title= Viewing online file analysis results for 'PXE_Diag.exe' |url=https://www.hybrid-analysis.com/sample/0294fa25155c8cfa4ff5fe9bd73b90a30f4f97dbe0e0cc0342ae3950af8fdba3/5d40771d0388388f827b23cb |website=www.hybrid-analysis.com |access-date=2 November 2021 |date=2019-07-30 |quote=IDE controller, Ethernet controller, Reads, Writes}}</ref> It initially did not support home editions of Windows as host OSes such as Windows XP Home Edition,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 on Windows XP Home Edition |url=https://www.labnol.org/software/tutorials/install-virtual-pc-2007-windows-xp-home/1539/ |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=Digital Inspiration}}</ref> Windows Vista Home Basic and Home Premium, however a hotfix for Virtual PC 2007 SP1 issued on February 20, 2009 (see below) rectified this. Windows XP Starter, [[Windows XP Media Center Edition]] and Windows Vista Starter is not supported on Virtual PC 2007, however the former and the latter are still supported as a guest OS. Support for Windows 2000 Professional as a host OS was dropped in Virtual PC 2007 and will not install at all on Windows 2000 hosts, however it is still supported as a guest OS.

"Undo disks" make it possible to revert virtual machines' state to an earlier point by storing changes into a separate <code>.vud</code> file since the last save to the main <code>.vhd</code> file, which can be used for [[sandbox (computer security)|experimenting]]. The VHD file acts as a [[Snapshot (computer storage)|snapshot]]. The undo disk file (<code>.vud</code>) incrementally stores changes made by the virtual machine compared to the main [[Virtual hard disk drive]] (VHD) image, which can be applied or discarded by the user. If deactivated, changes are directly written to the VHD file.<ref>{{cite web |title=Microsoft Windows Virtual PC and Undo Disks |url=http://www.dabcc.com/microsoft-windows-virtual-pc-and-undo-disks/ |website=dabcc.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804071608/http://www.dabcc.com/microsoft-windows-virtual-pc-and-undo-disks/ |archive-date=2017-08-04 |date=2009-08-19}}</ref>

On May 15, 2008, Microsoft released Virtual PC 2007 Service Pack 1, which added support for both Windows XP SP3, Windows Vista SP1 and Windows 7 as guest and host OSes, as well as [[Windows Server 2008]] Standard as a guest OS.<ref name="Ps7C3">{{cite web |last=Protalinski |first=Emil |url=https://arstechnica.com/journals/microsoft.ars/2008/05/15/microsoft-drops-some-details-on-upcoming-virtual-pc-2007-sp1 |title=Microsoft releases Virtual PC 2007 SP1 |work=[[Ars Technica]] |publisher=[[Condé Nast Publications|Condé Nast]] |date=15 May 2008 |access-date=16 June 2013 |archive-date=December 7, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207020639/http://arstechnica.com/journals/microsoft.ars/2008/05/15/microsoft-drops-some-details-on-upcoming-virtual-pc-2007-sp1 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="EuMcn">{{cite web | title = Virtual PC 2007 SP1 Release Notes | publisher = Microsoft | date = May 15, 2008 | url = https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=9f3d3eb5-5e03-4712-999c-e96f91bdf128&displaylang=en | access-date = June 28, 2009 | archive-date = June 27, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090627181549/http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=9f3d3eb5-5e03-4712-999c-e96f91bdf128&displaylang=en | url-status = live }}</ref> A [[hotfix]] rollup for Virtual PC 2007 SP1, released February 20, 2009, solved networking issues and enhanced the maximum screen resolution to 2048×1920 (32-bit),<ref name="FjQoK">{{cite web |url=http://support.microsoft.com/kb/958162 |title=Description of the hotfix rollup package for Virtual PC 2007 Service Pack 1: February 20, 2009 (revision 2.0) |work=Support |publisher=[[Microsoft]] |date=8 October 2011 |access-date=16 June 2013 |archive-date=March 3, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150303211456/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/958162 |url-status=live }}</ref> enabling 16:9 resolutions such as 1920×1080. It also added official support for Windows XP Home Edition, Windows Vista Home Basic and Home Premium as both guest and host OSes. A security update was released on July 14, 2009 to address an elevation of privilege vulnerability in guest operating systems.<ref name="xifYU">{{cite web |url=https://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS09-033.mspx |title=Microsoft Security Bulletin MS09-033 - Important: Vulnerability in Virtual PC and Virtual Server Could Allow Elevation of Privilege (969856) |publisher=[[Microsoft]] |date=<!--July 14, 2009 | Updated:--> March 9, 2010 |access-date=October 19, 2016 |archive-date=June 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628014722/http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/Bulletin/MS09-033.mspx |url-status=live }}</ref>

Microsoft Virtual PC (2004 and 2007) does not work at all on Windows 10 64-bit,<ref name="h6NVX">{{Cite web | url=https://www.betaarchive.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=61&t=38406&p=430953&hilit=virtual+PC+windows+10#p430953 | title=View topic - Couldn't get sound to work on Whistler server Build 2493 - BetaArchive | access-date=August 28, 2018 | archive-date=August 28, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828134554/https://www.betaarchive.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=61&t=38406&p=430953&hilit=virtual+PC+windows+10#p430953 | url-status=live }}</ref> and even on 32-bit platforms lack internet connectivity due to the lack of the VPC driver. This also impacts [[Windows Mobile]] emulators.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Release dates of Microsoft Virtual PC 2007
|-
! Date !! Version !! Description
|-
| 2006-10-11 || 6.0.122 || [[Software release life cycle#Beta|Beta]]
|-
| 2007-01-02 || 6.0.142 || [[Release candidate|Release Candidate]] 1
|-
| 2007-02-22 || 6.0.156 || [[Release to Manufacturing]]
|-
| 2008-05-15 || 6.0.192 || [[Service Pack]] 1<ref name="rHqgN">{{cite web |url = https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?familyid=28C97D22-6EB8-4A09-A7F7-F6C7A1F000B5&displaylang=en |title = Download details: Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 SP1 |work = Microsoft Download Center |publisher = Microsoft Corporation |date = May 5, 2005 |access-date = April 1, 2011 |archive-date = April 3, 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110403081802/http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyId=28C97D22-6EB8-4A09-A7F7-F6C7A1F000B5&displaylang=en |url-status = live }}</ref>
|-
| 2009-02-20 || 6.0.210 || Update<ref name="onwLb">{{cite web |url = http://support.microsoft.com/kb/958162 |title = Description of the hotfix rollup package for Virtual PC 2007 Service Pack 1: February 20, 2009 (Revision: 1.2) |date = February 20, 2009 |access-date = April 1, 2011 |work = Microsoft Support |publisher = Microsoft Corporation |archive-date = March 3, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150303211456/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/958162 |url-status = live }}</ref>
|-
| 2009-07-14 || {{N/A}}   || Security Update MS09-33<ref name="dA7oK">{{cite web |url = https://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS09-033.mspx |title = Vulnerability in Virtual PC and Virtual Server Could Allow Elevation of Privilege (969856) |work = [[Microsoft TechNet]] |publisher = Microsoft Corporation |date = July 14, 2009 |access-date = April 1, 2011 |archive-date = April 8, 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110408172343/http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/Bulletin/MS09-033.mspx |url-status = live }}</ref>
|}

=== Windows Virtual PC ===
Windows Virtual PC entered public beta testing on April 30, 2009,<ref name="FjOTZ">{{cite web | last = Hachman | first = Mark | title = Microsoft Posts Windows Virtual PC Beta | work = [[PC Magazine]] | publisher = [[Ziff-Davis]] | date = April 30, 2009 | url = https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2346296,00.asp | access-date = June 28, 2009 | archive-date = May 4, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090504083659/http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2346296,00.asp | url-status = live }}</ref> and was released alongside Windows 7 on July 22, 2009.<ref name="MS_WVPC">{{cite web | title = Windows Virtual PC | publisher = Microsoft.com | url = http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/default.aspx | access-date = May 29, 2009 | archive-date = May 28, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090528055804/http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/default.aspx | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="wvpc-download2" /> Windows Virtual PC is available free of charge for certain editions of Windows 7,<ref name="wvpc-desc" /> either pre-installed by [[Original equipment manufacturer|OEMs]] or via download from the Microsoft website.<ref name="wvpc-download" /> Unlike its predecessors, it supports only Windows 7 host operating systems.<ref name="wvpc-desc" /> It originally required [[X86 virtualization#Hardware support|hardware virtualization support]] but on March 19, 2010, Microsoft released an update to Microsoft Virtual PC which allows it to run on PCs without hardware support.<ref name="wvpc-download" />

==== New features ====
New features include:<ref name="PPJpE">{{cite web |title= Compare some of the many features of Virtual PC 2007 to Windows Virtual PC |publisher= Microsoft Corporation |url= http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/features/compare.aspx |access-date= May 29, 2009 |archive-date= May 4, 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090504101610/http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/features/compare.aspx |url-status= live }}</ref>
* USB support and redirection – connect peripherals such as flash drives and digital cameras, and print from the guest to host OS [[Printer (computing)|printers]]. However, USB [[isochronous]] transfer mode is not supported<ref name="ud9Ck">{{cite web |url=http://www.acommit.ch/Portals/0/Windows%207%20RC%20Partnerevent%20Mischa%20Faden.pdf |first=Michael |last=Faden |title=Selling Windows 7 to Enterprise |publisher=Acommit AG |work=acommit.ch |date=13 May 2009 |access-date=16 June 2013 |archive-date=July 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706221154/http://www.acommit.ch/Portals/0/Windows%207%20RC%20Partnerevent%20Mischa%20Faden.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>  Other methods involve simply just treating an active drive letter from a USB flash drive as a virtual hard drive.
* Seamless application publishing and launching – run [[#Windows XP Mode|Windows XP Mode]] applications directly from the Windows 7 desktop
* Support for [[Multithreading (computer hardware)|multithreading]] – run multiple virtual machines concurrently, each in its own thread for improved stability and performance
* [[Smart card]] redirection – use smart cards connected to the host
* Integration with [[Windows Explorer]] – manage all VMs from a single Explorer folder (%USERPROFILE%\Virtual Machines)

==== Removed features ====
* The Virtual Machine console is replaced by an integrated ''Virtual Machines'' shell folder. Several options from the console have been removed such as ''Restore at start'', CPU time performance settings, muting sound in inactive virtual machines, full-screen resolution related options, configuring the host key, mouse capture options and settings for requiring administrator permissions.<ref name="qzawg">{{cite web |url=http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7itprovirt/thread/38fa2da8-5a22-4dad-8521-d4e108b0f2df/ |title=Are Windows Virtual PC "Options" Still available ? |work=[[Microsoft TechNet#Forums|TechNet Forums]] |publisher=[[Microsoft]] |date=January 3, 2011 |access-date=16 June 2013 |archive-date=July 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714090300/http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7itprovirt/thread/38fa2da8-5a22-4dad-8521-d4e108b0f2df/ |url-status=live }}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=June 2013}}{{Unreliable source?|date=June 2013}}
* Official guest support for operating systems earlier than Windows XP Professional
* Drag-and-drop file sharing between the guest and the host<ref name="DnD-unsupported">{{cite web | url = http://blogs.technet.com/windows_vpc/archive/2009/08/04/windows-virtual-pc.aspx#3273920 | title = Windows Virtual PC | work = Windows Virtual PC blog | publisher = Microsoft corporation | date = August 4, 2009 | access-date = June 9, 2010 | quote = @EnricoG: Drag and Drop is not a supported feature in WVPC. Clipboard sharing (for cut, copy and paste) and drive/folder sharing are supported. | archive-date = April 10, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100410151402/http://blogs.technet.com/windows_vpc/archive/2009/08/04/windows-virtual-pc.aspx#3273920 | url-status = live }}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|reason = This information is given in the comments section, not in the blog post itself.|date=June 2010}}
* Direct sharing of folders between host and guest operating system (Only volumes may be shared between operating systems)<ref name="Volume-sharing">{{cite web | url = http://blogs.technet.com/b/windows_vpc/archive/2009/12/22/folder-sharing-between-windows-7-and-vm.aspx | title = Folder Sharing between Windows 7 and VM | work = Windows Virtual PC blog | publisher = Microsoft corporation | date = December 21, 2009 | access-date = August 20, 2010 | archive-date = June 17, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110617110803/http://blogs.technet.com/b/windows_vpc/archive/2009/12/22/folder-sharing-between-windows-7-and-vm.aspx | url-status = live }}</ref>
* Ability to commit changes in undo disks upon turning off virtual machines (Doing so is now only possible through virtual machine ''Settings'' dialog box)<ref name="1RzZe">{{cite web | url = http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2009/08/18/windows-virtual-pc-and-undo-disks.aspx | title = Windows Virtual PC and Undo Disks | work = Virtual PC Guy's Blog | publisher = Microsoft corporation | date = September 18, 2009 | access-date = June 9, 2010 | last = Armstrong | first = Ben | archive-date = February 8, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100208235756/http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2009/08/18/windows-virtual-pc-and-undo-disks.aspx | url-status = live }}</ref>
* Ability to use physical and virtual Parallel ports<ref name="jQHB3">{{cite web | url = http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2009/06/26/creating-virtual-hard-disks-with-windows-virtual-pc.aspx#9831105 | work = Virtual PC Guy's Blog | publisher = Microsoft corporation | title = Creating Virtual Hard Disks with Windows Virtual PC | date = June 26, 2009 | access-date = June 9, 2010 | first = Ben | last = Armstrong | quote = Windows Virtual PC does not support parallel ports. As Tom mentions, you will have to use a USB adapter if you want this functionality. | archive-date = February 1, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100201050654/http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2009/06/26/creating-virtual-hard-disks-with-windows-virtual-pc.aspx#9831105 | url-status = live }}</ref>
* User interface controls for using virtual [[floppy disk]]s (Virtual floppy disk functionality, however, is still supported and may be accessed using a [[Script (computing)|script]])<ref name="A5xlQ">{{cite web | url = http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2009/10/01/using-floppy-disks-with-windows-virtual-pc.aspx | title = Using Floppy Disks with Windows Virtual PC | work = Virtual PC Guy's Blog | publisher = Microsoft corporation | date = October 1, 2009 | access-date = June 9, 2010 | first = Ben | last = Armstrong | archive-date = October 4, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091004072451/http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2009/10/01/using-floppy-disks-with-windows-virtual-pc.aspx | url-status = live }}</ref>
* Virtual PC additions for guest operating systems no longer supported have been removed. However, installing Virtual Machine Additions from an older Microsoft virtualization product works for some guest OSes.<ref name="tUDQW">{{cite web |url=http://blogs.msdn.com/b/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2007/10/30/installing-dos-additions-under-vpc-2007.aspx |title=Installing DOS additions under VPC 2007 |work=Ben Armstrong's Virtualization Blog |publisher=[[Microsoft]] |date=Oct 31, 2007 |access-date=16 June 2013 |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629020441/http://blogs.msdn.com/b/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2007/10/30/installing-dos-additions-under-vpc-2007.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="8TYWX">{{cite web |url=http://blogs.msdn.com/b/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2010/05/27/installing-windows-98-on-windows-virtual-pc.aspx |title=Installing Windows 98 on Windows Virtual PC |publisher=Blogs.msdn.com |access-date=16 June 2013 |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629224840/http://blogs.msdn.com/b/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2010/05/27/installing-windows-98-on-windows-virtual-pc.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="dVb1h">{{cite web |url=http://blogs.msdn.com/b/cjacks/archive/2010/07/19/using-virtual-pc-2004-additions-to-enhance-the-windows-2000-guest-experience-on-windows-virtual-pc.aspx |title=Using Virtual PC 2004 Additions to Enhance the Windows 2000 Guest Experience on Windows Virtual PC |work=The App Compat Guy |publisher=[[Microsoft]] |date=19 July 2010 |access-date=16 June 2013 |archive-date=July 24, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100724014104/http://blogs.msdn.com/b/cjacks/archive/2010/07/19/using-virtual-pc-2004-additions-to-enhance-the-windows-2000-guest-experience-on-windows-virtual-pc.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Properties of the virtual machine, like guest OS, processor, processor features, video mode, video RAM, code cache, IDE controller reads and writes, Ethernet reads and writes, video frame rate and command line options can no longer be viewed.{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}}

==== System requirements ====
System requirements for Windows Virtual PC:<ref name="yrCQ8">{{cite web |url=https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx%3Fid=8002 |title=Download Windows Virtual PC from Official Microsoft Download Center |publisher=Microsoft.com |access-date=2017-07-19 |archive-date=July 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170720030919/http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8002 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="MS_XPM_brochure">{{cite web | title = Windows XP Mode for Windows 7 brochure | publisher = Microsoft corporation | url = http://download.microsoft.com/download/7/5/A/75A2C993-BFCC-47D0-8B6C-7C8CE2BA9833/Windows%20XP%20Mode%20for%20Windows%207_brochure.pdf | year = 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160825230747/http://download.microsoft.com/download/7/5/A/75A2C993-BFCC-47D0-8B6C-7C8CE2BA9833/Windows%20XP%20Mode%20for%20Windows%207_brochure.pdf | archive-date = 2016-08-25 | access-date = 2017-07-19}}</ref>
* Computer running Windows 7 (all editions except Starter)
* 15 GB of hard disk space per virtual Windows environment
* Optional: if the processor supports hardware-assisted virtualization technology such as [[AMD-V]] or [[Intel-VT]], it will be used. Before March 19, 2010, such a processor was mandatory.

== Windows XP Mode ==
[[File:Windows 7 XP Mode.png|thumb|right|Internet Explorer versions 6, 7, and 8 running concurrently on a Windows 7 Release Candidate desktop using ''[[Windows XP]] Mode''.]]
'''Windows XP Mode''' ('''XPM''')<ref name="GZZgA">{{cite web |url = https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8002|title = Download Windows XP Mode|work = Official Microsoft Download Center|publisher = Microsoft Corporation|access-date = January 2, 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140723215537/http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/confirmation.aspx?id=8002|archive-date = July 23, 2014|url-status = live}}</ref><ref name="AHjKy">{{cite web | title=Windows XP Mode in Windows 7 and Virtual PC – Part 1: Maintaining Application Compatibility | url=http://capitalhead.com/articles/windows-xp-mode-in-windows-7-and-virtual-pc---part-1-maintaining-application-compatibility.aspx | access-date=June 16, 2009 | archive-date=June 1, 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090601220911/http://capitalhead.com/articles/windows-xp-mode-in-windows-7-and-virtual-pc---part-1-maintaining-application-compatibility.aspx | url-status=live }}</ref> is a virtual machine package for Windows Virtual PC containing a pre-installed, licensed copy of [[Windows XP editions#Home and Professional|Windows XP Professional]] with Service Pack 3 as its guest OS. Previously, both the CPU and motherboard of the host had to support hardware virtualization,<ref name="freecountry">{{cite web |last=Heng |first=Christopher |title=Free PC/Intel x86 Emulators and Virtual Machines |url=http://www.thefreecountry.com/emulators/pc.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130105022509/http://www.thefreecountry.com/emulators/pc.shtml |archive-date=January 5, 2013 |access-date=16 June 2013 |work=thefreecountry.com |publisher=TheFreeCountry}}</ref> but an update in early 2010 eliminated this requirement.<ref name="ms-vpc-faq">{{cite web |url = http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/support/faq.aspx |title = Windows Virtual PC: FAQ |work = Windows Virtual PC website |publisher = Microsoft Corporation |access-date = November 22, 2010 |archive-date = March 16, 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130316070239/http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/support/faq.aspx |url-status = live }}</ref> Pre-installed integration components allow applications running within the virtualized environment to appear as if running directly on the host,<ref name="MS_WVPC" /><ref name="vjXRo">{{Cite web |url=http://withinwindows.com/within-windows/2009/04/24/secret-no-more-revealing-windows-xp-mode-for-windows-7 |title=Secret No More: Revealing Windows XP Mode for Windows 7 |work=Within Windows |first1=Rafael |last1=Rivera |first2=Paul |last2=Thurrott |date=April 24, 2009 |access-date=16 June 2013 |archive-date=June 30, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130630104452/http://withinwindows.com/within-windows/2009/04/24/secret-no-more-revealing-windows-xp-mode-for-windows-7 |url-status=live }}</ref> sharing the native desktop and [[start menu]] of Windows 7 as well as participating in file type associations. Windows XP Mode applications run in a [[Remote Desktop Services|Terminal Services]] session in the virtualized Windows XP, and are accessed via [[Remote Desktop Protocol]] by a client running on the Windows 7 host.<ref name="z5wgg">{{cite web |url = http://www.withinwindows.com/2009/04/28/windows-xp-mode-internals-part-2-application-publishing-magic/|author = Rafael Rivera|title = Windows XP Mode Internals – Part 2 (Application Publishing Magic)|access-date = April 30, 2009|publisher = WithinWindows.com|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150511135410/http://withinwindows.com/2009/04/28/windows-xp-mode-internals-part-2-application-publishing-magic/|archive-date = May 11, 2015|url-status = dead}}</ref>

Applications running in Windows XP Mode do not have compatibility issues, as they are actually running inside a Windows XP virtual machine and redirected using RDP to the Windows 7 host. Windows XP Mode may be used to run 16-bit applications; it includes [[NTVDM]], however it is impossible to run 16-bit applications that require hardware acceleration, as Windows Virtual PC does not have hardware acceleration for such applications.

Windows XP Mode is available free of charge to users of Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate.<ref name="MS_XPM_brochure" /> Users of other editions of Windows 7 are not eligible to download and use it.<ref name="ms-vpc-faq" /><ref name="PM30q">{{cite web | url = http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx | title = Download Windows XP Mode | work = Windows Virtual PC website | publisher = Microsoft Corporation | access-date = November 22, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120628234800/http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx | archive-date = June 28, 2012 | url-status = dead | quote = (After selecting an inappropriate edition of Windows 7) You are not eligible to download Windows XP Mode. You must have Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, or Ultimate to run Windows XP Mode.}}</ref> This restriction does not apply to Windows Virtual PC itself.

Windows XP Mode can also be run with [[VMware Workstation Player|VMware Player]] and [[VMware Workstation]]. However, like with Windows Virtual PC itself, VMware products only import Windows XP Mode on Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, or Ultimate versions in order to adhere with Microsoft licensing requirements.<ref name="RwYp3">{{cite web |url = http://www.mydigitallife.info/run-xp-mode-in-vmware-workstation-or-player-with-activation-intact/ |title = Run XP Mode in VMware Workstation or Player with Activation Intact |work = My Digital Life |date = May 13, 2010 |access-date = May 28, 2014 |archive-date = May 29, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140529051709/http://www.mydigitallife.info/run-xp-mode-in-vmware-workstation-or-player-with-activation-intact/ |url-status = live }}</ref>

== Emulated environment ==
Virtual PC emulates the following environments:<ref name="NNtEa">{{cite web|work=Microsoft.com|title=Overview of the technical specifications of virtual machines in Virtual PC 2004|date=October 27, 2004|access-date=May 23, 2010|url=http://support.microsoft.com/kb/833144|archive-date=March 28, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100328153230/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/833144|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Intel]] [[Pentium II]] ([[32-bit]]) processor (but virtualizes the host processor on Windows versions) with an [[Intel 440BX]] chipset (with [[PIIX]]4E southbridge).
* Standard [[Super video graphics array|SVGA]] [[Video Electronics Standards Association|VESA]] [[video card|graphics card]] ([[S3 Trio#Variants|S3 Trio32]] [[Peripheral Component Interconnect|PCI]] with 4 [[megabyte|MB]] [[Video RAM (dual-ported DRAM)|video RAM]], adjustable in later versions up to 16&nbsp;MB by manually editing a virtual machine's settings file).
* System [[BIOS]] from [[American Megatrends]] (AMI).
* [[Creative Technology Limited|Creative Labs]] [[Sound Blaster 16]] [[Industry Standard Architecture|ISA]] [[Plug and play|PnP]]. (When Windows Vista is installed as both the host (main) and guest (virtual) operating systems, settings are synchronized with the host and audio configuration is not required.)
* [[Digital Equipment Corporation|DEC]] 21041 (DEC 21140 in newer versions) [[Ethernet]] [[computer network|network]] card.
* Programs using undocumented features of hardware, exotic timings, or unsupported [[opcode]]s may not work.

Implementation:
* The [[Apple Macintosh|Macintosh]] version of Virtual PC uses [[dynamic recompilation]] to translate the [[x86]] code used by PCs into equivalent [[PowerPC]] code for Macs.
* The Windows version of Virtual PC also uses dynamic recompilation, but only to translate x86 [[kernel mode]] and [[real mode]] code into x86 [[user mode]] code; original user mode and [[virtual 8086 mode]] code run natively.
* Guest call traps are used, especially for guest extensions, to accelerate emulation or offer additional features, such as integration with the host environment.
* Virtual PC and [[Microsoft Virtual Server|Virtual Server]] encapsulate virtual hard disks in the [[VHD (file format)|Virtual Hard Disk]] (VHD) file format, for which Microsoft has made all documentation available under the [[Microsoft Open Specification Promise|Open Specification Promise]].

Virtual PC 4 requires Mac OS 8.5 or later on a G3 or G4 processor, but running [[Windows Me]], [[Windows 2000]] or Red Hat Linux requires Mac OS 9.0 or later. Virtual PC 5 requires [[Mac OS 9.1]] or newer or [[Mac OS X 10.1]] or later.  For USB support, Mac OS X is recommended. To run Virtual PC 5 in Mac OS X, a 400&nbsp;MHz or faster [[CPU|processor]] is required.

Earlier versions of Virtual PC supported the following features: (now removed in Microsoft Virtual PC 2004, 2007, and Windows Virtual PC):
* Older versions of Virtual PC (v5.0 or earlier) may have the hard disk formatted after creating the [[VHD (file format)|Virtual Hard Disk]] file. Newer versions must partition and format the [[VHD (file format)|Virtual Hard Disk]] file manually.
* A ''Virtual Switch'' available in Virtual PC version 4.1 or earlier allows adding multiple network adapters.
* Older operating systems are supported with Virtual Machine additions.
* Older versions of Virtual PC for Macintosh can run on Mac OS 9.2.2 or earlier. Support for [[System 7#Version history|System 7.5]] was dropped in version 3.

== Virtual machine integration components ==
Windows Virtual PC may enable guest operating systems running inside virtual machines to interact with their host operating system beyond what is feasible between two physical computers, such as sharing physical hardware components or exchanging data. To do so however, ''integration components'' must be installed on the guest operating systems. When no integration component is installed, the only mean of communicating between two machines (either virtual or physical) is through a virtual network interface. Even the mouse cursor can only be controlled by one operating system (either real or virtual) at any given time. However, once the Integration Components are installed on the guest operating systems, the following features are automatically activated:<ref name="UMVS2">{{Cite book | last = Tulloch | first = Mitch | year = 2010 | title = Understanding Microsoft Virtualization Solutions, From the Desktop to the Datacenter | edition = 2nd | publisher = Microsoft Press | location = Redmond, WA | pages = 133–136 | url = http://download.microsoft.com/download/5/B/4/5B46A838-67BB-4F7C-92CB-EABCA285DFDD/693821ebook.pdf | access-date = November 27, 2010 | archive-date = November 6, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101106000502/http://download.microsoft.com/DOWNLOAD/5/B/4/5B46A838-67BB-4F7C-92CB-EABCA285DFDD/693821EBOOK.PDF | url-status = live }}</ref>
* Mouse cursor sharing: Mouse cursor can be moved freely between the machines.
* Host-initiated shutdown: Virtual machine can be shut down, restarted or put into standby or hibernation via a set of [[Application programming interface|API]] functions.
* Time synchronization: The virtual machine's clock will be automatically synchronized with the host operating system's clock.
* Process responsiveness monitoring: Host operating system will be able to detect whether the software on the guest operating system is responsive or hung.
* Dynamic screen resolution: The screen resolution of the guest operating system can be changed by simply resizing the window in which it is running. However, the VM can be configured to allow only standard resolutions.

In addition to features described above, guest operating systems may also take advantage of the following integration features but only when the administrator activates them:<ref name="UMVS2" />
* Audio sharing: Audio played on the guest operating system may be brought to the host operating system and played on it.
* Clipboard sharing: Contents such as text, picture or everything that is cut or copied to [[Clipboard (computing)#Microsoft Windows|Windows Clipboard]] maybe pasted in other machines.
* Printer sharing: Guest operating systems may print on the host operating system's printer. This feature should not be confused with File and Printer Sharing over an emulated network connection.
* Smart card sharing: [[Smart card]]s connected to host operating system may be accessed on guest operating systems.
* File sharing: Windows Virtual PC can also share [[Disk partitioning|disk partitions]] and [[Disk storage|disk drives]] of the host operating system with guest operating systems.<ref name="DnD-unsupported" /><ref name="Volume-sharing" /> This includes USB mass storage devices that are connected later.<ref name="8D8gU">{{cite web | url = http://blogs.technet.com/b/windows_vpc/archive/2009/12/14/usb-architecture-in-windows-virtual-pc.aspx | title = USB Architecture in Windows Virtual PC | work = Windows Virtual PC blog | publisher = Microsoft corporation | date = December 13, 2009 | access-date = August 20, 2010 | archive-date = June 17, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110617110833/http://blogs.technet.com/b/windows_vpc/archive/2009/12/14/usb-architecture-in-windows-virtual-pc.aspx | url-status = live }}</ref>

In Windows Virtual PC, enabling integration features automatically makes the virtual machine user account accessible using [[Remote Desktop Services#Remote Desktop Connection|Remote Desktop Connection]].<ref name="UMVS2" />

== {{Anchor|Host operating systems}} {{Anchor|Guest operating systems}} Supported host and guest operating systems ==
Virtual PC allows multiple guest operating systems to run virtualized on a single physical host. Although a number of popular host and guest operating systems lack official Microsoft support, there are sometimes few, if any, technical obstacles impeding installation. Instead, a configuration may be unsupported due to Microsoft's own [[EULA|licensing]] restrictions,<ref name="bergstein" /><ref name="vista_eula_orig" /> or a decision to focus testing and support resources elsewhere, especially when production use of a [[Legacy software#Additional uses of the term Legacy in computing|legacy]] product fades.<ref name="vguy_win95" /><ref name="vguy_dosadd" />

A program manager on Microsoft's core virtualization team explains what official support entails:
{{blockquote|With each release of Virtual PC we spend a significant amount of time trying to decide which (guest) operating system should be officially supported.  While Virtual PC is capable of running many operating systems, official support for an operating system means that we will test it thoroughly, not ship Virtual PC if an issue exists with that operating system, and provide full support for customers who encounter problems while running these operating systems under Virtual PC.<ref name="vguy_win95">{{cite web | last = Armstrong | first = Ben | title = Why won't the Virtual PC 2007 Virtual Machine Additions load on Windows 95? | work = Virtual PC Guy's Weblog | publisher = [[MSDN Blogs]] | date = January 3, 2007 | url = http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2007/01/03/why-won-t-the-virtual-pc-2007-virtual-machine-additions-load-on-windows-95.aspx | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = January 25, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100125040143/http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2007/01/03/why-won-t-the-virtual-pc-2007-virtual-machine-additions-load-on-windows-95.aspx | url-status = live }}</ref>|Ben Armstrong, "Virtual PC Guy"}}

As a product positioned for desktop use, Virtual PC provides official support for a different set of operating systems than its server-oriented counterpart, [[Microsoft Virtual Server]] and the more advanced [[Hyper-V]].<ref name="G9EYt">{{cite web | title = Microsoft Virtualization Technologies | work = Infrastructure Planning and Design | publisher = [[Microsoft TechNet]] | date = February 25, 2008 | url = https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb897466.aspx | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = March 1, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090301054721/http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb897466.aspx | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="vpc2004_comparo" /> While the latter products support a range of server operating systems,<ref name="vs2005_faq">{{cite web | title = Virtual Server 2005 Frequently Asked Questions | work = Microsoft Virtual Server | publisher = [[Microsoft.com]] | date = May 14, 2008 | url = http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/virtualserver/evaluation/virtualizationfaq.mspx | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = July 3, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090703094510/http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/virtualserver/evaluation/virtualizationfaq.mspx | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="hyperv_guests">{{cite web | title = Virtualization with Hyper-V: Supported Guest Operating Systems | work = Windows Server 2008 – Product Information | publisher = [[Microsoft.com]] | date = <!-- 2008? --> | url = http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/hyperv-supported-guest-os.aspx | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = August 25, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090825175116/http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/hyperv-supported-guest-os.aspx | url-status = live }}</ref> Virtual PC 2007 supports only one variety as host and another as guest;<ref name="vpc2007sp1_rel_notes" /> its successor, Windows Virtual PC, supports none.<ref name="wvpc_tips" /> And, whereas Virtual Server and Hyper-V have officially supported select [[Linux]] guests since 2006<ref name="vguy_linuxvs">{{cite web | last = Armstrong | first = Ben | title = Linux is now supported under Virtual Server | work = Virtual PC Guy's Weblog | publisher = [[MSDN Blogs]] | date = April 3, 2006 | url = http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2006/04/03/566273.aspx | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = August 26, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090826235657/http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2006/04/03/566273.aspx | url-status = live }}</ref> and 2008,<ref name="earp_linuxhyperv" /> respectively, {{as of|2009|lc=on}}, no Microsoft release of Virtual PC has officially supported Linux. Nonetheless, a number of [[Linux distribution]]s<ref name="earp_linuxhyperv">{{cite web | last = Earp | first = Sean | title = Linux on Hyper-V | work = The Sean Blog | publisher = [[Microsoft TechNet]] | date = June 29, 2008 | url = http://blogs.technet.com/seanearp/archive/2008/06/29/linux-on-hyper-v.aspx | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = March 14, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090314102402/http://blogs.technet.com/seanearp/archive/2008/06/29/linux-on-hyper-v.aspx | url-status = live }} (Also links to individual posts on installing various Linux distributions in Virtual PC 2007.)</ref> do run successfully in Virtual PC 2007, and can be used with the [[#Virtual Machine Additions|Virtual Machine Additions]] from Virtual Server (see [[#Linux guests|below]]).<ref name="vguy_linux07" /><ref name="vs_vma">{{cite web | title = Virtual Machine Additions for Linux | work = Microsoft Download Center | publisher = [[Microsoft.com]] | date = October 24, 2007 | url = http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=bf12642f-77dc-4d45-ae4e-e1b05e0a2674&DisplayLang=en | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = July 6, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090706003836/http://www.microsoft.com/downloadS/details.aspx?FamilyID=bf12642f-77dc-4d45-ae4e-e1b05e0a2674&displaylang=en | url-status = live }}</ref> Lastly, while 64-bit host support was introduced with Virtual PC 2007, {{as of|2009|alt=no}} release has been able to virtualize a 64-bit guest;<ref name="WGF4c">{{cite web | last = Cummings | first = Joanne | title = Microsoft Virtual PC: Good Enough – for the Price | work = Redmondmag.com | publisher = 1105 Media | date = November 1, 2006 | url = http://redmondmag.com/Articles/2006/11/01/Microsoft-Virtual-PC-Good-Enough--for-the-Price.aspx?Page=1 | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = July 27, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110727112251/http://redmondmag.com/Articles/2006/11/01/Microsoft-Virtual-PC-Good-Enough--for-the-Price.aspx?Page=1 | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="v2roa">{{cite web | last = Woolsey | first = Jeff | title = Microsoft Virtualization and Virtual PC 2007 | work = Microsoft Virtualization Team Blog | publisher = [[Microsoft TechNet]] | date = July 10, 2007 | url = http://blogs.technet.com/virtualization/archive/2007/07/10/microsoft-virtualization-and-virtual-pc-2007.aspx | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = February 23, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090223003850/http://blogs.technet.com/virtualization/archive/2007/07/10/microsoft-virtualization-and-virtual-pc-2007.aspx | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="ZS0Tc">{{cite web | last = Savill | first = John | title = Does Windows Virtual PC in Windows 7 support 64-bit guest OSs? | work = Windows IT Pro | publisher = [[Penton Media]] | date = May 7, 2009 | url = http://windowsitpro.com/article/articleid/102040/q-does-windows-virtual-pc-in-windows-7-support-64-bit-guest-oss.html | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = March 31, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210331163405/https://www.itprotoday.com/ | url-status = live }}</ref> Microsoft has thus far reserved this functionality for [[Hyper-V]], which runs only on 64-bit (x64) editions of [[Windows Server 2008]], [[Windows Server 2012]], [[Windows Server 2012#Windows Server 2012 R2|Windows Server 2012 R2]], [[Windows Server 2016]], [[Windows 8 editions#Comparison chart|Windows 8/8.1 Pro and Enterprise]], and [[Windows 10 editions#Comparison chart|Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education]].

=== Table of supported operating systems ===
In the following table and notes, "support" refers to official Microsoft support, as described above.

{{col-begin|width=auto; margin:0 auto}}
{{col-break}}
{| style="text-align:center; font-size:90%; margin:1em auto 0 auto" class="wikitable"
|-
! rowspan="3" | Operating system version
! colspan="3" style="padding-bottom:0.6em" | Virtual PC 2004<br /><ref name="vpc2004_details">{{cite web | title = Microsoft Virtual PC 2004 – Product Details | work = Product Information Center | publisher = [[Microsoft.com]] | date = <!-- circa 2003 Q4 product release? --> | url = http://www.microsoft.com/PRODUCTS/info/product.aspx?view=22&pcid=ba9e68ed-9571-4d10-82d2-b51828c33297&type=ovr#ProductDetails | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = February 18, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090218000739/http://www.microsoft.com/PRODUCTS/info/product.aspx?view=22&pcid=ba9e68ed-9571-4d10-82d2-b51828c33297&type=ovr#ProductDetails | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="vpc2004sp1_readme">{{cite web | title = Readme for Microsoft Virtual PC 2004 Service Pack 1 | work = Download Center | publisher = [[Microsoft]] | date = 12 October 2004 | url = http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=21659 | access-date = 10 July 2009 | archive-date = October 26, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121026034020/http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=21659 | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="vpc2004_comparo">{{cite journal | last = Davis | first = Megan | editor-last = Blade | editor-first = Tina | title = Virtual PC vs. Virtual Server: Comparison of Features and Uses | journal = Microsoft Download Center | publisher = [[Microsoft.com]] | date = May 24, 2005 | url = http://download.microsoft.com/download/1/4/d/14d17804-1659-435d-bc11-657a6da308c0/VSvsVPC.doc | format = [[Microsoft Word]] | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = February 26, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120226053201/http://download.microsoft.com/download/1/4/d/14d17804-1659-435d-bc11-657a6da308c0/VSvsVPC.doc | url-status = dead }} See also [http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=8ed0a6cb-0f24-408e-af8f-51edf508d361 download details] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100124121408/http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=8ed0a6cb-0f24-408e-af8f-51edf508d361 |date=January 24, 2010 }}.</ref><ref name="iYru1">{{cite episode | title = Demo: Microsoft Virtual PC 2004 Features | series = Event Review: Microsoft Virtual PC Overview – Session TNT1-103 | url = https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/bb643127.aspx | network = [[Microsoft TechNet]] | airdate = <!-- page undated --> | format = [[Executable]] installer for [[Windows Media]] | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = April 6, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120406064408/http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/bb643127.aspx | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="XfEVs">{{cite web | title = Download Details: Virtual PC 2004 SP1 | work = Microsoft Download Center | publisher = [[Microsoft.com]] | date = August 30, 2006 | url = http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=6d58729d-dfa8-40bf-afaf-20bcb7f01cd1 | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = August 31, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100831175349/http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=6D58729D-DFA8-40BF-AFAF-20BCB7F01CD1&displaylang=en | url-status = live }}</ref>
! colspan="3" style="padding-bottom:0.6em" | Virtual PC 2007<br /><ref name="vpc2007sp1_rel_notes">{{cite web | title = Virtual PC 2007 SP1 Release Notes | work = Microsoft Download Center | publisher = [[Microsoft.com]] | date = May 15, 2008 | url = http://download.microsoft.com/download/8/f/4/8f44a346-1f62-4bb2-b957-7508ea1f7d80/relnotes.htm | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = December 28, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141228090217/http://download.microsoft.com/download/8/f/4/8f44a346-1f62-4bb2-b957-7508ea1f7d80/relnotes.htm | url-status = live }} See also [http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=9f3d3eb5-5e03-4712-999c-e96f91bdf128 download details] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100830013512/http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=9f3d3eb5-5e03-4712-999c-e96f91bdf128&displaylang=en |date=August 30, 2010 }}.</ref><ref name="vpc2007_rel_notes">{{cite web | title = Virtual PC 2007 Release Notes | work = Microsoft Download Center | publisher = [[Microsoft.com]] | date = February 19, 2007 | url = http://download.microsoft.com/download/4/4/c/44ccd131-67fb-4224-a96e-193be1765b43/relnotes.htm | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = March 3, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160303221517/http://download.microsoft.com/download/4/4/c/44ccd131-67fb-4224-a96e-193be1765b43/relnotes.htm | url-status = dead }} See also [http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=10c298be-d794-4313-801f-04e7c1ad5da0 download details] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100124115609/http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=10c298be-d794-4313-801f-04e7c1ad5da0 |date=January 24, 2010 }}.</ref><ref name="vpc2007sp1_hotfix">{{cite web | title = Description of the hotfix rollup package for Virtual PC 2007 Service Pack 1: February 20, 2009 | work = Microsoft Help and Support | publisher = [[Microsoft.com]] | date = February 20, 2009 | url = http://support.microsoft.com/kb/958162 | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = March 3, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150303211456/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/958162 | url-status = live }}</ref>
! colspan="4" style="padding-bottom:0.6em" | Windows Virtual PC<br /><ref name="wvpc_tips">{{cite web | title = Windows Virtual PC Tips | work = Microsoft Download Center | publisher = [[Microsoft]] | date = May 18, 2009 | url = http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/info.aspx?na=90&p=&SrcDisplayLang=en&SrcCategoryId=&SrcFamilyId=ffc6c931-6216-4a1d-bdab-936fef353060&u=http%3a//download.microsoft.com/download/7/D/6/7D686A6A-B0F7-42E5-BB3B-4972A8C42C9F/Windows+Virtual+PC+Tips.pdf | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = June 26, 2012 | archive-url = https://www.webcitation.org/68hHpjHkP?url=http://download.microsoft.com/download/7/D/6/7D686A6A-B0F7-42E5-BB3B-4972A8C42C9F/Windows%20Virtual%20PC%20Tips.pdf | url-status = live }} See also [http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=ffc6c931-6216-4a1d-bdab-936fef353060 download details] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090731171401/http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=FFC6C931-6216-4A1D-BDAB-936FEF353060&displaylang=en |date=July 31, 2009 }}. (Contains a more precise and complete list of supported operating systems than the [http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/support/requirements.aspx Requirements page] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130319153534/http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/support/requirements.aspx |date=March 19, 2013 }} on Microsoft.com.)</ref><ref name="wvpc_req">{{cite web | title = Windows Virtual PC – Requirements | publisher = [[Microsoft.com]] | date = <!-- Undated. --> | url = http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/support/requirements.aspx | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = March 19, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130319153534/http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/support/requirements.aspx | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="s9aEA" /><ref name="LndBv">{{cite web|title=Windows Virtual PC Beta |work=Microsoft Download Center |publisher=[[Microsoft.com]] |date=May 4, 2009 |url=http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=65E1C5EB-DF9B-415F-B2D6-27F6EF5DCEB9&displaylang=en |access-date=July 10, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090704023244/http://www.microsoft.com/downloadS/details.aspx?familyid=65E1C5EB-DF9B-415F-B2D6-27F6EF5DCEB9&displaylang=en |archive-date=July 4, 2009}}</ref>
|-
! colspan="2" | Host || Guest || colspan="2" | Host || Guest || colspan="2" | Host || Guest
|-
! 32-bit || 64-bit || 32-bit || 32-bit || 64-bit || 32-bit || 32-bit || 64-bit || 32-bit
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Windows 11]]
| {{n/a}} || No || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || No || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || No || {{n/a}}
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Windows 10]]
|colspan="9"| No
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Windows 8.1]]
|colspan="9" rowspan="2"| No
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Windows 8]]
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Windows 7 editions#Windows 7 Ultimate|Windows 7 Ultimate]]
|rowspan="5" colspan="3"| No || No<span style="letter-spacing:0.05em">{{ref label|δ|δ|1}}</span> || No<span style="letter-spacing:0.05em">{{ref label|δ|δ|2}}</span> || No<span style="letter-spacing:0.05em">{{ref label|δ|δ|3}}</span> || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}}
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Windows 7 editions#Windows 7 Enterprise|Windows 7 Enterprise]]
| No<span style="letter-spacing:0.05em">{{ref label|δ|δ|1}}</span> || No<span style="letter-spacing:0.05em">{{ref label|δ|δ|2}}</span> || No<span style="letter-spacing:0.05em">{{ref label|δ|δ|3}}</span> || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}}
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Windows 7 editions#Windows 7 Professional|Windows 7 Professional]]
| No<span style="letter-spacing:0.05em">{{ref label|δ|δ|1}}</span> || No<span style="letter-spacing:0.05em">{{ref label|δ|δ|2}}</span> || No<span style="letter-spacing:0.05em">{{ref label|δ|δ|3}}</span> || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}}
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Windows 7 editions#Windows 7 Home Premium|Windows 7 Home Premium]]
| No || No || No || {{yes}}{{ref label|I|I|1}} || {{yes}}{{ref label|I|I|2}} || {{yes}}{{ref label|J|J|none}}
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Windows 7 editions#Windows 7 Home Basic|Windows 7 Home Basic]]
| No || No || No || {{yes}}{{ref label|I|I|3}} || {{yes}}{{ref label|I|I|4}} || {{yes}}{{ref label|J|J|none}}
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Windows 7 editions#Windows 7 Starter|Windows 7 Starter]]
| No || {{n/a}} || No || No || {{n/a}} || No || No || {{n/a}} || No{{ref label|J|J|none}}
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Windows Server 2008|Windows Server 2008 Standard]]
| No || No || No || No || No || {{yes}}{{ref label|E|E|1}} || No || No || No
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Windows Vista editions#Windows Vista Ultimate|Windows Vista Ultimate]]
|colspan="3" rowspan="5" |No || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}}{{ref label|D|D|2}}{{ref label|G|G|2}} || colspan="2" rowspan="5"| No || {{yes}}
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Windows Vista editions#Windows Vista Enterprise|Windows Vista Enterprise]]
| {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}}{{ref label|D|D|2}}{{ref label|G|G|2}} || {{yes}}
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Windows Vista editions#Windows Vista Business|Windows Vista Business]]
| {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}}{{ref label|D|D|3}}{{ref label|G|G|3}} || {{yes}}
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Windows Vista editions#Windows Vista Home Premium|Windows Vista Home Premium]]
| {{yes}}{{ref label|H|H|1}} || {{yes}}{{ref label|H|H|2}} || {{yes}}{{ref label|D|D|4}}{{ref label|F|F|1}} || No{{ref label|J|J|none}}
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Windows Vista editions#Windows Vista Home Basic|Windows Vista Home Basic]]
| {{yes}}{{ref label|H|H|3}} || {{yes}}{{ref label|H|H|4}} || {{yes}}{{ref label|F|F|2}} || No{{ref label|J|J|none}}
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Windows Vista editions#Windows Vista Starter|Windows Vista Starter]]
| No || {{n/a}} || No || No || {{n/a}} || {{yes}} || No || {{n/a}} || No{{ref label|J|J|none}}
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Windows Server 2003#Standard|Windows Server 2003 Standard]]
| {{yes}}{{ref label|B|B|1}} || No || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || No || No || No
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Windows XP Professional]]
| {{yes}} || No || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} ||rowspan="5"| No || No || {{yes}}
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Windows XP Tablet PC Edition]]
| {{yes}} || {{n/a}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{n/a}} || {{yes}} || {{n/a}} || No{{ref label|J|J|none}}
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Windows XP Media Centre Edition|Windows XP Media Center Edition]]
| No || {{n/a}} || No{{ref label|γ|γ|1}} || No || {{n/a}} || No || {{n/a}} || No{{ref label|J|J|none}}
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Windows XP Home Edition]]
| No || {{n/a}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}}{{ref label|H|H|5}} || {{n/a}} || {{yes}}{{ref label|H|H|6}} || {{n/a}} || No{{ref label|J|J|none}}
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Windows XP Starter Edition]]
| No || {{n/a}} || {{yes}} || No || {{n/a}} || {{yes}} || {{n/a}} || No{{ref label|J|J|none}}
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Windows 2000 Server]]
| No ||rowspan="2" {{n/a}} || {{yes}} || No ||rowspan="2" {{n/a}} || {{yes}} || No ||rowspan="2" {{n/a}} || No
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Windows 2000 Professional]]
| {{yes}} || {{yes}} || No || {{yes}} || No || No
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Windows Me]]
| No || {{n/a}} || {{yes}} || No || {{n/a}} || No{{ref label|C|C|1}} || No || {{n/a}} || No
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Windows 98&nbsp;Second Edition]]
|rowspan="2"| No ||rowspan="2" {{n/a}} || {{yes}} ||rowspan="2"| No ||rowspan="2" {{n/a}} || {{yes}} ||rowspan="2"| No ||rowspan="2" {{n/a}} ||rowspan="2"| No
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Windows 98]] <span style="font-weight:normal">(original release)</span>
| {{yes}} || No{{ref label|C|C|1}}
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Windows 95]]
| No || {{n/a}} || {{yes}} || No || {{n/a}} || No{{ref label|C|C|3}}<span style="letter-spacing:0.05em">{{ref label|β|β|1}}</span> || No || {{n/a}} || No
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Windows NT 4.0 Workstation]]
|rowspan="3"| No ||rowspan="3" {{n/a}} || {{yes}} ||rowspan="3"| No ||rowspan="3" {{n/a}} || No{{ref label|C|C|4}} ||rowspan="3"| No ||rowspan="3" {{n/a}} ||rowspan="3"| No
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Windows NT 3.51 Workstation]]
| No || No
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Windows NT 3.1]] | [[Windows NT 3.5|NT 3.5]]
| No{{ref label|ε|ε|1}} || No{{ref label|ε|ε|2}}
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[IBM OS/2]] <span style="font-weight:normal">(select editions)</span>
| No || {{n/a}} || {{yes}}{{ref label|A|A|1}} || No || {{n/a}} || {{yes}}{{ref label|A|A|2}} || No || {{n/a}} || No
|-
| colspan="13" |
|-
! Operating system version
! colspan="10" | 16-bit
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Windows 3.1]]
| colspan="2" | No || No<ref name="vrEt4">{{cite web | last = Armstrong | first = Ben | title = Windows 3.11 on Virtual PC | work = Virtual PC Guy's WebLog | publisher = [[MSDN Blogs]] | date = October 26, 2004 | url = http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2004/10/26/247793.aspx | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = January 30, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100130090020/http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2004/10/26/247793.aspx | url-status = live }} (Microsoft manager Ben Armstrong reports that Windows 3.11 installs without a problem in Virtual PC 2004.)</ref> || colspan="2" | No || No || colspan="4" | No
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Windows 3.0]]
| colspan="2" | No || No || colspan="2" | No || No{{ref label|C|C|5}}{{ref label|α|α|1}} || colspan="4" | No
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[MS-DOS 6.22]]
| colspan="2" | No || {{yes}} || colspan="2" | No || No{{ref label|C|C|5}}{{ref label|α|α|1}} || colspan="4" | No
|}
{{col-break}}
{| style="text-align:center; font-size:90%; margin: 1em 0 1em 1em" class="wikitable"
| colspan="2" style="color:gray; height:3em; letter-spacing:0.2em;"| LEGEND
|-
! colspan="2" | Microsoft support
|-
| {{yes}} || style="text-align:left; padding:0.2em 0.5em" | Supported
|-
| style="width:4em;" | No || style="text-align:left; padding:0.2em 0.5em" | Not supported
|-
| {{n/a}} || style="text-align:left; padding:0.2em 0.5em" | Version nonexistent
|}
{{col-end}}
{{refbegin}}
'''Notes – details of Microsoft support'''
{{ordered list|list-style-type=upper-latin|style=font-size:95%
|1= {{note label|A|A|1}}{{note label|A|A|2}} Supported editions: OS/2 Warp Version 4 Fix Pack&nbsp;15, OS/2 Warp Convenience Pack&nbsp;1, and OS/2 Warp Convenience Pack&nbsp;2.<ref name="vpc2007sp1_rel_notes" /><ref name="vpc2004_details" /><ref name="vpc2007_rel_notes" />

|2= {{note label|B|B|1}} Support added in Virtual PC 2004 Service Pack&nbsp;1 (SP1) for Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition as a host.<ref name="vpc2004sp1_readme" />

|3= {{note label|C|C|1}}{{note label|C|C|2}}{{note label|C|C|3}}{{note label|C|C|4}}{{note label|C|C|5}} For Virtual PC 2007, Microsoft designated the following [[legacy system|legacy]] operating systems "compatible", but discontinued official support: MS-DOS 6.22, Windows NT 4.0 Workstation, Windows 95, the original release of Windows 98 and Windows Me.<ref name="vpc2007sp1_rel_notes" /><ref name="vpc2007_rel_notes" />

|4= {{note label|D|D|1}}{{note label|D|D|2}}{{note label|D|D|3}}{{note label|D|D|4}} For Windows Vista guests in Virtual PC 2007, the [[Windows Aero]] [[graphical user interface]] is disabled due to limitations of the emulated [[S3 Trio]]<ref name="vguy_whydevices">{{cite web | last = Armstrong | first = Ben | title = Why we emulated the devices that we do? | work = Virtual PC Guy's WebLog | publisher = [[MSDN Blogs]] | date = January 26, 2005 | url = http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2005/01/26/361361.aspx | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = June 6, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090606040136/http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2005/01/26/361361.aspx | url-status = live }}
</ref> graphics card; the interface falls back to the Vista Home Basic theme. However, Aero effects can be rendered by connecting to the guest via [[Remote Desktop Connection]] from an Aero-enabled host.<ref name="aero_savill">{{cite news | last = Savill | first = John | title = Running the Aero UI When Using Virtual PC 2007 | work = Windows IT Pro | publisher = [[Penton Media]] | date = June 2007 | url = http://windowsitpro.com/article/articleid/95814/running-the-aero-ui-when-using-virtual-pc-2007.html | format = Fee required | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = March 31, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210331163350/https://www.itprotoday.com/ | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="S4jFH">{{cite web | last = Schweigert | first = Marc | title = Get the Windows Vista Aero theme in a Guest OS using Virtual PC 2007 | work = Microsoft Public Sector Developer and Platform Evangelism Team Blog | publisher = [[MSDN Blogs]] | date = March 14, 2007 | url = http://blogs.msdn.com/publicsector/archive/2007/03/14/get-the-windows-vista-aero-theme-in-a-guest-os-using-virtual-pc-2007.aspx | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = June 19, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090619125408/http://blogs.msdn.com/publicsector/archive/2007/03/14/get-the-windows-vista-aero-theme-in-a-guest-os-using-virtual-pc-2007.aspx | url-status = live }}</ref>

|5= {{note label|E|E|1}} Support added in Virtual PC 2007 Service Pack&nbsp;1 (SP1) for Windows Server 2008 Standard as a guest.<ref name="vpc2007sp1_rel_notes" />

|6= {{note label|F|F|1}}{{note label|F|F|2}} Microsoft's January 2008 [[EULA]] supplement<ref name="vista_eula_orig">{{cite web | title = Microsoft Software License Terms | work = Microsoft Use Terms | publisher = [[Microsoft]] | year = <!-- undated --> | page = 13 | url = http://download.microsoft.com/documents/useterms/Windows%20Vista_Ultimate_English_36d0fe99-75e4-4875-8153-889cf5105718.pdf | access-date = July 10, 2009 | quote = If you [install the software within a virtual system], you may not play or access content or use applications protected by any Microsoft digital, information or enterprise rights management technology or other Microsoft rights management services or use BitLocker. | archive-date = March 31, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210331163348/http://download.microsoft.com/documents/useterms/Windows%20Vista_Ultimate_English_36d0fe99-75e4-4875-8153-889cf5105718.pdf | url-status = live }} (The later [http://download.microsoft.com/documents/useterms/Windows%20Vista%20SP1_Ultimate_English_c64c444e-952d-497f-9f69-5811ffdcd774.pdf Vista SP1 EULA] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605001701/http://download.microsoft.com/documents/useterms/Windows%20Vista%20SP1_Ultimate_English_c64c444e-952d-497f-9f69-5811ffdcd774.pdf |date=June 5, 2011 }} adopted the amended terms of the January 2008 Supplement.)</ref><ref name="vista_eula_sup">{{cite web | title = Microsoft Software Supplemental License Terms | work = Microsoft Use Terms | publisher = [[Microsoft]] | date = January 2008 | url = http://download.microsoft.com/documents/useterms/Windows%20Vista_Ultimate%20and%20Ultimate%20SP1,%20Supplemental_English_d512375b-79d7-41e5-852d-45f69f7378dd.pdf | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = January 26, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090126201320/http://download.microsoft.com/documents/useterms/Windows%20Vista_Ultimate%20and%20Ultimate%20SP1,%20Supplemental_English_d512375b-79d7-41e5-852d-45f69f7378dd.pdf | url-status = live }}</ref> for Windows Vista lifted restrictions<ref name="vguy_vista_announce">{{cite web | last = Armstrong | first = Ben | title = Virtualization Announcements | work = Virtual PC Guy's WebLog | publisher = [[MSDN Blogs]] | date = January 22, 2008 | url = http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2008/01/22/virtualization-announcements.aspx | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = March 27, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080327144054/http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2008/01/22/virtualization-announcements.aspx | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="oiaga">{{cite web | last = Oiaga | first = Marius | title = The Windows Vista Virtualization Doors Are Wide Opened | work = Softpedia News | publisher = [[Softpedia]] | date = January 22, 2008 | url = http://news.softpedia.com/news/The-Windows-Vista-Virtualization-Doors-Are-Opened-Wide-76958.shtml | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = February 13, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090213032156/http://news.softpedia.com/news/The-Windows-Vista-Virtualization-Doors-Are-Opened-Wide-76958.shtml | url-status = live }}</ref> barring installation of Vista Home Basic and Home Premium as guest operating systems.<ref name="bergstein">{{cite news | last = Bergstein | first = Brian | author-link = Brian Bergstein | agency = [[Associated Press]] | title = Microsoft puts up roadblocks on Vista for Mac owners | work = The New York Times | location = New York | date = February 28, 2007 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/28/technology/28iht-ptvista.4752719.html | access-date = July 10, 2009 | quote = Microsoft says the blockade is necessary for security reasons&nbsp;… Cherry says that what is really going on is that Microsoft wanted to create more differences between the multiple editions of Vista, presumably giving people more reason to buy the most expensive versions. | archive-date = May 21, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130521225809/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/28/technology/28iht-ptvista.4752719.html | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="Oq0lc">{{cite book | author = Microsoft Partner Program | title = Licensing Reseller Handbook for Microsoft Partners | date = March 2008 | publisher = [[Microsoft]] | page = 58 | url = http://download.microsoft.com/download/2/4/f/24f49403-31b4-4cf3-a4f5-6c439f92be24/MS_ReselleRev0308_LoRes.pdf | access-date = July 10, 2009 | quote = Windows Vista Home Basic and Windows Vista Home Premium cannot be used within a virtual (or otherwise emulated) hardware system. | archive-date = June 5, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110605001708/http://download.microsoft.com/download/2/4/f/24f49403-31b4-4cf3-a4f5-6c439f92be24/MS_ReselleRev0308_LoRes.pdf | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="ydl1y">{{cite web | last1 = Albro | first1 = Edward N. | first2 = Eric | last2 = Dahl | title = The Most Annoying Things About Windows Vista | work = [[PC World]] | publisher = [[International Data Group]] | date = February 20, 2007 | url = http://www.pcworld.com/article/129126-3/the_most_annoying_things_about_windows_vista.html | access-date = July 10, 2009 | quote = Well, this is only a licensing provision, so nothing in the software will prevent you from running either Home version in a virtual machine. But that would be wrong. | archive-date = June 4, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090604210520/http://www.pcworld.com/article/129126-3/the_most_annoying_things_about_windows_vista.html | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="lai_drm" />

|7= {{note label|G|G|1}}{{note label|G|G|2}}{{note label|G|G|3}} January 2008 [[EULA]] supplement<ref name="vista_eula_orig" /><ref name="vista_eula_sup" /> for Windows Vista lifted restrictions<ref name="oiaga" /> barring use of [[BitLocker]]<ref name="5HUV5">{{cite web | last = Armstrong | first = Ben | title = Using BitLocker under Virtual PC / Virtual Server | work = Virtual PC Guy's WebLog | publisher = [[MSDN Blogs]] | date = January 23, 2008 | url = http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2008/01/23/using-bitlocker-under-virtual-pc-virtual-server.aspx | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = June 16, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090616061016/http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2008/01/23/using-bitlocker-under-virtual-pc-virtual-server.aspx | url-status = live }} (Instructions were reposted the day after Microsoft released its Vista [[EULA]] Supplement in January 2008.)</ref><ref name="FyMQZ">{{cite web | last = Armstrong | first = Ben | title = Using Vista BitLocker under Virtual PC / Virtual Server | work = Virtual PC Guy's WebLog | publisher = [[MSDN Blogs]] | date = April 30, 2007 | url = http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2007/04/30/using-vista-bitlocker-under-virtual-pc-virtual-server.aspx | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = August 29, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080829143044/http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2007/04/30/using-vista-bitlocker-under-virtual-pc-virtual-server.aspx | url-status = live }} (Instructions provided in the post were deleted to comply with Microsoft's original Vista [[EULA]]).</ref><ref name="xCHtQ">{{cite web | last = Malach | first = Eyal | title = Encrypting Vista with BitLocker in Virtual PC or Virtual Machine | work = Eyal Malach Blog | publisher = Microsoft Blogs – Israel | date = February 19, 2008 | url = http://blogs.microsoft.co.il/blogs/eyalm/archive/2008/02/19/encrypting-vista-with-bitlocker-in-virtual-pc-or-virtual-machine.aspx | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = October 25, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091025114058/http://blogs.microsoft.co.il/blogs/eyalm/archive/2008/02/19/encrypting-vista-with-bitlocker-in-virtual-pc-or-virtual-machine.aspx | url-status = live }}</ref> and Microsoft-[[digital rights management|DRM]]-protected content within virtualized environments.<ref name="bergstein" /><ref name="lai_drm">{{cite web | last = Lai | first = Eric | title = Analysis: DRM may be why Microsoft flip-flopped on Vista virtualization | work = [[Computerworld]] | publisher = [[International Data Group]] | date = June 22, 2007 | url = http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9025466 | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = September 25, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080925100751/http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9025466 | url-status = live }} (Microsoft originally planned to rescind the restrictions in June 2007.)</ref><ref name="CTHcF">{{cite web | last = Oiaga | first = Marius | title = Install Windows Vista Ultimate in Windows Vista – Vista Virtualization Guidelines | work = Softpedia News | publisher = [[Softpedia]] | date = June 2, 2007 | url = http://news.softpedia.com/news/Install-Windows-Vista-Ultimate-IN-Windows-Vista-56273.shtml | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = February 10, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090210043909/http://news.softpedia.com/news/Install-Windows-Vista-Ultimate-IN-Windows-Vista-56273.shtml | url-status = live }}</ref>

|8= {{note label|H|H|1}}{{note label|H|H|2}}{{note label|H|H|3}}{{note label|H|H|4}}{{note label|H|H|5}}{{note label|H|H|6}} Support added in a Virtual PC 2007 Service Pack&nbsp;1 (SP1) [[hotfix]] rollup, dated February 20, 2009, for Windows XP Home as both host and guest, and for all Home editions of Windows Vista as hosts.<ref name="vpc2007sp1_hotfix" />

|9= {{note label|I|I|1}}{{note label|I|I|2}}{{note label|I|I|3}}{{note label|I|I|4}} The pre-configured [[#Windows XP Mode|XP Mode]] of Windows Virtual PC is restricted to Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate hosts.<ref name="wvpc_req" /> However, an equivalent environment can be configured manually by installing Windows XP SP3 as a guest (requires an XP license and installation media or files) and applying an integration components update (available for download<ref name="rail_xp" /> from Microsoft) to enable seamless mode and other Windows 7 integration features.<ref name="wvpc_eval" />

|10={{note label|J|J|none}} The integration components enabling seamless mode and other features<ref name="wvpc_eval">{{cite web | title = Windows Virtual PC Evaluation Guide | work = Windows 7 Technical Library | publisher = [[Microsoft TechNet]] | date = May 4, 2009 | url = https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd744684%28WS.10%29.aspx | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = July 6, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090706123408/http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd744684(WS.10).aspx | url-status = live }} Also available for [http://www.microsoft.com/Downloads/details.aspx?familyid=62CD2E63-52F8-4CF5-A7D5-7ABAAB270451&displaylang=en download] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090703233150/http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=62cd2e63-52f8-4cf5-a7d5-7abaab270451 |date=July 3, 2009 }}.</ref> of Windows Virtual PC support only the following guests: Windows XP Pro Service Pack&nbsp;3 (SP3);<ref name="rail_xp">{{cite web|title=RAIL QFE Beta Windows XP SP3 |work=Microsoft Download Center |publisher=[[Microsoft.com]] |date=May 4, 2009 |url=http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=943B6AC7-87F2-45DF-A516-21321D559AC3&displaylang=en |access-date=July 10, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090704215326/http://www.microsoft.com/downloadS/details.aspx?familyid=943B6AC7-87F2-45DF-A516-21321D559AC3&displaylang=en |archive-date=July 4, 2009}}</ref> Windows Vista Business SP1, Enterprise SP1, and Ultimate SP1;<ref name="rail_vista">{{cite web|title=RAIL QFE Beta for Vista SP1 |work=Microsoft Download Center |publisher=[[Microsoft.com]] |date=May 4, 2009 |url=http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=DB29EB2B-F095-4172-8E83-9C5623045D4E&displaylang=en |access-date=July 10, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090704215326/http://www.microsoft.com/downloadS/details.aspx?familyid=DB29EB2B-F095-4172-8E83-9C5623045D4E&displaylang=en |archive-date=July 4, 2009}}</ref> and Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate.<ref name="wvpc_tips" /><ref name="wvpc_req" />
}}

'''Notes – not supported installations'''
{{ordered list|list-style-type=lower-greek|style=font-size:95%; margin-bottom:1.5em
|1= {{note label|α|α|1}} Virtual PC 2007 does not include Virtual Machine Additions for MS-DOS as a self installing disk image (installed using a batch file), however the files are included in the Virtual Machine Additions ISO image file (typically found in the 'Program Files' folder where Virtual PC was installed) and can be extracted by various means (a number of file compression software packages support extracting files from ISO image files) for manual installation, also the DOS additions from Virtual PC 2004 can be used without problem as can the DOS additions from Virtual Server 2005.<ref name="vguy_dosadd">{{cite web | last = Armstrong | first = Ben | title = Installing DOS additions under VPC 2007 | work = Virtual PC Guy's WebLog | publisher = [[MSDN Blogs]] | date = October 30, 2007 | url = http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2007/10/30/installing-dos-additions-under-vpc-2007.aspx | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = February 12, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100212123912/http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2007/10/30/installing-dos-additions-under-vpc-2007.aspx | url-status = live }}</ref>

|2= {{note label|β|β|1}} The Virtual Machine Additions included with Virtual PC 2007 will not install on Windows 95 guests, but the additions from Virtual PC 2004 can be used.<ref name="vguy_win95" />

|3= {{note label|γ|γ|1}} In informal testing, Microsoft virtualization manager Ben Armstrong found XP Media Center 2004 "distorted and unusable" under Virtual PC 2004, but Media Center 2005 worked "beautifully", sans TV features.<ref name="sN5mg">{{cite web | last = Armstrong | first = Ben | title = Windows Media Center 2005 under Virtual PC | work = Virtual PC Guy's WebLog | publisher = [[MSDN Blogs]] | date = November 6, 2004 | url = http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2004/11/06/253225.aspx | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = November 2, 2005 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20051102034638/http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2004/11/06/253225.aspx | url-status = live }}</ref>

|4= {{note label|δ|δ|1}}{{note label|δ|δ|2}}{{note label|δ|δ|3}} [[MSDN Blogs|MSDN blogs]] reported that [[Windows 7#Development history|pre-release versions]] of Windows 7, similar to the released Ultimate edition,<ref name="ekpOC">{{cite web | title = Windows 7 Release Candidate: FAQ | publisher = [[Microsoft.com]] | year = 2009 | url = http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/faq.aspx | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = June 5, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090605075202/http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/faq.aspx | url-status = live }}</ref> run successfully as both host and guest operating systems on Virtual PC 2007 Service Pack&nbsp;1 (SP1). Integration features provided by [[#Virtual Machine Additions|Virtual Machine Additions]] function normally, but Virtual PC 2007 must be SP1 or later.<ref name="vguy_w7vpcw7">{{cite web | last = Armstrong | first = Ben | title = Windows 7 on Virtual PC on Windows 7 | work = Virtual PC Guy's WebLog | publisher = [[MSDN Blogs]] | date = January 13, 2009 | url = http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2009/01/13/windows-7-on-virtual-pc-on-windows-7.aspx | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = February 12, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100212125030/http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2009/01/13/windows-7-on-virtual-pc-on-windows-7.aspx | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="6dmrC">{{cite web | last = Krishnamoorthy | first = Ajoy | title = Installing Virtual PC 2007 SP1 in Windows 7 | work = Ajoyk – Patterns and Practices, VSTS, Process | publisher = [[MSDN Blogs]] | date = January 19, 2009 | url = http://blogs.msdn.com/ajoyk/archive/2009/01/19/installing-virtual-pc-2007-sp1-in-windows-7.aspx | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = September 27, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090927180410/http://blogs.msdn.com/ajoyk/archive/2009/01/19/installing-virtual-pc-2007-sp1-in-windows-7.aspx | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="7bHXq">{{cite web | last = Manning | first = James | title = Upgrading to SP1 fixes VM Additions for Win7 Beta! | work = James Manning's Blog | publisher = [[MSDN Blogs]] | date = January 10, 2009 | url = http://blogs.msdn.com/jmanning/archive/2009/01/10/upgrading-to-sp1-fixes-vm-additions-for-win7-beta.aspx | access-date = July 10, 2009 | archive-date = June 25, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090625130536/http://blogs.msdn.com/jmanning/archive/2009/01/10/upgrading-to-sp1-fixes-vm-additions-for-win7-beta.aspx | url-status = live }}</ref> See [http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2009/01/13/windows-7-on-virtual-pc-on-windows-7.aspx "Windows 7 on Virtual PC on Windows 7"]<ref name="vguy_w7vpcw7" /> for more caveats.

|5= {{note label|ε|ε|1}}{{note label|ε|ε|2}} Although [[Windows NT 3.1]] and [[Windows NT 3.5|NT 3.5]] refuse to install on newer processors ([[Windows NT 3.51|NT 3.51]] fixes this), it is possible to modify files on the install CD to allow install.
}}
{{refend}}

=== Linux guests{{Anchor|Emulating Linux-based environments}} ===
Installing a Linux-based guest environment in Virtual PC is possible.  RedHat and SuSe Linux guests are supported. Linux additions are supported in [[Microsoft Virtual Server]], and these additions should also work in Virtual PC.<ref name="vguy_linux07">{{cite web | last = Armstrong | first = Ben | title = Updated Virtual Machine Additions for Linux available | work = Virtual PC Guy's WebLog | publisher = [[MSDN Blogs]] | date = October 23, 2007 | url = http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2007/10/23/updated-virtual-machine-additions-for-linux-available.aspx | access-date = June 28, 2009 | quote = As always – this is only supported on Virtual Server – but should work just fine on Virtual PC. | archive-date = June 11, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090611114805/http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2007/10/23/updated-virtual-machine-additions-for-linux-available.aspx | url-status = live }}</ref>

Some [[Linux distribution]]s must be installed in text mode, as they do not support Microsoft Virtual PC's emulated graphics chip. [[Ubuntu version history#0810|Ubuntu 8.10 "Intrepid Ibex"]] must be installed in SafeMode, but does not require other changes.

Some websites specialize in listing operating systems that run successfully as Virtual PC guests, to help users avoid issues when installing Linux distributions or other operating systems lacking official Microsoft support.<ref name="LUkvh">{{cite web |url=http://vpc.visualwin.com/ |title=What Works and What Doesn't in Microsoft Virtual PC 2004 |work=visualwin.com |publisher=[[WP:SPS|Self published]] |first=Jonathan |last=Maltz |access-date=16 June 2013 |archive-date=October 31, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071031131904/http://vpc.visualwin.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=June 2013}}

=== Intel-based Mac support ===
[[Microsoft]] announced on August 7, 2006, that Virtual PC for Mac would not be ported to the [[Apple–Intel architecture|Intel Mac]] platform. Microsoft stated, "Alternative solutions offered by [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] and other vendors, combined with a fully packaged retail copy of Windows, will satisfy this need."<ref name="wwdc">{{cite web |last=Cohen |first=Peter |date=August 7, 2006 |title=WWDC: Microsoft kills Virtual PC for Mac |url=http://www.macworld.com/news/2006/08/07/vpc/index.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014063546/http://www.macworld.com/news/2006/08/07/vpc/index.php |archive-date=October 14, 2007 |access-date=October 8, 2007 |publisher=MacWorld}}</ref> Similar products available or announced at the time were [[Parallels Desktop for Mac|Parallels Desktop]] and [[VMware Fusion]].

== See also ==

;About Microsoft virtualization technology
* [[Features new to Windows 7#Virtual hard disks|Features new to Windows 7: Virtual hard disks]]
* [[Microsoft Virtual Server]]
* [[Windows 365]]

;About virtualization
* [[Virtual disk image]]
* [[x86 virtualization]]
* [[Comparison of platform virtualization software]]

== Notes ==
<references group="lower-alpha" />
== References ==
{{reflist|1=30em}}

== External links ==
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* {{Official website}}
* [https://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/ ''Virtual PC Guy'' blog] on [[MSDN]]
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