Windows 7

Microsoft is aiming to bring virtualization under mainstream computing via couple of its up coming products.

Windows Virtual PC along with Windows XP mode and MED-V (Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization) are among those products by which Microsoft is aiming to provide both home and business users the ability to utilize the power of virtualization.

The main force behind this move is a basic question which comes up every time when we get a new operating system. That is, application compatibility. Users find it difficult to afford the cost to upgrade / update their  existing applications to make them compatible with the new OS hence adoption of a new OS becomes problematic.

Previously, we have seen that since Windows 2000, Microsoft is running their Windows Downgrade Rights programs to allow users to obtain and downgrade to a previous version of OS. However, with up-coming Windows 7 we can all rest assure about the application compatibility issue.

Windows Virtual PC

A product, specially design for Windows 7 to provide integrated virtualization support.

Windows Virtual PC

It is available for download as an add on for Windows 7, and beta testers / RC users can start using it straightway.

Download Windows Virtual PC

What is it exactly ?

Those who are familiar with Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 can understand and adopt soon enough, but those who are not, for them, in simple words, its like a computer running inside another.

Below is a screenshot of the process,

Virtual PC running under Windows 7

On the picture above, you can see, a computer is running Windows 7 RC 7100 as its physical OS, where as inside Windows 7, with help of Windows Virtual PC, Windows XP SP3 has been installed as guest OS. Both the OS can now run simultaneously, Windows 7 as native physical OS, where as Windows XP via virtualization under Windows Virtual PC.

What’s new in Windows Virtual PC ?

Application Virtualization

The running process is very similar to Microsoft Virtual PC 2007, however something new to this software would be the application virtualization. You can launch an application, which is installed side of the virtual machine without starting the virtual machine itself, compare to other virtualization platform, where you need to run the Guest OS to use any application installed in it.

Launch IE6 via XP mode

Internet Explorer 6 and IE8 running side by side via Application virtualization with the help of Windows XP mode

Hardware support

One more important feature and major development from VPC 2007 is support to access all major physical hardware under virtual environment. With Windows Virtual PC, an user can now access almost all possible USB devices and can use them, even if the host OS (Win7) is missing appropriate drivers of them.

You can now either seamlessly access the connected USB device (storage, printer, modem, etc) in both guest and host OS via Windows VPC or you can redirect the access only to the virtual environment by providing access of that USB device only to the virtual OS.

Attach an USB device to the guest os under, Windows VPC

Seamless resource sharing and shell integration

Unlike previews versions, in Windows VPC, every guest OS has full and seamless access to all  hard / usb drives, printers and other available hardware resource available to your host OS.

Seamless access to all drives

Windows XP mode

A ready to be used, pre-configured Windows XP SP3 virtual installation given to Windows 7 users. This pre-configured Guest OS reduces the license fee which may would have to pay with previews versions of MS VPC.

Its bit early to say as which SKU’s or versions of Windows 7 RTM would contain this feature however, higher versions like Ultimate and business is certain to contain this update / feature as default.

As for RC users, the Windows XP mode beta is available for download as an Windows 7 optional update.

Download Windows XP mode

Things to note before trying

  • Although, both x86 and x64 platforms are support for host os, however, only x86 guest os can run under Windows VPC.
  • One must have a processor supporting hardware virtualization to use Windows Virtual PC. Thing to remember is, Microsoft VPC 2007 could actually run with a processor without hardware virtualization. Intel VT and AMD-V are 2 populer hardware virtualization product.
  • More RAM, at-least 1.25 GB to run Windows XP mode where as 2 GB is recommenced !!
  • At-least 15 GBs of hard disk space, where as minimum of 2 GB free space in your OS drive !!

So gear up and try out the new technology, if having supported hardware ofcource !!

Related posts:

  1. Surf the Internet from Microsoft Virtual PC Guest OS Here is a small tips on how to access Internet from Gues OS installation of Windows from your Host Windows…...
  2. Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 Virtualization is a very interesting and effecting concept, it allows IT Professionals and Developers to test some thing 1st hand on Virtualized...
  3. Windows Vista problem – SATA HDD running under PATA mode via BIOS emulation Many of computer users who are early adapters of Windows Vista likes to have both their previous version and newer...
  4. Windows MCE 2007 Out for Beta Test Microsoft is now accepting Beta Testing Requests for Windows Media Center Edition 2007. The product is Code named Fiji !!...
  5. Open MS Office 2007 Documents in Older Version of MS Office Microsoft office compatibility Pack is one of the Must install if you are running Microsoft Office Pririor to MS Office...