Some useful tips and tricks for virtual pc

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Recently I installed Windows XP on my not fit for XP tx1t000 hp laptop, I call my laptop not fit for windows XP because there are no complete drivers provided by HP for XP and even some of the drivers provided by HP does not work at all. :D

So, I installed Windows XP using Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 but after installation I run into several troubles like I cannot move my mouse out of the Virtual PC machine window and cannot access and files and folders on my laptop in windows vista shown in the snapshot below

windows-xp-virtual-machine

Let me tell you some useful tips and tricks which will help you using virtual pc


How to take your mouse out of virtual pc machine window

Problem: The first most problem I faced when I was not able to move my mouse out of the virtual pc machine window in which I was running Windows XP

Solution: Press Right Alt then you take your mouse out of the virtual pc machine window

How to toggle full screen window of virtual pc machine window

Problem: After changing to the full screen I was not aware how to revert back to normal small window with virtual pc 2007

Solution: Press Right Alt+Enter to toggle the full screen mode of a virtual pc machine window

There are lot more other questions like how can you speed up your virtual pc machine, how to share files and folders in between virtual pc machine and your computer and how to integrate mouse in between your main operating system and virtual pc machine etc

In order to get all these features you need to install or update virtual machine additions by pressing Right Alt+I

install-virtual-machine-additions  

After installing virtual machine additions you can configure the settings of virtual machine to share files and folders, mouse integration and speed up your virtual machine.

To Configure your virtual machine go to Edit >> Settings



settings-virtual-pc

A new window will open up where you can tweak the settings of your virtual machine

settings 

How to speed up your virtual machine

Move the slider after selecting memory move the slider towards right to increase the RAM assigned to the virtual machine to speed up

memory-virtual-machine

How to share Files and Folders with virtual machine

Select Shared Folders and create new share by clicking Share Folder button and select the folder or drive on your computer to share with virtual machine

share-virtual-machine  

How to integrate mouse or pointer integration with virtual machine

Select Mouse and click the check box on the right pane which says use pointer integration

mouse-integration-virtual-machine

You can further play with other options to tweak your virtual pc machine.We hope you like the virtual pc tips and tricks mentioned above.

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Author + Admin: Abhishek Bhatnagar
Software Engineer by profession and blogger by passion, I blog about computer tips and tricks and solutions for computer problems. You can connect with me at twitter or know more about me on www.abhishekbhatnagar.com.

19 Comments

  1. esperandy says:

    very useful and GREAT post.thank you

  2. fabiano says:

    Hi, I have the same problem as NCH (Shared Folders appears to be “not installed” even if virtual machine additions are installed and the VM is running).
    Any suggestion?
    Thanks

    • MURTI says:

      i had the same problem as you. but i think i just figured it out.
      hear this:
      go to the virtual machine additions folder in your virtual OS then start the vpcmap.exe (you’ll notice that its the folder sharing service)
      hope this works for you too
      regards

  3. Install Windows 7 Inside Windows Vista or Windows XP Using Virtual PC | TroubleFixers - All about fixing computer troubles says:

    [...] NOTE:  To make full use of windows 7 and make it run smooth, you should install Virtual Update Install Additions, steps available here. [...]

  4. HaKc355 says:

    Thanky you,

    A simple starightforward page for simple straightforward problems.

    Made my life a lot easier!

  5. GalinKalamazoo says:

    Thanks for the tip about sharing folders between a virtual machine and the host! I had wasted toooo much time trying to install a network between the two, which never did work. Sweet!

  6. MURTI says:

    @fabiano
    i had the same problem as you. but i think i just figured it out.
    hear this:
    go to the virtual machine additions folder in your virtual OS then start the vpcmap.exe (you’ll notice that its the folder sharing service)
    hope this works for you too

    regards

  7. Gilbert says:

    Great tip, however, I have a special request. How can I disable REMOVE button in the Virtual PC Startup Window. I have had accidental incident where people have removed the Virtual PC than ‘start’ it. The Remove & Start button are darn too close to each other. Does anyone have directions to do this? I know that I can copy the Virtual PC and put it somewhere else safely. But, more pratical sense that I do not want to have to go to the computer everytime it is an issue. Just a function to disable it would help a great deal.

    Thanks for your help

    Gil

  8. paul.c says:

    well i have been scratching my head for weeks on how to install xp on a vista system, this actually works!! i now have xp and vista. Many thanks yours paul.

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