Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 Available For Free

Daily Tech ^ | February 20, 2007 | Brandon Hill

[Echo Talon]

Microsoft releases the latest edition of Virtual PC

Microsoft has released Virtual PC 2007 1.0 to customers. The program allows Windows users to run multiple operating systems at once from a single physical computer. Users can also easily switch back and forth between operating systems with the click of a mouse.

New features included with the latest release of Microsoft Virtual PC include:

• 64-bit host operating systems
  
• Hardware-assisted virtualization
  
• Network-based installation of a guest operating system
  
• Running virtual machines on multiple monitors
  

The following operating systems are officially supported on host machines:

• Windows Server 2003
  
• Windows Vista Business
  
• Windows Vista Enterprise
  
• Windows Vista Ultimate
  
• Windows XP Professional
  
• Windows XP Professional x64
  
• Windows XP Tablet PC Edition
  

The following operating systems are officially supported as guests:

• Windows 98 Second Edition
  
• Windows 2000 Professional
  
• Windows XP Home, Professional, Tablet PC Edition
  
• Windows Vista Enterprise, Business, Ultimate
  
• OS/2 Warp Version 4 Fix Pack 15, OS/2 Warp Convenience Pack 1, OS/2 Warp Convenience Pack 2
  

There is also unofficial support for MS DOS 6.22, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows ME and Windows NT 4.0 Workstation.

Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 is available as a free download in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions. You can view the release notes for the software application here.

[Echo Talon]

Go get it. ;)

That old Greedy Company is giving away FREE software again!

[darkwing104]

Sweet, I can use this and it's free!

[Alter Kaker]

If you have Boot Camp, why would you want Virtual PC?

[CedarDave]

Please explain what the difference between host and guest means. If I have Vista Home, can I run XP Home on the same machine?

[Y2000]

What about LINUX ?

[DeFault User]

Bill and Steve's 12 flavors of Windows?

[irishjuggler]

Boot Camp is a Mac application. This version of VPC allows you to run a virtual machine on a Windows PC.

[Mr. Jeeves]

OS/2 Warp Version 4 Fix Pack 15, OS/2 Warp Convenience Pack 1, OS/2 Warp Convenience Pack 2

ROFL! And I know some people who are probably eagerly awaiting support for this. ;)

[Echo Talon]

hehehe, I only tried Running VPC one time... so I don't know that much about it... just give everyone a heads up.. ;)

[ZIRA]

I am just happy not to get any blue screens with my XP. Keeping one system running is more then enough for me :)

[Echo Talon]

you need Vista Ultimate or Business to run a VM... OR Win XP PRO...

[Keeper of the Turf]

I'll certainly give it try. It sure beats dual-booting just to run the ONE APPLICATION (out of many I use) that doesn't run under Vista.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

LINUX is an alien in the MS World.....

[Echo Talon]

Look at the top... ;) if you notice this is running on Vista... ;) enjoy...

[American_Centurion]

Download VMware and get the Ubuntu linux appliance. You have to have XP Pro or Vista Pro or Ultimate to use the virtualizer this ad is speaking of.

VMware is free too, and it works excellently. I highly recommend the JanusVM appliance if you want to use the internet with extra security and/or anonymity.

[Y2000]

Thanks. Will try.

[big'ol_freeper]

The question is: Who'd want it?

There are many better alternatives than allowing anything related to Microsoft be installed on your computer. That's like holding a match over a gallon of gasoline.

[ShadowAce]

[zeugma]

That old Greedy Company is giving away FREE software again!

Yup. Microsoft can afford to eat the loss for as long as it takes to drive VMware into the ground. 

Speaking of which, does anyone know how the MS offering compares to VMware. I know their last version was crap compared to either VMWare, xen, or just about anyone else. 

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

So does this let a computer desktop from one computer be run on another?
(not computer savvy--be kind if you think this is a stupid question.)