Are any of you folks using M$ virtual PC 2007?
Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 Product Information

It's a free download, but I'm wondering how "easy" it is to use - bear in mind that I'm just getting to grips with dual-booting let alone virtualization!!!

I used 2004, and it was fairly easy to set up.

2007, :shrug: my host system is Win2000, and I don't think it runs.

I used the previous version and it was plenty easy. Just start it up, tell it where you want your virtual hard drive to be, how much of your RAM you want to dedicate to it, and then mount your .iso and bang! You're all set up with a second computer running on your desktop.

I just upgraded from 2004 to 2007. So far they look the same to me, though I hear 2007 has better Vista support.

As a web developer, I use Virtual PC so I can test my websites on Internet Explorer 6 and 7, without needing a separate physical PC. Co-workers of mine are using it to test out Vista without risking their main system; it runs slower since it's only using a fraction of your RAM, but it runs.

If you're not familiar with it, here's how the Virtual PC install process works:

1. You install Virtual PC. When you launch it, it shows an empty list of virtual machines.

1.5 Before Step 2, go to File > Options > Performance, and select "Run Virtual PC at maximum speed". If you don't, Step 2 may take for-freaking-ever if you're doing other things on your PC at the same time (and who doesn't?).

2. You click to create a new Virtual Machine, and use a regular installation CD/DVD to install whatever OS you want.

3. That new virtual machine now shows up in the list. You select it, click Start, and it boots up in a window (or fullscreen if you prefer).

Any way of installing apps to the virtual machine to run?

Quote: Originally Posted by Fortran or if the screen switch plugin is working just drag and drop

Good catch. IMO you definitely want to install the virtual machine addons; I think it makes it much easier to work between your virtual desktop and your "real" one. There are instructions here (scroll down to the section marked "Install the Virtual Machine Additions").

I see that Vista Premium 32-bit isnt shown as supported but all other versions of Vista are.... has anyone tryed it with premium yet?