Recipe 6.5. Using Virtual PC to Run Multiple Operating Systems Simultaneously

Problem

You want to run multiple operating systems simultaneously on the same computer.

Solution

Using a graphical user interface

Microsoft's Virtual PC, available for between $100 and $120, will let you run multiple operating systems on the same computer; it can run all versions of Windows since Windows 95, as well as Linux, IBM OS/2, and others. This recipe cannot go into a full description of the entire configuration, installation, and use of Virtual PC, but here are the basics of how to install and use it:

1. Install Virtual PC from the CD. The first time you run the program, the New Virtual Machine Wizard will start. For each extra operating system you want to install, you need a virtual machine, so follow the wizard's instructions for creating a virtual machine.

   

   Before installing Virtual PC, make sure that you have enough physical RAM to run multiple operating systems on your PC. Microsoft offers these guidelines: Figure that you need 128MB for XP (either Professional or Home Edition) as a baseline, and then add the physical memory requirements of each additional operating system you want to add. Microsoft claims that Windows 95 requires 32MB; Windows 98 64MB; Windows ME 96MB; Windows NT 4 64MB; and Windows 2000 Professional 96MB. As a practical matter, though, those requirements are too slim. You should have at least 512MB of memory to run Virtual PC, and more than that if you plan to run more than two operating systems simultaneously.

   
   

2. If you aren't sure what operating system you plan to install on the virtual machine you create, choose "Use default settings to create a virtual machine" from the wizard. This will create a standard virtual machine that you can later customize, depending on the operating system you plan to install on the virtual machine.

3. If you know what operating system you plan to install on the virtual machine you create, choose "Create a virtual machine" from the wizard. That will let you customize the machine for the operating system. When you are prompted for the operating system you plan to install, choose it from the drop-down list.

4. Once you've installed a virtual machine and want to install a new operating system, run Virtual PC. The Virtual PC Console will display. Select the virtual machine onto which you want to install an operating system and choose Action Start.

5. When you want to run the new operating system simultaneously with XP, start Virtual PC, and from the Virtual PC console, double-click the virtual machine that has the operating system you want to run in addition to XP.

Discussion

It can't be stressed enough how important it is to have enough memory on your system if you want to run multiple operating systems. Assume that you should have at least 512MB of memory, and preferably more. Virtual PC can support a total of up to 4GB for all operating systems, including the host. The maximum that any single operating system can use is 3.56GB.

When you run an operating system inside a virtual machine, the operating system must have the proper drivers in order to run. Windows XP drivers won't be used; instead the operating system drivers must be used. Make sure that in addition to the operating system, you have any necessary drivers as well. Each virtual machine can support up to four network adapters.

As a default, the operating systems are completely separate from one another. So, for example, you cannot cut and paste between them. However, you can install Virtual Machine Additions, which will allow for integration between operating systems, with features such as drag-and-drop and cut-and-paste between windows in different operating systems, and folder sharing. You'll need to install the Virtual Machine Additions on each operating system that you want to be used in this way. To do it, run Virtual PC and then run the virtual machine to whose operating system you want to add Virtual Machine Additions. Then from the Actions menu, choose Install or Update Virtual Machine Additions, and follow the Setup Wizard.

See Also

VMWare Workstation, available from http://www.vmware.com works like Virtual PC and lets you run multiple operating systems on the same computer. It requires XP Professional and won't work on the Home Edition.

MS KB 833506, "Virtual PC 2004 stops responding when it starts a virtual machine," and MS KB 833134, "The virtual machine networking settings in Virtual PC 2004"