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Windows Virtual PC Executables

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Unlike Virtual PC 2007, Windows Virtual PC is comprised of multiple executables.  As such you may have a some trouble trying to figure out what is actually running when you look at task manager.  Here is a list of the Windows Virtual PC Executables, with descriptions of what they do and how they can be used:

  • vpc.exe

    This is the main executable that is used for running virtual machines.  Each virtual machine runs as a thread of this process – so you should only ever see one of these.  This executable is only running when you have virtual machines running.

  • vmwindow.exe

    This is the executable that is used for the standard “work with the virtual machine desktop” experience.  If you just start this executable by itself it will open the “Virtual Machines” folder.  You can get it to open a specific virtual machine by passing in the name and path for the virtual machines .VMC file by using the following command:

    vmwindow –file “VMC file”

  • vmsal.exe

    This executable manages seamless applications.  You will have one instance of this executable running for each virtual machine that has seamless applications running.

  • vpcsettings.exe

    You probably guessed this one – it is the settings window for the virtual machine.  You can launch it manually by passing it the virtual machines .VMC file that you want to configure:

    vpcsettings.exe “VMC file”

  • vpcwizard.exe

    This executable is used for all of the virtual machine wizards.  There are actually three wizards, and you can specify which wizard you want by using the –type parameter.  You can open it as the new virtual machine wizard, new virtual hard disk wizard, or as the edit virtual hard disk wizard.  For the last option you also need to specify the VHD that you want to edit:

    vpcwizard.exe –type VM
    vpcwizard.exe –type VHD
    vpcwizard.exe –type EVHD –filepath “VHD file”

All of these executables are located in the System32 directory (under the Windows directory on the system drive).  And all of the file parameters need to have a full path provided.

Cheers,
Ben

Comments

  • Anonymous
    July 22, 2009
    There is one problem, what do you do if your pc does not support hardware virtualisation? I would appreciate if someone could have a definitive answer as I cannot find out from elsewhere. Thanks, Mike

  • Anonymous
    July 22, 2009
    Windows Virtual PC does not support 64 bit guests, even on 64 bit hosts. Will this change ever? If not, I must strongly recommend VirtualBox (free for personal use, and capable of using VHD images). Same applies for cases where intel VT is not present.

  • Anonymous
    July 23, 2009
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    July 23, 2009
    Microsoft really needs to take a long hard look at their virtualization strategy.   They have focused all their effort on Hyper-V and have completely ignored their type 2 hypervisor products.   How about adding 64bit guest support to both Virtual Server and Virtual PC.  How hard can that be?

  • Anonymous
    July 23, 2009
    Apologies for being off topic, but i've been searching around and can't find a solution anywhere... thought someone here might know. I have a whole load of old windows 3D games which won't run properly on XP or Vista. I thought virtualization might be the key, but while i can find ways to do 3D for virtual XP, vista or linux Guests, i can't find ways to do it for 95/98/ME. This seems like a rather obvious gap in the market. Anyone know if there is a solution? If not, MS (or someone) should really find a way to make some kind of virtualization/wrapper for older games and versions of directX. (strangely, right now, i think my best bet might be to install Linux and then run Wine on that... but it seems perverse to have to dual boot to linux to play windows games...)

  • Anonymous
    July 24, 2009
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    July 24, 2009
    Mike - much confusion about "hardware" virtualization capability.  I spent a lot of time trying to obtain info re: Intel amd AMD capable processors and BIOs types. On the basis that current  Intel duo-core and AMD processors are capable - and ignoring the BIOS "anxieties" - I  proceeded to load Windows Virtual PC 2007 on a HP laptop (Intel)and older tower (AMD)- HP now has Vista and XP Mode virtual machines - the tower running XP mode.  Give it a go!!!!

  • Anonymous
    May 12, 2011
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    August 12, 2011
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    August 20, 2011
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    January 20, 2013
    The comment has been removed