Share via

Windows Virtual PC – no hardware virtualization update now available for download

  • Article

The update to Windows Virtual PC to support running on systems without hardware virtualization is now available for download.  You can grab it here:

You can also read the full KB article here: https://support.microsoft.com/kb/977206

One thing to note: While Microsoft supports the use of Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 on Windows Virtual PC – when running on systems without hardware virtualization support we only support the use of Windows XP.

So what does this mean?  Well, if you have used Virtual PC before you know that it is capable of running many operating systems that are not officially supported – and this is still true for Windows Virtual PC (both with and without hardware virtualization support).  But we will not be releasing updated integration components for Windows 7 / Windows Vista to enable optimum performance when running without hardware virtualization.

The key take away here is: If you need to run Windows XP mode on systems without hardware virtualization, you now can.  If you want to run other operating systems – you need hardware virtualization support for best performance (and official support from Microsoft).

Cheers,
Ben

Comments

  • Anonymous
    March 18, 2010
    How about some Linux guest additions, and 64-bit guest OS support?

  • Anonymous
    March 18, 2010
    Despite some limitations, this patch seems to be great for older CPU without Hardware Virtualization :-) I've two questions :

  1. Does Windows Virtual PC with this patch work fine on older single core CPU (Intel Pentium 4) or does it require newer CPU (Intel Core) at least ? Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 SP1 runs fine on my pentium 4 under Windows 7.
  2. About Windows Vista guest machines, Windows 2000 guest machines and Windows 98 Second Edition guest machines : does the Virtual Machines Additions from Windows Virtual PC 2007 SP1 (version 13.820) work under Windows Virtual PC ? Thank you for your answer

  • Anonymous
    March 18, 2010
    GOOD MOVE!!!  should have been that way on day one! now to get a new vpc that does x64 guests.

  • Anonymous
    March 18, 2010
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    March 18, 2010
    I tried to install it, but it doesn't work :( On my french Windows 7, it says "La mise à jour ne s'applique pas à votre système", which can be translated to "This update does not apply to your system". Any clue ?

  • Anonymous
    March 18, 2010
    I get: "The update is not applicable to your computer", on my Win 7 business x64. Any solution?

  • Anonymous
    March 18, 2010
    I am disappointed with the remark in the kb-article: APPLIES TO -Windows 7 Enterprise -Windows 7 Professional -Windows 7 Ultimate I run Win7 Home Premium on a CoreToDuo-T6400. The version of Win7 most sold to the 'simple' consumer which is most likely to have software and hardware that is in need of the XP-mode. I also get "The update is not applicable to your computer"

  • Anonymous
    March 18, 2010
    Seeing thew remarks about "The update is not applicable to your computer" I'd almost think that this update has not been tested or the bits WITH the HAV-check have been posted.

  • Anonymous
    March 18, 2010
    Ok, my fault, everything is ok. You should firstly install Windows Virtual PC, and  then this update. :)

  • Anonymous
    March 18, 2010
    So after installing, I ran XP for a while, then made sure I shut down. Then in the VHD settings, I converted the HDD from a differencing VDD to a single merged dynamically expanding one. But now XP Mode can't start any longer? Someone also asks this here: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/w7itprovirt/thread/8ae6dc1e-126f-46ed-a384-224f40f46d69.

  • Anonymous
    March 19, 2010
    Big Monstro - This will work on any system that is supported for Windows 7 (basically if the processor is 1Ghz or faster).  Other operating systems will run, but they are not supported, and older virtual machine addition swill give some integration - but not the full functionality. Damir - Yes, you need to install Windows Virtual PC first then apply the update. ALJ (Harry) Kraak / Thomas VAILLIER - Have you installed Windows Virtual PC (full) first? VHD - This should work, even though it is not recommended. What is the error message you see when starting the virtual machine? Cheers, Ben

  • Anonymous
    March 19, 2010
    @ALJ (Harry) Kraak Windows XP mode is only licensed to those versions of 7, it is not avaiable for Home Premium, licensing hasn't changed. You can use Windows VPC, but not XP Mode.  If you want XPMode, install your own copy or upgrade to Windows 7 Pro.

  • Anonymous
    March 19, 2010
    Actually the original VHD file is for some reason set to read only by Microsoft and the permissions denied and ownership to System. So before I merged the VHD to create a dynamically expanding one, I had to take ownership, give admin permissions and then remove the read only attribute. The merge completed successfully. Now the error message when I start XP Mode.vmcx is "One or more required files are either missing or not valid". Do you want to create a new Windows XP environment"? The help file says that "Windows XP Mode.vhd" must be in the %userprofile%AppDataLocalMicrosoftWindows Virtual PCVirtual Machines folder but when it merged it merged the file to C:Program FilesWindows XP ModeWindows XP Mode Base.vhd. I have tried changing the primary harddisk to point to the correct VHD but it still gives this error.

  • Anonymous
    March 21, 2010
    It is a shame that owners of Home 64-bit Windows 7 do not have XP Mode built in.

  • Anonymous
    March 26, 2010
    I'm mainly a Mac OS X user, so sadly no more VPC on this platform (it was PPC only)... But VMware Fusion is a very good contemporary Intel Mac program, and today I successfully installed XP Mode into a Windows 7 Professional x64 Fusion VM (something which wasn't possible before this latest update from Microsoft). So, now it is possible to run XP Mode also in a virtualized Win7 environment, without any additional software: well, it is of course a little slower than on a natively booted machine, but usable... :-)

  • Anonymous
    April 04, 2010
    Is it possible to force Virtual PC to not use HAV? I use VPC only for testing things under XPMode; I use Virtualbox (Linux guest) a lot more, so i'd like VPC not to monopolise on it while it could be much more useful for Virtualbox.

  • Anonymous
    April 18, 2010
    I am running Windows 7 Professional x64 with Virtual PC installed. Tried to install the 64-bit update, but I am getting the "The update is not applicable to your computer" error message. Actually, I have a Q9300 processor, which supports VT-x, and it is turned on in the BIOS, but HAV detection tool says it is not turned on in the BIOS. I guess the problem might be with the motherboard (Abit IX38-QuadGT). I was hoping this update might get Virtual PC started, but it won't install.

  • Anonymous
    May 13, 2010
    Hi Ben, I'm getting a DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL when I try to run VirtualPC on a PC without hardware VT: BCCode: d1 BCP1: 00000000 BCP2: 00000002 BCP3: 00000000 BCP4: 00000000 0xD1_CODE_AV_NULL_IP_vpcvmm!VmmExecuteVp Why?

  • Anonymous
    March 08, 2011
    I am suddenly seeing a window with this message:  "Click-2-Virtualization Handler" with a number, 30023 (I think).  Does anyone have an idea what this is all about?  Sometimes there are multiple such windows in the morning.