The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Free Microsoft Virtual PC 2007

    Discussion in 'Notebook and Tech Bargains' started by Gator, Feb 19, 2007.

  1. Gator

    Gator Go Gators!

    Reputations:
    890
    Messages:
    1,889
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    My first contribution in this forum. Enjoy :smile:

    Microsoft Virtual PC 2007
     
    Gator, Feb 19, 2007
    #1
  2. grumpy3b

    grumpy3b Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    270
    Messages:
    683
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    kinda cool huh? I screwed myself last year when I bought a copy of VPC2004 about a month before it was released for free by MS...d'oh!!

    Now often I use a VPC for browsing and never need worry about a virus or anything. It's also a decent way to test applications under different browser versions or operating systems. Mostly VPC is a fun toy to fiddle with...
     
    grumpy3b, Feb 19, 2007
    #2
  3. Gator

    Gator Go Gators!

    Reputations:
    890
    Messages:
    1,889
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Yes, virtual machines are perhaps the best antivirus programs around, second only to common sense.
     
    Gator, Feb 19, 2007
    #3
  4. grumpy3b

    grumpy3b Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    270
    Messages:
    683
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    you got that right!! Been running w/o any AV software for several years now and no problems. But I do use a modified HOSTS file and, like you say, some common sense.
     
    grumpy3b, Feb 19, 2007
    #4
  5. grumpy3b

    grumpy3b Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    270
    Messages:
    683
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    btw, is it just me or if MS really wanted to make IE safe shouldn't they imbed VPC into Vista and use it to run IE all the time?
     
    grumpy3b, Feb 19, 2007
    #5
  6. grumpy3b

    grumpy3b Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    270
    Messages:
    683
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    for giggles I am going to try out VPC07 and then see if I can get Solaris to run inside it...I mean why no? I was responable for a Solaris (around v2 or so) SPARCStation for the accounting dept in my first job as a SysAdmin...never had seen a UNIX box in my life...man was that "FUN" :D
     
    grumpy3b, Feb 20, 2007
    #6
  7. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    7,857
    Messages:
    16,212
    Likes Received:
    58
    Trophy Points:
    466
    Nice...now here's the big question: does the VM see all USB devices? If so, Vista with a VM'ed XP is a perfect way to ensure that all your devices will continue to run without trouble.

    EDIT: VPC07 doesn't support USB...tried it. A lot of people aren't happy about that in other forums that's for sure.
     
    Greg, Feb 20, 2007
    #7
  8. SideSwipe

    SideSwipe Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    756
    Messages:
    2,578
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    I dont like VPC, i ddint like it when using 2004 for sure. it was sluggish and **** right annoying to use. no matter how much RAM you gave your VM you couldnt get a decent speed outta it!

    VmWare is alot better and I just started using it having used VPC for 2 years.
     
    SideSwipe, Feb 20, 2007
    #8
  9. Gator

    Gator Go Gators!

    Reputations:
    890
    Messages:
    1,889
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Yes, sadly VPC 2007 and all of its predecessors do not offer pass-through drivers for USB devices. I am aware that VMWare offers USB 2.0 ---> USB 1.1 pass-through. Oh well, at least VPC is guaranteed to work on all versions of Vista (yeah I know, that's not exactly fair to VMWare).
     
    Gator, Feb 20, 2007
    #9
  10. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    7,857
    Messages:
    16,212
    Likes Received:
    58
    Trophy Points:
    466
    Well, VMWare is currently working on that. They should have full Vista support by June.

    Its only 2.0->1.1??? That sucks.
     
    Greg, Feb 20, 2007
    #10
  11. Gator

    Gator Go Gators!

    Reputations:
    890
    Messages:
    1,889
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Yah that's what I heard last time I checked :radar:
     
    Gator, Feb 20, 2007
    #11
  12. Paul

    Paul Mom! Hot Pockets! NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    759
    Messages:
    2,637
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    I'll stick with VMware Server, thanks. Free of charge, easily allows *nix systems, and faster. Not to mention USB through support. On top of that, I hear VMware is looking to finally be able to have your GPU accessible to the VM as well.
     
    Paul, Feb 22, 2007
    #12