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    Virtual PC 2007 question: is allocation permanent?

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by Smily Gladshanks, Jan 21, 2008.

  1. Smily Gladshanks

    Smily Gladshanks Newbie

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    I don't know crap about computers, but I do know that I want to play Riven (an archaic game developed for windows 98 or thereabouts) on my new laptop. And I know I'll have a problem doing that with Vista (a number of reviews say so). I also am pretty sure I can solve that problem by allocating memory and drive space to a virtual machine running an older windows OS by using Virtual PC 2007.

    Since I have not tried this before and am not certain how it works, I wonder if this allocation of resources is permanent. Ideally, it would be reversible. If so, HOW reversible?--that is, would there be inconvenient "tracks" left behind?

    Thanks, guys.
     
    Smily Gladshanks, Jan 21, 2008
    #1
  2. benselby2a

    benselby2a Notebook Guru

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    when you make the virtual PC you can assign it a portion of your RAM which is only used when the virtual pc is running.

    the virtual hard disk is just a file which you can delete when your done with it.
     
    benselby2a, Jan 21, 2008
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  3. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    You can keep the HDD 'virtual' disk relatively small to compensate for the fact it is permanent. I'd recommend about 10GB just to make sure you have room for anything you might want to install later.

    RAM is taken only when the virtual OS is running, which means you're fine there. 512MB or 1GB allocated should be more than enough from what I'm seeing that you need.
     
    Greg, Jan 21, 2008
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  4. Apollo13

    Apollo13 100% 16:10 Screens

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    The virtual hard drive is not permanent. You can delete the virtual hard drive at any time simply by deleting its ".vhd" file. Just remember that everything on your virtual hard drive will be gone if you delete that file.

    If you delete the virtual hard drives and virtual PC's from within Virtual PC, there won't be any traces left behind.
     
    Apollo13, Jan 21, 2008
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  5. jimc

    jimc Notebook Consultant

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    the hard drive file is dynamic sized so it's only going to occupy how much stuff you actually install
     
    jimc, Jan 21, 2008
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  6. zach382

    zach382 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Also, I'd recommend using Virtual Box, http://www.virtualbox.org/, instead of Virtual PC. It's free and open source (well most of it anyways), and it works great.
     
    zach382, Jan 21, 2008
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  7. ScuderiaConchiglia

    ScuderiaConchiglia NBR Vaio Team Curmudgeon

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    And Virtual PC 2007 is also free!

    Gary
     
    ScuderiaConchiglia, Jan 22, 2008
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