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Install & Run XP Inside Vista (Virtual Machine)

Posted August 29, 2008 – 12:54 pm in: Vista Tweaks, XP Tweaks
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Most of the desktops and laptops today come with Windows Vista preinstalled. While the Vista has new features, few users like me love to have Windows XP for some obvious reasons. Though you can dual boot Windows XP with Vista (Vista installed first), it’s a good idea to use Virtual PC to install XP inside the already installed Vista. For those who don’t know, Microsoft Virtual PC let’s you run multiple operating systems at the same time on the same physical system. You can switch between two operating systems within seconds.

In this tutorial we will show you how to install Windows XP inside Windows Vista using Microsoft Virtual PC.
Requirements:
?. Windows XP CD
?. Microsoft Virtual PC
?. One hour free time
Procedure:
1. Download and install Virtual PC from here.
2. Run the Virtual PC software. To do this, type Virtual PC in Vista Start menu search box and hit enter.
3. Click on “New” option and click “Next” to continue.

4. Select “Create a virtual machine” option from the available three options. I prefer this option as this lets you customize as you like. Click “Next”.
5. Here, type a name for the virtual machine file. The file is automatically saved to the My Virtual Machines folder. To save it to a different location, use the “Browse” button.
6. Select the operating system you would like to install using Virtual PC from the drop down box.In this tutorial we choose XP, as we are going to install none other than XP. After selecting the operating system, click “Next”.
7. If you have more than 1GB of RAM in your system, select “Adjusting the RAM” else select “Using the recommended RAM”. If you have chosen “Adjusting the RAM” then, select the amount of RAM you would like to allocate to run Virtual machine(XP) and click “Next”. (by default, it will use 128MB of RAM, if you like to keep as it is, blindly click “Next”)
8. In the next screen, select “A new virtual hard disk” and once again “click” button.
9. In this step, browse the location where you want to create a virtual hard disk and specify a name for the virtual hard drive. Also don’t forget to specify the size of the Virtual Hard Drive. I prefer at least 3GB.
10. Click on finish button.
11. This will open a small window called “Virtual PC Console”. Click on “Start” button to start the actual process.
12. Insert your Windows XP CD the optical drive and hit enter when Virtual PC console prompts this window. (No need to restart your system. System will be restarted within the console.)
You will see default XP installing environment inside the console.
13. Install the XP inside the console with the default XP procedure that you know. Once you finished your installation you will see this Window.
14. Now, you can install all the required software’s for your Windows XP.
15. You can close the Virtual PC with a simple click on the “close”(top right) button.
16. To open your Virtual XP once again, type “Virtual PC”(without quotes) in the Start menu and select the your Virtual XP from the box and click “Start”.
17. You are done!!
18. Enjoy!!!

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8 Comments

  1. Sook Mcgaughan
    Posted April 27, 2009 at 11:14 pm | Permalink

    Come on dude, these facts* and proof* i mean who is posting* lol :P

  2. Dave
    Posted May 16, 2009 at 6:13 am | Permalink

    Need Help!
    Have a few questions?

    When installing Virtual Windows 2007, do I have to install it on my “C” drive and allow it to make it’s own partition? Or can I put it into a partition that I’ve already made?

    After installing XP in the Virtual Window, do I have to re-install my program? Or can I shear the one’s I have in Vista? Like my “Firewall” and “AntiVirus” programs?

  3. Jese
    Posted July 20, 2009 at 9:39 am | Permalink

    Will the Virtual Machine have “www.tweakwindows.co.cc” displayed

  4. admin
    Posted July 20, 2009 at 11:03 am | Permalink

    @Jese
    Nop.. You won’t see that (it was intowindows’s first name).

  5. John
    Posted August 9, 2009 at 11:33 pm | Permalink

    tried to install on hp a1730n desktop but get message that it does not support the virtual windows 2007.
    computer with windows Vista Home premium OS

  6. admin
    Posted August 10, 2009 at 1:00 pm | Permalink

    @ Agree with you.

    Virtual PC 2007 officially supports Windows Vista 64-bit Editions Service Pack 1; Windows Vista Business; Windows Vista Business 64-bit edition; Windows Vista Enterprise; Windows Vista Enterprise 64-bit edition; Windows Vista Service Pack 1; Windows Vista Ultimate; Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit edition; Windows XP Service Pack 2; Windows XP Service Pack 3. Try Virtual Box

  7. Alper BALCI
    Posted August 29, 2009 at 3:34 pm | Permalink

    It’s working on Vista Home Premium but not supported by Microsoft.

  8. Ralph
    Posted December 9, 2009 at 10:24 pm | Permalink

    Can you use the Win XP disc that has been installed on your other computer? Will it be accepted by the new computer?

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