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Microsoft Virtual PC 2004

From: Microsoft Software

List Price: ~~$129.99~~
Buy New: $67.75
You Save: $62.24 (48%)

New (3) Used (4) from $9.95

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

19 reviews
Sales Rank: 4845

Format: Cd-rom
Platforms: Windows 2000, Windows Xp
Media: CD-ROM
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Batteries Included: No
Operating System: Windows XP
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3
Dimensions (in): 0.1 x 0 x 0.1

MPN: 867941
Model: T31-00007
UPC: 805529465541
EAN: 0805529465541
ASIN: B0000DC67P

Release Date: December 2, 2003
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Features:

•	Re-architected to ensure that it meets Microsoft's most stringent security standards
•	Support for up to 4 GB of memory and up to 4 network adapters
•	New file-based configuration of virtual machines; OS/2 integration features
•	Virtual machine additions; portable VHDs; differencing and undo disks
•	Virtual disk support; support for most x86 Oses with no custom drivers

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Editorial Reviews:

Product Description
Virtual PC 2004 lets you create virtual drives that run their own operating systems. Run DOS, Linux, OS X and OS/2 applications on the same machine -- and switch between drives with a click! Convenience and accelerated development come together with VirtualPC 2004!

Customer Reviews: Read 14 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

Fast, stable, great for keeping viruses at bay October 14, 2004
Gadgester (New York)
28 out of 30 found this review helpful

My first experience with Virtual PC was years ago, when I had a Macintosh but also tons of Windows-envy, so I bought VPC for Mac OS so I could run Windows-only programs.

Fast-forward to 2004. I think Virtual PC is a should-have for every computer enthusiast. No longer a Windows programmer/developer but just an end user, I myself use it for the following:

- Web surfing. By setting up a separate, virtual PC for web surfing, I can keep viruses, trojans and spyware away from my underlying PC, which I use to do real work. Should a virus or worm hit the virtual PC, I just delete that VPC file and re-create another virtual machine.

Let's face it, since Windows is so popular and runs on 95+% of all personal computers, you'll always have virus writers attacking it relentlessly, no matter how Microsoft tries to improve security. (Back in the late 80s when I was a Unix guru, I used to witness a lot of hackers trying, often successfully to some extent, to crack Unix.) Esp. if you (ahem!) visit mature websites a lot, you should set up a virtual PC to isolate your treasured host system from getting infected.

BTW, AVG is a free personal-use-only anti-virus program from grisoft dot com. It's reliable and contiuously updated, just like the other major AV programs. Be sure to install AVG on your host machine (as well as virtual machine). It's just great.

- Testing new hardware. I'm a gadget freak. Since hardware drivers can often wreak havoc on a system, I use a virtual machine to test-install drivers first. VPC 2004 fully emulates Intel/AMD hardware so when you install another copy of Windows (which you need to buy separately), everything runs smoothly and as expected. It's even plug-n-play if you virtual machine runs WinXP.

- Playing with Linux. Nowadays it's easier than ever to install various Linux distributions, but 1) installing Linux often still requires you to create a separate partition, something I just detest, and 2) if you want to try more than one Linux ditribution it can be a mess to manage. VPC 2004 makes everything as simple as 1-2-3. One, create a virtual machine. Two, install Linux on that virtual machine which pretends to be a complete PC with one hard drive. Three, set up your device drivers within Linux without worrying about messing things up in the underlying system.

VPC 2004 so far has proven totally fast and stable. The only "downside" is, you are not getting any OS with this, so you need to buy a separate Windows installation package (or get Linux). But then, for a hundred bucks, you can create as many virtual machines as you want, and even run them at the same time if you have enough RAM.

Speaking of RAM, be sure to have *at least* 512MB on your underlying system, even if you just plan to use VPC to run plain ol' MS-DOS.

5 out of 5 stars

Love this software January 27, 2004
20 out of 22 found this review helpful

Having been a User of Both VMWare from version 2 to current(Workstation and GSX Server) and Virtual PC from Versions 4, through to 5.2 and now under the Microsoft banner of 2004, I can wholeheartedly recommend this software.

Microsoft haven't really provided much in my option to tempt existing 5.2 users to Upgrade, but if you hold an old version, or you are new to Virtual PC, then this is some fabulous software.

The software itself is stable, fast (requires a decent pc with lots of ram), but enables you to set up some great labs, and test environments. It supports a wide variety of Operating Systems, including Solaris and Linux, and lab scenarios with multiple NIC Cards.

This is the client version of the soon to be released Virtual Server Product. Every single time I build a lab box or trial some piece of software, it begins its life on a Virtual PC Machine, I use this software that much. I couldn't recommend it higher than the fact that I have paid for every upgrade since version 4 and will probably continue to do so.

One thing I like in comparison with VMWare, is that Virtual PC Emulates known hardware, this makes creating *Nix based Machines a lot easier as the Video card is identified on startup, even on Solaris! With VMWare you have to start in text mode and manually load the drivers - a lot messier.

Finally, if you plan on doing RIS Installs, the RIS Boot Disk Creator supports creating a PXE Boot disc for Virtual PC, very handy and saved me spending money on 3rd party tools.

Go to microsoft and get a trial, then come back and pay for the software, its worth every penny.

5 out of 5 stars Microsoft has published a sandbox for the rest of us! January 30, 2004
Colin Barnhorst (Aurora, CO United States)
14 out of 15 found this review helpful

You do not have to be a developer to have fun with Microsoft Virtual PC 2004. This program is the greatest sandbox I have ever played in. If you have lots of older software and operating systems, this program is for you. You no longer need several old PC's to keep in touch with old favorites.

MS Virtual PC not only does away with the need for multiple machines for legacy programs (yes, even games), but provides for cloning virtual machines in order to test new installations and settings without risking arduous rebuilding of systems if disaster strikes. Recovering from a disaster is a matter of a minute or two.

MS VPC also solves software conflicts by providing for alternate versions of the same OS that are tailored to particular tasks. Also, virtual machines are networkable with other physical computers on a LAN.

Your hardware may require some adjustment when running MS VPC. For example, my CD drive is a Sony DRU120 CDRW/DVDRW and is not automatically mounted by VPC when creating a new virtual PC, but installing a CDROM driver from diskette quickly sets up the basic configuration needed to install any OS. This was the only part of the learning curve I had to master. For the rest, MS VPC has proven to be the easiest power program I have ever learned.

I cannot say enough good things about MS VPC in the space allowed here. Buy it if you are running Windows 2000 Pro or Windows XP Pro. MS VPC is yet another reason for XP Home users to go Pro. This software is FUN because it invites so much experimentation and creativity. Have a blast!

5 out of 5 stars It works! April 28, 2004
Jose A. Ugalde Cadena (Mexico City, Mexico DF Mexico)
13 out of 15 found this review helpful

This software is great. I have successfully tested Dos 6.22, Windows 3.0, several versions of Linux (Red Hat and Suse), Windows 95 and Windows NT.
I agree with other reviewers that it can be used for recreational purpouses. My case is about retro-ware and retro-gaming. I have to admit that sound emulation is a little tricky for some old games, but overall the product is excellent.

5 out of 5 stars Microsoft Virtual PC 2004 Rocks April 17, 2004
10 out of 12 found this review helpful

This is one of the best emulation software out there in the market. It is so much EASYER to use than VMWare Workstation 4x. You dont have to set up the cd drives or the floppy drives. I think that this is a much better software for beginners.