Question

The default Windows Virtual PC installation sets up one Virtual PC with Win XP on it.

I wonder how do we set up 2 or 3 or 4 machines, all with XP on it?

There seems to be a way, but it is not mentioned in help file or in a book. I wonder if that is a correct way or if there are other ways. My method is:

1. START -> All Programs -> Windows Virtual PC -> Windows Virtual PC

2. On the menu bar, click "Create Virtual Machine" and go through some questions.

3. Now the machine is created, but with no operating system on it at all.

4. Now right click on this new Virtual PC in the Virtual PC folder, and choose "Settings"

5. Click on the hard drive, click "Create", and then "Differencing"

6. Type a name for the hard drive, and then click OK

7. It will ask for the "parent hard drive", choose

   C:\Program Files\Windows XP Mode\Windows XP Mode base.vhd

8. Finally, click "Create"

Now, the new Virtual PC should be running based on a hard drive with XP on it.

In fact, this looks like how the default Virtual PC with XP is set up...

But I wonder if this is a right way. Any other method or somebody familiar knows this is the correct way?

Answer 1

Those machines will all use the same hard drive though. If you want separate machines you will need to either copy the XP vhd, or in settings for a new virtual machine, boot from an XP CD and install it to a new VM.