has anyone tried MS Virtual PC?

[Timosity]

Just yesterday I tried out this product as an alternative to having to have some dual boot type system.

It seems to be pretty good so far.

For anyone that doesn't know, it let's you run a "virtual" computer from your existing one, as the product name seems to describe.

I installed Win98se, on it, it's capable of running as many operating systems as you like if you have the space (or at least a few).

at the moment I'm Running XP Pro with Service pack 2 RC2, and I can ALT+TAB between XP and Win98se.

It seems to work alright and can run some games that have trouble in XP even with vdmsound, dosbox etc.


The only thing I noticed is it uses a fixed virtual soundcard and video card, which may not be too much of a problem, but can be a problem if you need a Nvidia Gforce or something.

anyway, for most Sierra games it comes in quite handy, and GF as I did end up having problems running that with VDMSound on XP.


Has anyone used this? I'm just using the 45day trial to test it out, I'm just wondering if it's worth the US$129. and If it can screw up your computer or anything (well of course it can as it's made by MS)

[Sylpher]

I haven't tried it but I would recommend getting a couple more OSes and putting them on to test. If it runs them all with no problems then give it a go.. but Don't just try two MS OSes and dance in the candy. At least a Linux Distribution or two and maybe even straight DOS. Then if you get DOS working could even try Win 3.1 and THEN! Bad resource handling and Ms-paint for hours Ho boy!

[rodekill]

Rode Quest 2 was made entirely through VPC on the mac I used to use at my old job, since that job was a joke and I had nothing to do after 11:00am every day.

[Spyros]

I have installed WinXP, Win98, Win Me and Win 2000 server on Virtual PC with no problems.
And I think 129$ is too much you can get it ahemmmm-cheaper-ahhemmm

[AGA]

I've used VPC, it's awesome. I've run pretty much ever Windows version, MS-DOS, and Linux through it with no real problems. It's not really made by MS anyway, they bought the company that made it before not long ago, it's been going for years under another company...

[ryanlandry]

I suppose you're using "virtual PC 2004"? If you're using a lesser version such as 6, then no worries 'cause it's not made by microsoft, it's made by Connectix, which MS bought 'cause they're dickheads.

Anyway, I've been using VPC 5 and 6 for a few years on my mac and on my pc, and i haven't run into any instances of it messing up my computer in any way, though the OS within the VPC is just as likely to crash as the real thing.  The dynamically expanding drives rock, as well   \m/

It's all good as long as you're not using the microsoft-made new version 8)

[shbaz]

I suppose you're using "virtual PC 2004"? If you're using a lesser version such as 6, then no worries 'cause it's not made by microsoft, it's made by Connectix, which MS bought 'cause they're dickheads.

I miss the days when people could want and earn money without being called dickheads.

If you don't like MS, get Linux.. if you don't like PC's, get a Mac. If you don't like the way all of the software you want is made for Windows - blame Microsoft? It's not their fault, the companies are free to make Linux versions. If you have a problem with your PC then protest by using another OS. Nobody is forcing you to do anything.

Microsoft bought it because it was a good product and they saw a lot of monetary potential in it, that is that. You could say they bought it to make it crap, but if that were the case, why isn't it crap?

Can you honestly say you don't want money? Why would you bash someone else for having it when you can go for an alternative instead?

[Timosity]

Thanks for the replies.

I've run into one problem I'm not sure the reason but I tried to run Gabriel Knight 3, it plays the intro fine but when it goes to start the game (this is in win98se) it gives an  "Unknown error" and shuts the game down.

I've also noticed if runniing in full screen mode, on various occasions when I load a game and the res changes it shuts down to windowed mode saying the res was to big for the screen or something.

any ideas from some experienced users?

I haven't tried yet but can you run GK3 or 2 in XP?

[Hindersh not here]

ermm.....set the system clock to 1970 or something before you install :

[Timosity]

ermmmm....... the system clock for the machine or the virtual machine

and how do you do that anyway.

Is it a timer issue like a lot of the earlier games where you can use moslo, turbo etc or something else.

anyway, I installed GK3 on XP and it it gets further, it warns you in the install that it might not be fully compatible with XP but after running it, it seems to work fine, but that doesn't mean it will for the full game.

I'm not actually playing the game at the moment, I'm just testing things out,

And I think 129$ is too much you can get it ahemmmm-cheaper-ahhemmm

sshhhhhh, I was just trying to set a good example

[hindersh_hates_to_loginf]

the windoze system clock, and you will have 1500 trials;)