Brands Technorati: Virtual PC, Virtual Machines, Virtualization, Tutorial, VMWare
Increasingly is in "fashion" the use of virtual machines, either for development or for presentations. A virtual machine (Virtual Machine) is the simulation of an operating system, only through software, ie we are running another operating system within which we are running. This process is called virtualization. This virtualization allows sharing the resources of the host computer running different virtual machines, thus simulating multiple computers.
The use of virtual machines has several advantages, for example, can create a virtual machine for each development environment (for ex.:. Net and php), we can test new operating systems easily, we can move the virtual machines between the pcs quickly, we have a development environment, pre prepared quickly, etc ... The benefits are immense, but there are also some disadvantages, obviously. The use of virtual machines requires a computer with resources above the recommended, since these will be shared with multiple virtual machines, especially the RAM, the CPU and Disk. The performance in a virtual machine is naturally inferior to that of a normal computer.
To get an idea with the minimum resources required to run a virtual machine with the various Microsoft operating systems, see the following table:
| Operating System of the Virtual Machine | RAM minimum | Disk Space |
| Windows Vista Ultimate | 512 MB | 15GB |
| Windows Server 2003 | 256 MB | 4GB |
| Windows XP Professional | 256 MB | 2GB |
| Windows 2000 Professional | 256 MB | 2 GB |
| Windows 98 Second Edition | 64 MB | 500 MB |
These are the minimum requirements that the virtual machines need. Therefore, the better for the host computer, can share more resources with the virtual machines, and get better performance, because as we all know, Windows Vista with 512 MB of RAM is going ...
For the CPU, the faster better.
It will be shared with the virtual machines that are running.
To make the virtualization there are essentially two programs:
- Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 (free)
- VMWare (paid)
In this tutorial we will use the Virtual PC 2007. Can download this software through the following url:
There are two versions available, a 32-bit and one 64-bit, both with approximately 30 MB.
Installing Virtual PC 2007 is simple, why is not addressed in this tutorial. No doubt leave a comment.
TUTORIAL - Building the Virtual Machine:
Related Tutorials:
Tutorial - Installing an OS on a Virtual Machine
Tutorial - Sharing files in Virtual PC 2007
Tutorial - Enhancing the Performance of Virtual PC 2007
We are then setting up the virtual machine.
- Open the Virtual PC 2007 and click on "New."
- In the window that opens, click on "Next"
- In this screen we have three options available. To create a new virtual machine from scratch, chose the first option and click "Next."
- On the next screen choose the name and location where you want to save the configuration of the virtual machine created and click "Next."
- Then we will choose which operating system we will install the virtual machine that we are creating. In this tutorial we will choose the Windows XP and click "Next." If you create a virtual machine to another operating system, should choose the option that best fit the system that want to install.
- On the next screen, we have chance to choose which memory you want to share with the virtual machine. For Windows XP the option that comes pre-set is 128 MB, however, should increase this value, choosing the option "Adjusting the RAM" and moving the slider or by entering the value in the box on the right. For this tutorial choose 512 MB. This value can be changed after the virtual machine is created.
- Now select the disk of the virtual machine. As we are preparing a virtual machine for installing a new operating system to choose "A new virtual hard disk".
- On the next screen, we set the size, name and location of the virtual machine disk. This file. HDV (virtual hard disk) will be saved all the files in the virtual machine. For the tutorial, select a disc with 20000MB (approx. 20 GB). Virtual PC USA a system of dynamic disk, or even 20GB of terms assigned to the disk, not once occupied 20 GB on the disk of the host computer, the information is increased as is necessary, despite the virtual machine always see the disk with 20 GB. Therefore, it is preferable to define a disc more than minor, because if the virtual machine's disk is full, it is very difficult to increase their size.
- We reach the final configuration of the virtual machine. In this screen we have the summary of the settings chosen. Just click "Finish".
- We already have available to virtual machine in Virtual PC 2007.
If you click "Start" will start the machine now, but without operating system.
- At startup, the virtual machine needs to make some settings that may take several minutes.
- Then it waits to make a boot cd with the new operating system. But this is for the next tutorial.
In the second tutorial in this series, explaining how to install the operating system in virtual machine you just created:
Tutorial - Installing an OS on a Virtual Machine
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March 31st, 2008 at 0:13
Well I read your tutorial very good, the problem with the red hat 4 not worked, you know me?
April 4th, 2008 at 15:12
Very good!
Thank you!
April 4th, 2008 at 19:04
Thanks for the comment Denis.
It is good to get positive feedback from readers.
February 15th, 2009 at 17:32
its very good tutorial
is one of the best I ever saw.
congratulations.
thank you very much!
February 15th, 2009 at 20:30
hi!
very good tutorial.
I just have a doubt. I have a pc with 1 GB of RAM, 256 MB if I depart for the virtual machine, when I disconnect the virtual machine I have the same 1 GB back to my real computer?
if you can answer me I am grateful.
Once again, congratulations!
February 18th, 2009 at 20:35
@ van.arj
Thank you.
As for memory do not worry when you turn off the virtual machine back to normal everything.
Sometimes takes a while to completely shut down the virtual machine and memory be freed, but in the final round to take all your memory.
February 18th, 2009 at 20:36
@ Fl4sh
The comments only encourage me to do more and better.
Thank you very much.
February 19th, 2009 at 19:37
Good afternoon, I am trying to install Virtual PC on a Pendrive that running a Windows XP operating system by MOJO CAP. Happens when the Virtual PC will copy some files from it and stick around and go back to the beginning of the installation. What can be?
March 1st, 2009 at 20:54
@ ALEX
Hello Alex, unfortunately I am not familiar with MOJO PAC and can not help.
It may be that some of our readers can help you.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:40
Guys, good morning
How do you free up more memory for the virtual machine?
You can work in full screen?
ATS,
Silvano.
March 18th, 2009 at 0:26
@ Roberto Silvano Camargos
To free up memory should turn off the virtual machine in question and adjust the memory through the same properties.
Note that the memory of the Virtual Machine should not be exaggerated, but the host system has no memory to function properly and the machine is very slow.
To work in full screen to press the keys ALT + Right Enter while in the virtual machine.
March 31st, 2009 at 14:55
Good morning, good tutorial, I have a doubt, I have set as a video capture card running on xp virtual pc? This installed on 2003 server.
April 3rd, 2009 at 0:31
@ Joe Vital
You can not configure the video capture card in the Virtual Machine.
April 7th, 2009 at 9:12
Q hello hope can help me ..
I strictly followed all the procedures of your tutorial, q eh very easy to understand and go straight to the point, but my virtual machine naum work at all, it carries loads and then appears: No boot file name received, then it restarts and comessa whole process, after the same thing happens and is well = (
naum way has already done everything and advance naum
c can help =] hug
April 14th, 2009 at 0:16
kd type so the other topic ????????
April 14th, 2009 at 23:57
@ TipoAssim
The other topic is already on the site in:
Tutorial - Installing an OS on a Virtual Machine
Greetings.
April 14th, 2009 at 23:58
@ jeui
Make sure the CD has mounted on the operating system virtual machine, so the installation can begin.
April 23rd, 2009 at 2:38
Hello, I answered in one thing, if I ever had with another OS (I have 2 PC on XP) installed on my pc, I have to emulate it without you install it all over again.
May 1st, 2009 at 10:12
@ Walmer
Yes, you can create a virtual machine from the operating system you have on your PC. To do this you must use the VMWare Converter.
May 11th, 2009 at 10:20
someone can help me, use Windows Vista and tried to run program on time and q follow the steps in the right when you get to choose RAM it appears as 0, is to increase in and changes it! what do I free memory to be used by the program! it is still appearing virutal memory 0 n has nothing to install!
June 2nd, 2009 at 17:59
after you created the virtual machine, you can expand the memory that was configured, or that would create a new machine?
Thanks
June 6th, 2009 at 8:22
@ Matthew Grillo
After the machine can be created to expand the memory. Just go to settings in the virtual machine off.