Click here to try Mozy for FREE!
Recommended: Click here repair PC errors
Click here to run a Free Registry scan
WebWatcher

How to Install Virtual Machine Additions Using Virtual PC 2007

by Gilberto J Perera View Comments Share

Virtual Machine Additions allow you to extend the capability of Microsoft’s Virtual PC software (capabilities listed at the end of the article), however installing these additions can be a little confusing so I decided to post the instructions to install the Virtual Machine Additions for reference. If you have any comments or questions, please post them below.

Note: I used Virtual PC 2007 using Windows Vista with a Windows XP Virtual Machine.

The instructions below are very similar when using an Ubuntu (linux) and other versions of Windows operating systems.

Install Virtual PC Additions

1. While you are running one of your virtual machines, click on Action

2. Then click on Install or Update Virtual Machine Additions (or hit Right Alt + I)

Install Virtual PC Additions

3. You will be prompted with the window above which states that a CD image will be inserted in the Virtual Drive, the CD-ROM contains the installation files for the Virtual Machine Additions. Click Continue so that the virtual CD-ROM is loaded.


Install Virtual PC Additions

4. The installation will be started in your Virtual PC, click Next to proceed.

Install Virtual PC Additions

Installation of Virtual Machine Additions…

Install Virtual PC Additions

5. Once Setup is complete, click Finish.

Install Virtual PC Additions

6. Click Yes to restart your Virtual Machine.

Features Available with Virtual Machine Additions

Improved mouse cursor tracking and control

Install Virtual PC Additions

Greatly improved overall performance.

Virtual machine heartbeat generator.

Optional time synchronization with the clock of the physical computer.

Folder sharing between host and guest operating system.

Install Virtual PC Additions

To download Virtual PC 2007 use the following link from Microsoft.

More information on Virtual Machine Additions can be found on Microsoft’s Technet website

Do you like this article?

Related Posts

  1. How to Install Guest Additions in VirtualBox
  2. How to Create a Virtual Machine with Windows Virtual PC
  3. How to Enable File Sharing in Virtual PC
  4. How to Edit the Default Virtual Machine Directories in VirtualBox
  5. How to Create a New Virtual Machine in VirtualBox
How-to

About the author

Gilbert is a Microsoft MVP, a full-time blogger, and technology aficionado. When Gilbert is away from his bike and his iPad, he's busy writing technology how-to's from his home-office in Miami, Florida on the latest programs and gadgets he can get his hands on. He's locally known as "the computer guy" and has spent the last 12 years helping family, friends, and GilsMethod.com visitors with their computer questions and problems. He was awarded the 2009 MVP award from Microsoft for his contributions in forums and blogs and is enjoying the new addition to his family.

Want more articles like this delivered for free to your inbox?

To receive the latest technology how-to's, news, and reviews, enter your email address below.

Sign up below

View Comments to “How to Install Virtual Machine Additions Using Virtual PC 2007”

  1. Gilberto J Perera says:

    Sanjay,

    Glad you found it useful. Thanks.

  2. Sanjaysevvel says:

    thanks man

  3. Ricardo says:

    Hi Gilberto,

    Thank you for this posting, it doesn’t work for me.
    Is there a work-around for Vista Home Premium which isn’t support by Virtual PC, I’ve been told there is but I don’t what it is, I can’t install the additions and I can’t drag the additions from my desktop to the virtual pc either.?

    • Gilberto J Perera says:

      Unfortunately it is not supported.

      “Virtual PC 2007 requires a 400 MHz Pentium-compatible processor (1.0 GHz or faster recommended), and requires approximately 35 MB of disk space. It runs on Windows Vista Business, Windows Vista Enterprise, Windows Vista Ultimate, Windows XP Professional, Windows XP Tablet PC Edition, Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) (Enterprise, Business, Ultimate), and Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3).” Via Microsoft.

      If you really need to run virtual machines using Windows Vista Home, you might want to consider using VirtualBox, it’s a free virtualization engine that is very similar to Virtual PC. You can check out some guides I’ve written on VirtualBox to become familiar with it.

      VirtualBox How-to
      Virtual Box Download

      Hope this helps.

  4. rengaraj says:

    really nice… very useful……

  5. Christopher says:

    The Setup doesn't come up!

    • gjperera says:

      What OS are you using? Also if AutoPlay is disabled on the Guest OS (Windows) it will not launch AutoPlay in which case you have to go to My Computer and double-click on the CD drive on the guest machine. Let me know if this helps.

  6. Sr.D says:

    Hey Gil Quick question. My host machine is Win 7 and my virtual is Fedora. When i click the Install/Update …..additions> it mounts a virtual disc inside of Fedora. However I am not sure where to proceed from there as I have files for windows and os2 and dos. Long and short how do you share files from a guest Fedora Core 8 to a host Win 7

    • gjperera says:

      @Sr. D – Virtual Machine additions are only for Windows….so they will not run in Linux environments. They do have VM additions for Linux, but you have to be using Virtual Server 2005 R2 SP1. Hope this information helps.

      From Microsoft's Website

      Operating systems that support Virtual Machine Additions
      Virtual Machine Additions is included for the following supported server operating systems:

      Microsoft Windows Server 2003 (all versions)
      Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
      Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 with Service Pack 6a (SP6a)
      Virtual Machine Additions is provided as a convenience for the following client operating systems:

      Microsoft Windows XP (all versions)
      Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
      Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition
      Microsoft Windows 98
      Microsoft Windows 95

  7. JOSE ROBERTO LINK SOARES says:

    OLA, GIL, USO O XP PRO e instalei o WIN 2000, MAS NAO CONSIGO INSTALAR O Virtual Machines acréscimos, ALGUMA Resolução, ETC DICA QUE POSSAM ME AJUDAR?

  8. Joneee says:

    thank you
    But I have a problem
    While
    I running one of virtual pcs’, I cann’t click on Action > Install or Update Virtual Machine Additions (or hit Right Alt + I)
    I Put Mouse on Install or Update Virtual Machine Additions and press it but it is not active what do you think the problem?

  9. Chaits says:

    Hello, a very useful tutorial. Thank you…. It finally works!

  10. M says:

    Thanks dude, helped me get MVP with xp3 working, you saved the delivery date on a website for a fortune 1000-company, lol :)

Leave a Reply

blog comments powered by Disqus