How to Install Virtual Machine Additions Using Virtual PC 2007
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.
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)
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.
4. The installation will be started in your Virtual PC, click Next to proceed.
Installation of Virtual Machine Additions…
5. Once Setup is complete, click Finish.
6. Click Yes to restart your Virtual Machine.
Features Available with Virtual Machine Additions
Improved mouse cursor tracking and control
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.
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
Sanjay,
Glad you found it useful. Thanks.
thanks man
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.?
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.
really nice… very useful……
The Setup doesn't come up!
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.
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
@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
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?
@Jose Roberto – No entiendo muy bien el portugues…puedes comunicarte con espanol? Gracias.
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?
@Jonee – What operating system is running as the Virtual PC? This can help answer the question.
Hello, a very useful tutorial. Thank you…. It finally works!
Thanks dude, helped me get MVP with xp3 working, you saved the delivery date on a website for a fortune 1000-company, lol