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How to Install Virtual Machine Additions Using Virtual PC 2007

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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.

how to install virtual pc additions How to Install Virtual Machine Additions Using Virtual PC 2007

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)

how to install virtual pc additions1 How to Install Virtual Machine Additions Using Virtual PC 2007

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.


how to install virtual pc additions2 How to Install Virtual Machine Additions Using Virtual PC 2007

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

how to install virtual pc additions3 How to Install Virtual Machine Additions Using Virtual PC 2007

Installation of Virtual Machine Additions…

how to install virtual pc additions4 How to Install Virtual Machine Additions Using Virtual PC 2007

5. Once Setup is complete, click Finish.

how to install virtual pc additions5 How to Install Virtual Machine Additions Using Virtual PC 2007

6. Click Yes to restart your Virtual Machine.

Features Available with Virtual Machine Additions

Improved mouse cursor tracking and control

how to install virtual pc additions6 How to Install Virtual Machine Additions Using Virtual PC 2007

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.

how to install virtual pc additions7 How to Install Virtual Machine Additions Using Virtual PC 2007

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

Originally posted Oct 31, 2008

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  • dalbaeb

    Thank you very much! Very useful indeed, much more useful than Microsoft’s convoluted help files.

  • dalbaeb

    Thank you very much! Very useful indeed, much more useful than Microsoft’s convoluted help files.

  • http://www.gilsmethod.com Gilberto J Perera

    @dalbaeb: Thank you for the kind words. It’s always encouraging when someone appreciates my work. Hope to see you back here soon.

  • http://www.gilsmethod.com Gilberto J Perera

    @dalbaeb: Thank you for the kind words. It’s always encouraging when someone appreciates my work. Hope to see you back here soon.

  • prasad

    Right said. better than MS help files.Thanks Gilberto !

  • prasad

    Right said. better than MS help files.Thanks Gilberto !

  • http://www.gilsmethod.com Gilberto J Perera

    @prasad: I really appreciate the positive feedback. I look forward to seeing you here more often.

  • http://www.gilsmethod.com Gilberto J Perera

    @prasad: I really appreciate the positive feedback. I look forward to seeing you here more often.

  • mahmoud

    thanks a lot .. it was a big help

  • mahmoud

    thanks a lot .. it was a big help

  • Yukti

    Thanks a ton!!!
    I was strugging for more than hour and the solution was right there above the screen!
    Why does not Microsoft makes life easier on their help files??

  • Yukti

    Thanks a ton!!!
    I was strugging for more than hour and the solution was right there above the screen!
    Why does not Microsoft makes life easier on their help files??

  • http://www.gilsmethod.com Gilberto J Perera

    @Yukti: I’m glad you find my guides useful, you are correct sometimes Microsoft fails to simplify things. Do you have any ideas for Virtual PC guides that would be useful? Would love to hear your input. Thanks for visiting.

  • http://www.gilsmethod.com Gilberto J Perera

    @Yukti: I’m glad you find my guides useful, you are correct sometimes Microsoft fails to simplify things. Do you have any ideas for Virtual PC guides that would be useful? Would love to hear your input. Thanks for visiting.

  • ddw

    I’m running Fedora 11 within VPC 2007 on WinXP and trying to follow your instructions, but step 3 fails — Fedora thinks the virtual CD is blank.

    Without this, I can’t share a folder from the virtual Fedora to WinXP.

    Any ideas?

  • ddw

    I’m running Fedora 11 within VPC 2007 on WinXP and trying to follow your instructions, but step 3 fails — Fedora thinks the virtual CD is blank.

    Without this, I can’t share a folder from the virtual Fedora to WinXP.

    Any ideas?

  • http://www.gilsmethod.com Gilberto J Perera

    @ddw: I think I have your reason. I just attempted to accomplish the same with an Ubuntu VPC and it did not work. If you take a look at the contents of the image the folders are titled as follows; dos, os2, windows – nothing for linux or so it seems. Hope this helps. If you do find a solution please post it below. Thanks.

  • http://www.gilsmethod.com Gilberto J Perera

    @ddw: I think I have your reason. I just attempted to accomplish the same with an Ubuntu VPC and it did not work. If you take a look at the contents of the image the folders are titled as follows; dos, os2, windows – nothing for linux or so it seems. Hope this helps. If you do find a solution please post it below. Thanks.

  • SDXP13

    Thanx a lot man! It was so easy to do… Great contribution!

  • SDXP13

    Thanx a lot man! It was so easy to do… Great contribution!

  • GT

    Thank you!! :)

  • GT

    Thank you!! :)

  • Arjun

    Thanks a lot! It was really big help.:)

  • Arjun

    Thanks a lot! It was really big help.:)

  • Kathy

    Many Thanks. You make work more easilier.

  • Kathy

    Many Thanks. You make work more easilier.

  • http://www.gilsmethod.com Gilberto J Perera

    @Kathy – Thank you for the positive feedback. Hope to see you back here soon!

  • http://www.gilsmethod.com Gilberto J Perera

    @Kathy – Thank you for the positive feedback. Hope to see you back here soon!

  • http://www.gilsmethod.com Gilberto J Perera

    @Arjun – You are welcome.

  • http://www.gilsmethod.com Gilberto J Perera

    @Arjun – You are welcome.

  • M

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

  • M

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

  • http://mumbaieatery.blogspot.com Chaits

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

  • http://mumbaieatery.blogspot.com Chaits

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

  • Joneee

    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?

  • Joneee

    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?

  • http://www.gilsmethod.com Gil

    @Jonee – What operating system is running as the Virtual PC? This can help answer the question.

  • http://www.gilsmethod.com Gil

    @Jonee – What operating system is running as the Virtual PC? This can help answer the question.

  • JOSE ROBERTO LINK SOARES

    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 LINK SOARES

    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?

  • http://www.gilsmethod.com Gil

    @Jose Roberto – No entiendo muy bien el portugues…puedes comunicarte con espanol? Gracias.

  • http://www.gilsmethod.com Gil

    @Jose Roberto – No entiendo muy bien el portugues…puedes comunicarte con espanol? Gracias.

  • Sr.D

    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

    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

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/gjperera gjperera

    @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

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/gjperera gjperera

    @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

  • http://www.freewebs.com/pre-releases/ Christopher

    The Setup doesn't come up!

  • http://www.freewebs.com/pre-releases/ Christopher

    The Setup doesn't come up!

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/gjperera gjperera

    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.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/gjperera gjperera

    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.

  • rengaraj

    really nice… very useful……

  • rengaraj

    really nice… very useful……

  • Ricardo

    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.?

  • http://www.gilsmethod.com Gilberto J Perera

    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.

  • http://www.gilsmethod.com Gilberto J Perera

    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.

  • Sanjaysevvel

    thanks man

  • http://www.gilsmethod.com Gilberto J Perera

    Sanjay,

    Glad you found it useful. Thanks.

  • Siix

    i installed add ons or what ever the name is… and at my physical pc is there a text “u have to instal additions” (or whatever) but i have installed :P i only want to share Files :(

  • Jeyasakthi

    very good articale. keep it up

  • Sudheekarreddyp

    This article really helped me a lot.
    Thanks a lot, Very Good…

  • http://www.gilsmethod.com Gilberto J Perera

    Glad it worked for you.

  • Manish M Meshram

    Thank you very much it helps me alot, can tu tell me how connect in network

  • http://www.gilsmethod.com Gilberto J Perera

    The virtual machine should connect automatically…can you please be more
    specific?

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