Virtual PC 2007 and VISTA

[bcastner]

Alex Heaton has some news to share with Virtual PC 2007 beta that was released Oct 11, 2006. In his own words....

Virtual PC 2007 Beta is now available as a free download from connect.microsoft.com.

Virtual PC 2007 is optimized to work well for Windows Vista as both the host and guest OS. This version works with both 32-bit Vista and 64-bit Vista as the host operating system as well as Windows XP and has improved performance including support for hardware virtualization technologies from AMD and Intel. So now you have an easy way to try out Windows Vista, even if you are reluctant to replace the OS on one your existing PCs; or if you have already taken the plunge you can spin up a legacy operating system in a virtual machine on your Windows Vista machine.

http://blogs.technet.com/windowsvis...tual-pc-2007-beta-free-and-available-now.aspx

As is noted in several areas of the blogsite:

Keep in mind that while Virtual PC 2007 is a completely free program Windows is not. You will need to have a license for any Windows OS that you run in a virtual environment. This is not an issue if you are using beta versions of Windows Vista but in a production environment you need a license. If you use virtual machines a lot and you are an enterprise customer you may consider obtaining Windows Vista Enterprise, which also includes rights to run up to 4 additional copies of Windows in a virtual machine using a technology such as Virtual PC for a single license price.
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Both versions of Vista Home can be used in a VM. What you cannot do is use the same copy you have installed on your PC in a VM. You need an extra license for the VM install. Vista Ultimate does allow you to use the same copy you have installed on your PC in a VM.

The relevant sections of the license are:

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Vista Home Basic and Home Premium

4. USE WITH VIRTUALIZATION TECHNOLOGIES. You may not use the software installed on the licensed device within a virtual (or otherwise emulated) hardware system

Vista Ultimate

6. USE WITH VIRTUALIZATION TECHNOLOGIES. You may use the software installed on the licensed device within a virtual (or otherwise emulated) hardware system on the licensed device. If you do so, you may not play or access content or use applications protected by any Microsoft digital, information or enterprise rights management technology or other Microsoft rights management services or use BitLocker. We advise against playing or accessing content or using applications protected by other digital, information or enterprise rights management technology or other rights management services or using full volume disk drive encryption.

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"Licensed device" means the physical PC on which you've installed the OS. If you have already installed the OS on a PC, only Ultimate allows you to use that same licensed copy with a VM. For Home Basic and Home Premium, you can either install on a VM only, or you can install on a PC and get an additional license for the VM.

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