Virtual PC

Do you have software that you want to try before installing permanently? 

Check out the message from the freeware newsgroup below:

Michael,

If you have XP Pro then you can use Microsoft Virtual PC to test downloaded 
software without needing to install it on your host operating system. See 
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtualpc/downloads/sp1.mspx .

I build a new Virtual PC with XP Pro every 30 days (I don't want to activate!). You can install software on the Virtual PC, 'save' it as a 
whole virtual image for later, or just rewind the Virtual machine to the state it was in before you installed.

Virtual PC is now freeware, and I have to say that, for a massive variety of tasks, it's been absolutely invaluable to me. Unfortunately I paid for it when it was not free! But there you go!

If you try to install it under Windows XP Home it will tell you the operating system is not supported. However, according to various Googles, it seems it will install and run fine under XP Home, despite the warning. But Microsoft say that XP Home is not supported and therefore changes in the future could cause it not to work. (So if you try installing it ON XP Home you're on your own... I have only run on an XP Pro box.

Of course, if you have XP Pro you can create a Virtual PC running XP Home with no problem. It's brilliant!

HTH - Pete


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