MS Virtual PC 2004

MS Virtual PC 2004 ... compatibility with legacy applications while you migrate to a new operating system. It also saves reconfiguration time, so your support, development, and training staff can work more efficiently.

Microsoft Virtual PC 2004 allows users to conveniently run multiple operating systems on a single computer. Users can switch operating systems as easily as they switch applications - instantly, with a mouse click. As a migration tool, Virtual PC provides a cost-effective safety net for certain employees to run critical legacy applications on an interim basis while you continue migrating to a new operating system. Virtual PC also helps companies more rapidly develop, test, support, and deploy applications.

Virtual PC is designed so that users can easily configure virtual machines into a variety of environments with just a few mouse-clicks, add or remove memory, and install or uninstall applications. Virtual PC is so easy to use and configure that most users require no training at all. The product also allows an administrator to control the configuration of Virtual PC in locked-down environments.

The integrated design of Virtual PC creates a very user-friendly environment. For example, users can copy, paste, drag and drop between the guest and host operating systems. They also can dynamically resize the guest operating system's desktop when resizing the virtual machine window, share folders between operating systems and use an integrated mouse. To enable this functionality, Virtual PC provides Virtual Machine Additions, which is a package of features installed on top of supported guest operating systems.

Stability of the guest and host operating systems during use of the solution was a critical design goal. Virtual PC prevents guest operating systems from accessing the host or any other guest operating systems. If a guest operating system becomes unstable, it has no effect on another guest operating system or the host operating system.