Microsoft® Windows® Desktop Deployment Resource Kit

Virtual PC as Safety Net

Microsoft Virtual PC 2004 is software that lets users run two or more operating systems on their computers—at the same time. It prevents complicated configurations in environments where people must use multiple operating systems (whether because of incompatible legacy applications or as a safeguard during migration). Users install multiple guest operating systems in virtual machines. These virtual machines look like any other applications people use on their physical computers. For example, users bring virtual machines to the foreground simply by clicking its title bar. Virtual machines’ similarity to applications stops at look-and-feel, however. Virtual PC mimics physical computers so exactly that the applications users ...