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Install an operating system not included with Virtual PC 7

Use the Create New PC Assistant to create an empty virtual machine and then install an operating system of your choice.

To create a virtual machine

  1. In Microsoft Virtual PC, on the File menu, click New.
  2. Click Install your own operating system, and then click Begin.
  3. Click Continue.
  4. On the Operating System pop-up menu, click the operating system you want to install on your virtual machine. If the operating system you want to install is not listed, click Unspecified.
  5. Under Hard Disk Format, do one of the following:
    • To select the default format for the virtual hard disk image, click Continue.
      The default format is the recommended format for your operating system.
    • To select a different format, click a format, and then click Continue.

    The Assistant displays possible formats for the virtual hard disk image based on the operating system you selected. Some file formats are not compatible with certain operating systems. Incompatible formats for the selected operating system appear dimmed and cannot be selected.

  6. In the Name box, type the name for your virtual machine.

    You can either accept the name that is provided, or you can create your own name. For best results, use the name of the operating system you are installing (for example, Windows XP Professional).

  7. To install the configuration document (which contains the configuration information and operating system files for your virtual machine), do one of the following:
    • To accept the default location, click Create.

      By default, the Assistant installs configuration information and operating system files for your virtual machine in the User/Documents/Virtual PC List folder on your Macintosh hard disk.

    • To select a different location, click Change Location, select a location, and then click Create.

To continue, follow the steps to install an operating system.

To install an operating system:

  1. On the Install Your Operating System screen, click Start PC.

    A black screen with the message "OS not found. Install an OS on this hard drive." appears.

  2. With Virtual PC in the foreground, insert the CD that contains the operating system into the CD drive of your Macintosh.

    The CD is now captured for use by Virtual PC. If the CD is not automatically captured, in Virtual PC, on the Drives menu, click Capture Disc.

    If you have an operating system that requires installing from a floppy disk, you need either a floppy disk drive on your Macintosh computer or a floppy disk image that contains the installation information. For more information about using floppy disk images, see Create a floppy disk image.

  3. In Virtual PC, on the PC menu, click Reset.
  4. To confirm that you want to restart the virtual machine, click Reset again.
  5. When the text "Press any key to boot from CD." appears on the screen, immediately press any key on your keyboard.

    Note   You must press a key on your keyboard quickly, without pausing. Otherwise, the black screen with the message "OS not found. Install an OS on this hard drive." appears again, and you will need to click Reset on the PC menu in Virtual PC.

If you are installing an unsupported operating system, refer to the instructions that came with your software.

Installing Microsoft Windows

If you are installing a version of Microsoft Windows that is not included with Virtual PC 7, wait while the Windows setup program installs the necessary files. This process might take some time.

After the files are installed, the Welcome to Setup screen appears for Windows. Use your keyboard instead of your mouse device to complete each task in the Windows installation wizard that follows.

To continue the installation of Windows

  1. When you see the Welcome to Setup screen, press RETURN. To cancel the installation, press F3.
  2. To accept the terms of the End-User License Agreement (EULA), press F8. To cancel the installation, press ESC.
  3. Select a partition for the virtual hard disk image, and then press RETURN.

    Accept the partition that is selected by default, which you selected when you created the virtual hard disk image, unless you are certain you want to do otherwise.

  4. Press RETURN.

    The file system that is selected by default reflects the partition option you selected in the Create New PC Assistant. Use the file system that is selected by default unless you are sure that you need to select a different file system. To select a different file system, use the arrow keys on your keyboard to select the file system, and then press RETURN.

    Caution   Do not convert your file system to the NTFS file system unless you are certain that you want to use the NTFS file system. You cannot convert back to a FAT file system once you have an NTFS file system. FAT32 provides the best compatibility with Virtual PC.

The Windows operating system files continue copying to your virtual hard disk image. There might be numerous progress screens, and this process might take some time.

The next steps are to configure the Windows operating system that you just finished installing and install Virtual Machine Additions.

See also

About Configuring Windows

About Virtual Machine Additions