About migrating data

If you have an earlier version of Microsoft Virtual PC installed, you may have data that you want to use in Virtual PC 7. You can use one of two commands to migrate data from an earlier version of Virtual PC to Virtual PC 7. Use the following table to help you decide which command to use.

If the data you want to migrate is stored on a virtual machine that runs	Use one of these commands	To
A supported operating system and was created by using Virtual PC version 5.0 or later	Import PC from a Previous Version	Import the entire virtual machine to Virtual PC 7. This includes the Microsoft Windows operating system, Windows-based programs, and documents that were created in Windows-based programs.
An unsupported or unrecognized operating system	Transfer Documents from Existing PC – or – Transfer Documents from Another PC	Copy only the documents that were created in Windows-based programs. The command does not migrate the entire virtual machine. To use the Transfer commands, you must first create a virtual machine in Virtual PC 7 that runs a supported operating system. You can then copy the documents from the existing (source) virtual machine to the new (destination) virtual machine. You can also use the Transfer commands if you do not want to import a virtual machine. The data can then be available in both the earlier version of Virtual PC and Virtual PC 7.

If the data you want to migrate is stored on a virtual machine that runs

Use one of these commands

A supported operating system and was created by using Virtual PC version 5.0 or later

Import PC from a Previous Version

Import the entire virtual machine to Virtual PC 7. This includes the Microsoft Windows operating system, Windows-based programs, and documents that were created in Windows-based programs.

An unsupported or unrecognized operating system

Transfer Documents from Existing PC

– or –

Transfer Documents from Another PC

Copy only the documents that were created in Windows-based programs. The command does not migrate the entire virtual machine.

To use the Transfer commands, you must first create a virtual machine in Virtual PC 7 that runs a supported operating system. You can then copy the documents from the existing (source) virtual machine to the new (destination) virtual machine.

You can also use the Transfer commands if you do not want to import a virtual machine. The data can then be available in both the earlier version of Virtual PC and Virtual PC 7.

Important The supported operating systems are Windows 2000 Professional, Windows XP Professional, and Windows XP Home Edition. Refer to the Read Me document for specific details about the supported operating systems. The Read Me document is included on the Virtual PC 7 installation CD and in Virtual PC on the Help menu.

Before migrating data

Read the following information before migrating data.

Shutting down Before you import a virtual machine or transfer data from a source virtual machine to Virtual PC 7, verify that the source virtual machine has been shut down completely in the version of Virtual PC in which the virtual machine was created. For example, if you are importing a virtual machine created by using Virtual PC version 6.1, then you need to quit Virtual PC 7, start Virtual PC 6.1, and then shut down the virtual machine in Virtual PC 6.1. You cannot run an earlier version of Virtual PC while you are running Virtual PC 7.

Checking virtual machine status Data from a virtual machine with a "saved state" status cannot be migrated to Virtual PC 7. The status of each virtual machine is shown in Virtual PC List. If the status of the virtual machine you want to import or from which you want to transfer documents indicates that the virtual machine is "Not Running," it has been completely shut down. If the status is "Running," "Running (Paused)," or "Saved," you must use the Shut Down command (Shut down option) to completely shut down your virtual machine. To completely shut down a virtual machine, in Virtual PC List, click the virtual machine, click Shut Down, and then click the Shut down option.

Virtual Machine Additions If Virtual Machine Additions are not installed on the source virtual machine, you cannot use the Shut down option. Instead, you must shut down your virtual machine from within the Windows operating system. To do this, click Start in Windows, and then click Shut Down or Turn Off. In Windows XP Professional, the Start menu displays the Shut Down option if you are connected to a domain and Turn Off if you are not connected to a domain. The virtual machine shuts down without saving the state of the Windows operating system. Any data that is not saved prior to shutting down is lost. For more information about shutting down a virtual machine, see Shut down a virtual machine.

Important To prevent data loss, it is a good practice to duplicate your virtual machine before importing it to Virtual PC 7. For more information about duplicating a virtual machine, see Duplicate a virtual machine.