
Help Contents
About managing multiple virtual machines
Consider the following when running more than one virtual machine in
Microsoft Virtual PC:
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Each virtual machine must have a unique name.
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Additional memory is required when running more than
one virtual machine at a time. For a more detailed
discussion of memory usage, see
About RAM memory settings.
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A CD may be captured by more than one virtual
machine at a time. When a CD is inserted into the
CD drive of your Macintosh, the active virtual
machine automatically captures the CD. You can
make the CD available to other virtual machines
by clicking Capture Disc on the Drives
menu, or by clicking the CD icon on the Virtual PC
toolbar.
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A floppy disk or a floppy disk image can be
captured by only one virtual machine at a time.
The first virtual machine to capture the floppy
disk or floppy disk image retains control of it
until it is ejected or manually released by
clicking Eject Floppy on the Drives
menu, or until the virtual machine is shut down.
Once a floppy disk or floppy disk image is
released, it is available for use by your
Macintosh or by another virtual machine.
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A folder can be shared by more than one virtual
machine at a time. Files within the folders can be
modified by only one virtual machine at a time;
however, files can be opened and read by multiple
virtual machines.
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Any device attached to a COM port can be used by
only one virtual machine at a time. The device is not
available to other virtual machines until it is
manually released, or until the virtual machine is
shut down.
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Multiple virtual machines can use Shared
Networking or Virtual Switch networking
simultaneously.
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A USB device can be used by only one virtual
machine at a time. The device is not available to
other virtual machines until it is manually released,
or until the virtual machine is closed by using the
Shut Down command (Shut down
option).
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The Macintosh Dock can contain the Start
menu of only one virtual machine at a time.
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Virtual PC supports drag-and-drop operations
between Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows. It does not
support drag-and-drop operations between two virtual
machines. To transfer data from one virtual machine
to another by using drag-and-drop operations, you
must first drag the information to Mac OS X
and then copy it to the virtual machine.