Editing Virtual PC (section)

== History and versions ==
Connectix Virtual PC, Microsoft Virtual PC 2004, Microsoft Virtual PC 2007, and Windows Virtual PC are successive versions of the same software. Versions of Virtual PC by Microsoft runs on several versions of Windows, beginning with Windows 2000 in Virtual PC 2004 and later Windows XP in Virtual PC 2007 onwards. These older versions were still available and support operating systems older than Windows XP. Windows Virtual PC only runs on Windows 7 and only supports versions of Windows beginning with Windows XP. Starting in Windows 8, Microsoft replaced Virtual PC with [[Hyper-V]].

=== Virtual PC by Connectix ===
[[File:Virtual PC 3 for Mac OS running Windows 95.png|thumb|[[Connectix]] Virtual PC version 3 in [[Mac OS 9]], running a [[Brazilian Portuguese]] edition of [[Windows 95]]]]

Virtual PC was originally developed as a Macintosh application for [[System 7.5]] and released by Connectix in June 1997.<ref name="Uq7GE">{{cite web|title=PC in a Mac|url=http://www.yale.edu/engineering/eng-info/msg00234.html|website=Yale Engineering Home newsgroup|publisher=[[Yale University]]|access-date=21 March 2015|date=8 April 1997|quote=[...]Connectix Virtual PC is designed to run on Power PC systems running System 7.5 or later. Pricing will be announced when the product becomes generally available for the retail channel in June 1997.|archive-date=October 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018045531/http://www.yale.edu/engineering/eng-info/msg00234.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The first version of Virtual PC designed for Windows-based systems, version 4.0, was released in June 2001. Virtual PC 4 was the first version with expandable drive images.

Connectix sold versions of Virtual PC bundled with a variety of guest operating systems, including Windows, [[OS/2]], and [[Red Hat Linux]]. As virtualization's importance to enterprise users became clear, Microsoft took interest in the sector and acquired Virtual PC and [[Microsoft Virtual Server|Virtual Server]] (unreleased at the time) from Connectix in February 2003.

Under agreement with Connectix, Innotek GmbH (makers of [[VirtualBox]], now part of [[Oracle Corporation|Oracle]]) ported version 5.0 to run on an OS/2 host.<ref name="jG6CD">[https://web.archive.org/web/20060324234502/http://www.bityard.com/article.php?sid=100#Adds Innotek/Connectix Virtual PC]</ref> This version also included guest extensions (VM additions) for OS/2 guests, which could run on Windows, OS/2 or Mac OS X hosts using Virtual PC versions 5, 6 or 7. A new version of the guest extensions was later included with Microsoft's Virtual PC 2004.

=== Microsoft Virtual PC ===
{{More citations needed section|date=March 2011}}
[[File:Microsoft Virtual PC icon.png|thumb|Icon of Microsoft Virtual PC]]
[[File:Virtualpc.png|thumb|Virtual PC 6.1 for Macintosh]]
[[File:Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 Running Knoppix.jpg|thumb|right|Virtual PC 2007 running the [[Live CD]] OS [[Knoppix]]]]
On July 12, 2006, Microsoft released Virtual PC 2004 SP1 for Windows free of charge, however the Mac version remained a paid software. The equivalent version for Mac, version 7, was the final version of Virtual PC for Mac. It ran on [[macOS|Mac OS X]] 10.2.8 or later for [[PowerPC]] and was a [[Proprietary software|proprietary]] [[commercial software]] product.<ref name="vpc-mac-main">{{cite web |title=Virtual PC 7 for Mac |url=https://www.microsoft.com/australia/office/mac/virtualpc7/default.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100729173443/http://www.microsoft.com/australia/office/mac/virtualpc7/default.aspx |archive-date=July 29, 2010 |access-date=June 10, 2010 |work=Microsoft for Mac – Australian website |publisher=Microsoft corporation}}</ref>

Virtual PC 2007 was released only for the Windows platform, with public [[Software release life cycle|beta]] testing beginning October 11, 2006, and production release on February 19, 2007. It added support for [[x86 virtualization|hardware virtualization]], "undo disks", transfer statistic monitor for disk and network, and viewing virtual machines on multiple monitors and support for Windows Vista as both host and guest. The [[Windows Aero]] interface is disabled on Windows Vista guests due to limitations of the emulated video hardware; however, Aero effects can be rendered by connecting to the guest via [[Remote Desktop Services]] from an Aero-enabled Windows Vista host, provided that the guest is running Windows Vista Business or a higher edition.<ref name="aero_savill" /><ref>{{cite web |last1=Conner |first1=Matt |title=Virtual PC 2007 User Interface |url=https://www.zdnet.com/pictures/virtual-pc-2007-user-interface/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150920121236/http://www.zdnet.com/pictures/virtual-pc-2007-user-interface/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 20, 2015 |website=ZDNet |access-date=2 November 2021 |language=en-us |date=2007-03-06 |quote=Shows basic Input/Output activity through the network and storage interfaces.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title= Viewing online file analysis results for 'PXE_Diag.exe' |url=https://www.hybrid-analysis.com/sample/0294fa25155c8cfa4ff5fe9bd73b90a30f4f97dbe0e0cc0342ae3950af8fdba3/5d40771d0388388f827b23cb |website=www.hybrid-analysis.com |access-date=2 November 2021 |date=2019-07-30 |quote=IDE controller, Ethernet controller, Reads, Writes}}</ref> It initially did not support home editions of Windows as host OSes such as Windows XP Home Edition,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 on Windows XP Home Edition |url=https://www.labnol.org/software/tutorials/install-virtual-pc-2007-windows-xp-home/1539/ |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=Digital Inspiration}}</ref> Windows Vista Home Basic and Home Premium, however a hotfix for Virtual PC 2007 SP1 issued on February 20, 2009 (see below) rectified this. Windows XP Starter, [[Windows XP Media Center Edition]] and Windows Vista Starter is not supported on Virtual PC 2007, however the former and the latter are still supported as a guest OS. Support for Windows 2000 Professional as a host OS was dropped in Virtual PC 2007 and will not install at all on Windows 2000 hosts, however it is still supported as a guest OS.

"Undo disks" make it possible to revert virtual machines' state to an earlier point by storing changes into a separate <code>.vud</code> file since the last save to the main <code>.vhd</code> file, which can be used for [[sandbox (computer security)|experimenting]]. The VHD file acts as a [[Snapshot (computer storage)|snapshot]]. The undo disk file (<code>.vud</code>) incrementally stores changes made by the virtual machine compared to the main [[Virtual hard disk drive]] (VHD) image, which can be applied or discarded by the user. If deactivated, changes are directly written to the VHD file.<ref>{{cite web |title=Microsoft Windows Virtual PC and Undo Disks |url=http://www.dabcc.com/microsoft-windows-virtual-pc-and-undo-disks/ |website=dabcc.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804071608/http://www.dabcc.com/microsoft-windows-virtual-pc-and-undo-disks/ |archive-date=2017-08-04 |date=2009-08-19}}</ref>

On May 15, 2008, Microsoft released Virtual PC 2007 Service Pack 1, which added support for both Windows XP SP3, Windows Vista SP1 and Windows 7 as guest and host OSes, as well as [[Windows Server 2008]] Standard as a guest OS.<ref name="Ps7C3">{{cite web |last=Protalinski |first=Emil |url=https://arstechnica.com/journals/microsoft.ars/2008/05/15/microsoft-drops-some-details-on-upcoming-virtual-pc-2007-sp1 |title=Microsoft releases Virtual PC 2007 SP1 |work=[[Ars Technica]] |publisher=[[Condé Nast Publications|Condé Nast]] |date=15 May 2008 |access-date=16 June 2013 |archive-date=December 7, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207020639/http://arstechnica.com/journals/microsoft.ars/2008/05/15/microsoft-drops-some-details-on-upcoming-virtual-pc-2007-sp1 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="EuMcn">{{cite web | title = Virtual PC 2007 SP1 Release Notes | publisher = Microsoft | date = May 15, 2008 | url = https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=9f3d3eb5-5e03-4712-999c-e96f91bdf128&displaylang=en | access-date = June 28, 2009 | archive-date = June 27, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090627181549/http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=9f3d3eb5-5e03-4712-999c-e96f91bdf128&displaylang=en | url-status = live }}</ref> A [[hotfix]] rollup for Virtual PC 2007 SP1, released February 20, 2009, solved networking issues and enhanced the maximum screen resolution to 2048×1920 (32-bit),<ref name="FjQoK">{{cite web |url=http://support.microsoft.com/kb/958162 |title=Description of the hotfix rollup package for Virtual PC 2007 Service Pack 1: February 20, 2009 (revision 2.0) |work=Support |publisher=[[Microsoft]] |date=8 October 2011 |access-date=16 June 2013 |archive-date=March 3, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150303211456/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/958162 |url-status=live }}</ref> enabling 16:9 resolutions such as 1920×1080. It also added official support for Windows XP Home Edition, Windows Vista Home Basic and Home Premium as both guest and host OSes. A security update was released on July 14, 2009 to address an elevation of privilege vulnerability in guest operating systems.<ref name="xifYU">{{cite web |url=https://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS09-033.mspx |title=Microsoft Security Bulletin MS09-033 - Important: Vulnerability in Virtual PC and Virtual Server Could Allow Elevation of Privilege (969856) |publisher=[[Microsoft]] |date=<!--July 14, 2009 | Updated:--> March 9, 2010 |access-date=October 19, 2016 |archive-date=June 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628014722/http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/Bulletin/MS09-033.mspx |url-status=live }}</ref>

Microsoft Virtual PC (2004 and 2007) does not work at all on Windows 10 64-bit,<ref name="h6NVX">{{Cite web | url=https://www.betaarchive.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=61&t=38406&p=430953&hilit=virtual+PC+windows+10#p430953 | title=View topic - Couldn't get sound to work on Whistler server Build 2493 - BetaArchive | access-date=August 28, 2018 | archive-date=August 28, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828134554/https://www.betaarchive.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=61&t=38406&p=430953&hilit=virtual+PC+windows+10#p430953 | url-status=live }}</ref> and even on 32-bit platforms lack internet connectivity due to the lack of the VPC driver. This also impacts [[Windows Mobile]] emulators.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Release dates of Microsoft Virtual PC 2007
|-
! Date !! Version !! Description
|-
| 2006-10-11 || 6.0.122 || [[Software release life cycle#Beta|Beta]]
|-
| 2007-01-02 || 6.0.142 || [[Release candidate|Release Candidate]] 1
|-
| 2007-02-22 || 6.0.156 || [[Release to Manufacturing]]
|-
| 2008-05-15 || 6.0.192 || [[Service Pack]] 1<ref name="rHqgN">{{cite web |url = https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?familyid=28C97D22-6EB8-4A09-A7F7-F6C7A1F000B5&displaylang=en |title = Download details: Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 SP1 |work = Microsoft Download Center |publisher = Microsoft Corporation |date = May 5, 2005 |access-date = April 1, 2011 |archive-date = April 3, 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110403081802/http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyId=28C97D22-6EB8-4A09-A7F7-F6C7A1F000B5&displaylang=en |url-status = live }}</ref>
|-
| 2009-02-20 || 6.0.210 || Update<ref name="onwLb">{{cite web |url = http://support.microsoft.com/kb/958162 |title = Description of the hotfix rollup package for Virtual PC 2007 Service Pack 1: February 20, 2009 (Revision: 1.2) |date = February 20, 2009 |access-date = April 1, 2011 |work = Microsoft Support |publisher = Microsoft Corporation |archive-date = March 3, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150303211456/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/958162 |url-status = live }}</ref>
|-
| 2009-07-14 || {{N/A}}   || Security Update MS09-33<ref name="dA7oK">{{cite web |url = https://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS09-033.mspx |title = Vulnerability in Virtual PC and Virtual Server Could Allow Elevation of Privilege (969856) |work = [[Microsoft TechNet]] |publisher = Microsoft Corporation |date = July 14, 2009 |access-date = April 1, 2011 |archive-date = April 8, 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110408172343/http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/Bulletin/MS09-033.mspx |url-status = live }}</ref>
|}

=== Windows Virtual PC ===
Windows Virtual PC entered public beta testing on April 30, 2009,<ref name="FjOTZ">{{cite web | last = Hachman | first = Mark | title = Microsoft Posts Windows Virtual PC Beta | work = [[PC Magazine]] | publisher = [[Ziff-Davis]] | date = April 30, 2009 | url = https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2346296,00.asp | access-date = June 28, 2009 | archive-date = May 4, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090504083659/http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2346296,00.asp | url-status = live }}</ref> and was released alongside Windows 7 on July 22, 2009.<ref name="MS_WVPC">{{cite web | title = Windows Virtual PC | publisher = Microsoft.com | url = http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/default.aspx | access-date = May 29, 2009 | archive-date = May 28, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090528055804/http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/default.aspx | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="wvpc-download2" /> Windows Virtual PC is available free of charge for certain editions of Windows 7,<ref name="wvpc-desc" /> either pre-installed by [[Original equipment manufacturer|OEMs]] or via download from the Microsoft website.<ref name="wvpc-download" /> Unlike its predecessors, it supports only Windows 7 host operating systems.<ref name="wvpc-desc" /> It originally required [[X86 virtualization#Hardware support|hardware virtualization support]] but on March 19, 2010, Microsoft released an update to Microsoft Virtual PC which allows it to run on PCs without hardware support.<ref name="wvpc-download" />

==== New features ====
New features include:<ref name="PPJpE">{{cite web |title= Compare some of the many features of Virtual PC 2007 to Windows Virtual PC |publisher= Microsoft Corporation |url= http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/features/compare.aspx |access-date= May 29, 2009 |archive-date= May 4, 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090504101610/http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/features/compare.aspx |url-status= live }}</ref>
* USB support and redirection – connect peripherals such as flash drives and digital cameras, and print from the guest to host OS [[Printer (computing)|printers]]. However, USB [[isochronous]] transfer mode is not supported<ref name="ud9Ck">{{cite web |url=http://www.acommit.ch/Portals/0/Windows%207%20RC%20Partnerevent%20Mischa%20Faden.pdf |first=Michael |last=Faden |title=Selling Windows 7 to Enterprise |publisher=Acommit AG |work=acommit.ch |date=13 May 2009 |access-date=16 June 2013 |archive-date=July 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706221154/http://www.acommit.ch/Portals/0/Windows%207%20RC%20Partnerevent%20Mischa%20Faden.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>  Other methods involve simply just treating an active drive letter from a USB flash drive as a virtual hard drive.
* Seamless application publishing and launching – run [[#Windows XP Mode|Windows XP Mode]] applications directly from the Windows 7 desktop
* Support for [[Multithreading (computer hardware)|multithreading]] – run multiple virtual machines concurrently, each in its own thread for improved stability and performance
* [[Smart card]] redirection – use smart cards connected to the host
* Integration with [[Windows Explorer]] – manage all VMs from a single Explorer folder (%USERPROFILE%\Virtual Machines)

==== Removed features ====
* The Virtual Machine console is replaced by an integrated ''Virtual Machines'' shell folder. Several options from the console have been removed such as ''Restore at start'', CPU time performance settings, muting sound in inactive virtual machines, full-screen resolution related options, configuring the host key, mouse capture options and settings for requiring administrator permissions.<ref name="qzawg">{{cite web |url=http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7itprovirt/thread/38fa2da8-5a22-4dad-8521-d4e108b0f2df/ |title=Are Windows Virtual PC "Options" Still available ? |work=[[Microsoft TechNet#Forums|TechNet Forums]] |publisher=[[Microsoft]] |date=January 3, 2011 |access-date=16 June 2013 |archive-date=July 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714090300/http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7itprovirt/thread/38fa2da8-5a22-4dad-8521-d4e108b0f2df/ |url-status=live }}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=June 2013}}{{Unreliable source?|date=June 2013}}
* Official guest support for operating systems earlier than Windows XP Professional
* Drag-and-drop file sharing between the guest and the host<ref name="DnD-unsupported">{{cite web | url = http://blogs.technet.com/windows_vpc/archive/2009/08/04/windows-virtual-pc.aspx#3273920 | title = Windows Virtual PC | work = Windows Virtual PC blog | publisher = Microsoft corporation | date = August 4, 2009 | access-date = June 9, 2010 | quote = @EnricoG: Drag and Drop is not a supported feature in WVPC. Clipboard sharing (for cut, copy and paste) and drive/folder sharing are supported. | archive-date = April 10, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100410151402/http://blogs.technet.com/windows_vpc/archive/2009/08/04/windows-virtual-pc.aspx#3273920 | url-status = live }}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|reason = This information is given in the comments section, not in the blog post itself.|date=June 2010}}
* Direct sharing of folders between host and guest operating system (Only volumes may be shared between operating systems)<ref name="Volume-sharing">{{cite web | url = http://blogs.technet.com/b/windows_vpc/archive/2009/12/22/folder-sharing-between-windows-7-and-vm.aspx | title = Folder Sharing between Windows 7 and VM | work = Windows Virtual PC blog | publisher = Microsoft corporation | date = December 21, 2009 | access-date = August 20, 2010 | archive-date = June 17, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110617110803/http://blogs.technet.com/b/windows_vpc/archive/2009/12/22/folder-sharing-between-windows-7-and-vm.aspx | url-status = live }}</ref>
* Ability to commit changes in undo disks upon turning off virtual machines (Doing so is now only possible through virtual machine ''Settings'' dialog box)<ref name="1RzZe">{{cite web | url = http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2009/08/18/windows-virtual-pc-and-undo-disks.aspx | title = Windows Virtual PC and Undo Disks | work = Virtual PC Guy's Blog | publisher = Microsoft corporation | date = September 18, 2009 | access-date = June 9, 2010 | last = Armstrong | first = Ben | archive-date = February 8, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100208235756/http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2009/08/18/windows-virtual-pc-and-undo-disks.aspx | url-status = live }}</ref>
* Ability to use physical and virtual Parallel ports<ref name="jQHB3">{{cite web | url = http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2009/06/26/creating-virtual-hard-disks-with-windows-virtual-pc.aspx#9831105 | work = Virtual PC Guy's Blog | publisher = Microsoft corporation | title = Creating Virtual Hard Disks with Windows Virtual PC | date = June 26, 2009 | access-date = June 9, 2010 | first = Ben | last = Armstrong | quote = Windows Virtual PC does not support parallel ports. As Tom mentions, you will have to use a USB adapter if you want this functionality. | archive-date = February 1, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100201050654/http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2009/06/26/creating-virtual-hard-disks-with-windows-virtual-pc.aspx#9831105 | url-status = live }}</ref>
* User interface controls for using virtual [[floppy disk]]s (Virtual floppy disk functionality, however, is still supported and may be accessed using a [[Script (computing)|script]])<ref name="A5xlQ">{{cite web | url = http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2009/10/01/using-floppy-disks-with-windows-virtual-pc.aspx | title = Using Floppy Disks with Windows Virtual PC | work = Virtual PC Guy's Blog | publisher = Microsoft corporation | date = October 1, 2009 | access-date = June 9, 2010 | first = Ben | last = Armstrong | archive-date = October 4, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091004072451/http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2009/10/01/using-floppy-disks-with-windows-virtual-pc.aspx | url-status = live }}</ref>
* Virtual PC additions for guest operating systems no longer supported have been removed. However, installing Virtual Machine Additions from an older Microsoft virtualization product works for some guest OSes.<ref name="tUDQW">{{cite web |url=http://blogs.msdn.com/b/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2007/10/30/installing-dos-additions-under-vpc-2007.aspx |title=Installing DOS additions under VPC 2007 |work=Ben Armstrong's Virtualization Blog |publisher=[[Microsoft]] |date=Oct 31, 2007 |access-date=16 June 2013 |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629020441/http://blogs.msdn.com/b/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2007/10/30/installing-dos-additions-under-vpc-2007.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="8TYWX">{{cite web |url=http://blogs.msdn.com/b/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2010/05/27/installing-windows-98-on-windows-virtual-pc.aspx |title=Installing Windows 98 on Windows Virtual PC |publisher=Blogs.msdn.com |access-date=16 June 2013 |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629224840/http://blogs.msdn.com/b/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2010/05/27/installing-windows-98-on-windows-virtual-pc.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="dVb1h">{{cite web |url=http://blogs.msdn.com/b/cjacks/archive/2010/07/19/using-virtual-pc-2004-additions-to-enhance-the-windows-2000-guest-experience-on-windows-virtual-pc.aspx |title=Using Virtual PC 2004 Additions to Enhance the Windows 2000 Guest Experience on Windows Virtual PC |work=The App Compat Guy |publisher=[[Microsoft]] |date=19 July 2010 |access-date=16 June 2013 |archive-date=July 24, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100724014104/http://blogs.msdn.com/b/cjacks/archive/2010/07/19/using-virtual-pc-2004-additions-to-enhance-the-windows-2000-guest-experience-on-windows-virtual-pc.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Properties of the virtual machine, like guest OS, processor, processor features, video mode, video RAM, code cache, IDE controller reads and writes, Ethernet reads and writes, video frame rate and command line options can no longer be viewed.{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}}

==== System requirements ====
System requirements for Windows Virtual PC:<ref name="yrCQ8">{{cite web |url=https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx%3Fid=8002 |title=Download Windows Virtual PC from Official Microsoft Download Center |publisher=Microsoft.com |access-date=2017-07-19 |archive-date=July 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170720030919/http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8002 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="MS_XPM_brochure">{{cite web | title = Windows XP Mode for Windows 7 brochure | publisher = Microsoft corporation | url = http://download.microsoft.com/download/7/5/A/75A2C993-BFCC-47D0-8B6C-7C8CE2BA9833/Windows%20XP%20Mode%20for%20Windows%207_brochure.pdf | year = 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160825230747/http://download.microsoft.com/download/7/5/A/75A2C993-BFCC-47D0-8B6C-7C8CE2BA9833/Windows%20XP%20Mode%20for%20Windows%207_brochure.pdf | archive-date = 2016-08-25 | access-date = 2017-07-19}}</ref>
* Computer running Windows 7 (all editions except Starter)
* 15 GB of hard disk space per virtual Windows environment
* Optional: if the processor supports hardware-assisted virtualization technology such as [[AMD-V]] or [[Intel-VT]], it will be used. Before March 19, 2010, such a processor was mandatory.