Virtual PC 2007: Is it worth it?

[Rheinmetall]

There is a free program in Windows called Virtual PC 2007 that allows you to emulate older OS on your PC without having to do a clean installation. Sounds pretty interesting and useful especially for gamers who are into old games whose "natural environmement" is WIndows 95, or even older versions. The catch is that it is compatible only with the Professional versions of each OS, for example it works only on Vista Professional, or 7 Professional. Upgrading your OS from Home Edition to Professional edition costs a small fortune: around 250 Euros. (I imagine the equivalent for the US is somewhere between 250 and 300 USD)
So is Virtual PC 2007 worth it under these conditions? I imagine no is the answer, but if anyone of you have this program perhaps you can share with us your impressions.
Either way I can't afford it not now, nor in the future, but I would like to know regardless.
Thanks.

 

[devotedsniper]

Don't bother with it, we get it free from our uni (along with any OS pro version) and it's ok unless you go to VM (Virtual Machine) something that isn't listed, you'd be much better off buying VMware as I have yet to find an OS which it cannot run (some may require tweaking settings, e.g. Windows 8).

Our university even gave up on it and switched to VMware because it was useless for my modules purposes and it was slower. If your looking for free you could always use Oracle VM VirtualBox (https://www.virtualbox.org/) which is still better than virtual pc.

 

[theblindedhunter]

No idea about that program, but if you're wanting a virtual machine, I hear VirtualBox is really excellent these days. And free as always. Another worth considering.

 

[Andrew_C]

It's worth getting for the free Windows XP VM (AKA "XP Mode") which you get if you have the Pro or better version of Win7 (Vista too, I think). Available here: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx

Virtual PC itself works fine under most versions of Win 7 and Vista (not Home Basic/Starter). Older versions ran under XP as well.

And I've successfully VM'ed Haiku and FreeBSD in VirtualPC, You just have to do a bit of research and set up the VM properly.

That said, Microsoft are discontinuing it, so unless you qualify for the free XP VM, you are better off with another choice.

 

[DoPo]

VMware Player is free. As is VirtualBox. Both sound quite more functional than Virtual PC. However, you do need the actual OS to install on there. You could get them one way or another, I imagine, though.

 

[Rheinmetall]

Don't bother with it, we get it free from our uni (along with any OS pro version) and it's ok unless you go to VM (Virtual Machine) something that isn't listed, you'd be much better off buying VMware as I have yet to find an OS which it cannot run (some may require tweaking settings, e.g. Windows 8).

Our university even gave up on it and switched to VMware because it was useless for my modules purposes and it was slower. If your looking for free you could always use Oracle VM VirtualBox (https://www.virtualbox.org/) which is still better than virtual pc.

Thanks, I didn't know about the Virtual Box. That's the beauty of internet, for every expensive program there is always a similar for for free. lol