Hello Virtual PC Part I

Today I'll start a larger hello, and its not scripting. It's a setup. The setup of a Virtual PC testing environment.

 

Lets start with the basics - downloading and installing virtual PC. You can find it here: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/ - and if not.. then google it. Run the installation and follow the instructions.

After the installation I recommend that you  alter the keyboard settings. Expecially if you are danish. To do that just follow File|Options which leads to this dialog.

 

This is the first part of making a test environment.. But don't worry it gets more exciting.

 

Loopback network

We'll need a loopback network. I have grabbed this from Microsoft support.

To manually install the Microsoft Loopback adapter in Windows XP, follow these steps:

• Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
• If you are in Classic view, click Switch to Category View under Control Panel in the left pane.
• Double-click Printers and Other Hardware, and then click Next.
• Under See Also in the left pane, click Add Hardware,and then click Next.
• Click Yes, I have already connected the hardware, and then click Next.
• At the bottom of the list, click Add a new hardware device, and then click Next.
• Click Install the hardware that I manually select from a list, and then click Next.
• Click Network adapters, and then click Next.
• In the Manufacturer box, click Microsoft.
• In the Network Adapter box, click Microsoft Loopback Adapter, and then click Next.
• Click Finish.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/839013

Directory structure
I think the best structure for the environment is as follows. I use c:\vpc\ as the virtual pc root, and under this I have

• baseimages
• configuration
• install