Virtual PC 2004 SP1

Where can I download Virtual PC 2004 SP1 from?

Like all MS service packs, VPC 2004 SP1 (hereafter referred to as 'SP1') is a free download from Microsoft and can be downloaded from: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=b07c9ef0-265a-4237-ae3b-25bc8937d40f&displaylang=en

And documentation?

The Virtual PC 2004 documentation / helpfiles are NOT updated by SP1. There is a readme file with SP1 details available here:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=EF9D823F-3AAE-40DA-B4E9-DABE2A6B5BF9&displaylang=en

Any known issues?

One or two people appear to be seeing problems with installations, which are resolved by the tedious but effective "uninstall and re-install" shuffle. Remember removing Virtual PC and/or components does not delete your virtual machines!

You MUST shut down your virtual machines completely prior to the SP1 upgrade. Saved states are not compatible between VPC 2004 "Gold" and VPC 2004 SP1. You Have Been Warned.

The old version of the Virtual Machine additions should be uninstalled and replaced with the SP1 additions to get the full benefit of the SP1 upgrade to VPC.

How do I know if it is installed?

Open the Virtual PC Console and go to the Help menu. Then select "About Virtual PC..."

The correct version number for Virtual PC 2004 SP1 is "5.3.582.27"

What are the important updates?

Well that depends on what is important to you. I don't run DOS so I can't get excited about the enhancements to the support for that, but if you do want to run DOS then the enhancement here is actually a very major important update.

I'll quickly run through the high points as I see them. This list may change over time. Details for using the new facilities here may be added to the FAQ over time but the primary documentation for these new features is the Virtual PC SP1 readme file.

• DOS emulation is enhanced greatly by the ability to use the DOS extended Memory Manager (emm386) together with the shared folders facility.
• Bugfixes for the issues noted with Intel Prescott and AMD Athlon processors are included with SP1. Yay!
• The performance issue with Windows XP SP2 guest machines is fixed with the updated Virtual Machine additions.
• Windows 2003 Server is now a supported host environment.
• Windows NT4.0 drivers now available for virtual machines running NT 4 to use more than one network adapter without the person doing an install needing a degree in nuclear physics.
• Support for host network adapters that perform Offloading.
• Virtual PC console options are updated to change the default Virtual PC 2004 performance option 'to Run Virtual PC at maximum speed'.
• Virtual PC can now compact guest hard drives without resorting to 3rd party utilities in a (relatively) simple 2 step process. See answer 5.11.c in the main FAQ for step by step instructions.

Where can I discuss my Virtual PC 2004 SP1 questions?

Don't send me questions via email. I'll either ignore them or add them to the FAQ at my own convenience. Without telling you. Yes this means YOU.

The BEST place to discuss the service pack and any issues you may have is the Microsoft newsgroup for Virtual PC discussions. Point your news reader at 'microsoft.public.virtualpc'.

Of course, if you don't fancy that, there is also my Virtual PC Forum, in fact, I've got a thread opened just for talk about SP1 right here!

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