How to Install Virtual PC Additions

Microsoft Virtual PC allows additional operating systems to be installed on your computer on "virtual machines," letting them run in an emulated state within the Windows operating environment. Virtual PC additions were created to enable an improved functionality for operating systems running on these virtual machines, with the additions granting a wider array of options than the core version of Virtual PC would allow. Virtual PC additions are relatively easy to install, and can be installed on a per-machine basis so that they don't have to be installed on any virtual machine that you have set up unless you want them to be.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Launch Virtual PC and select a virtual machine to open. Once the virtual machine has initialized, click on the "Action" item in the menu bar in order to access the "Action" menu.

2. Click the "Install or Update Virtual Machine Additions" item in the "Action" menu. This will cause a window to open that briefly explains how Virtual PC will install the additions; click the "Continue" button in order to proceed to installation.

3. Click the "Next" button when the "Virtual Machine Additions" setup program launches in order to begin installation. You will have to wait while the additions are installed, which may take a few minutes. Once the installation is complete, click the "Finish" button to close the setup wizard.

4. Click the "Yes" button when the dialog box opens prompting you to restart your virtual machine. Virtual PC will shut down the machine and restart it so that the virtual machine additions that you installed will be initialized.

Tips & Warnings

• The virtual machine additions that you install include such features as improved mouse control, folder sharing between your operating system and the virtual machine, time synchronization with your computer, and an overall improvement to the virtual machine's performance.

References

• Microsoft Help and Support - How to Install Virtual Machine Additions on a Virtual Machine
• Microsoft Help and Support - How to Determine Whether the Virtual PC Additions Are Installed
• GilsMethod.com - How to Install Virtual Machine Additions for Virtual PC