How to Remove an Operating System from Virtual PC
Microsoft's Virtual PC software allows users to install any number of foreign operating systems within Windows, letting them run in a virtualization mode while Windows runs in the background. Both Microsoft and non-Microsoft operating systems can be installed, with the Windows 7 version of the Virtual PC software (known simply as "Windows Virtual PC") supporting a dedicated Windows XP emulation mode as well. When an operating system is no longer needed, it can be easily removed simply by deleting a few associated files.
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Instructions
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Open the "Start" menu and access the "All Programs" listing. Scroll to the bottom of the list and find the "Virtual PC" or "Windows Virtual PC" folder and open it.
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Double-click on the item named "Virtual Machines." This will open a Windows Explorer window, showing you all of the operating systems that you have installed on virtual machines in Virtual PC.
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Right-click the operating system that you wish to remove and select the "Settings" item from the context menu that opens. This will open another window showing you all of the settings for that particular operating system's virtual machine.
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Click on the "Hard Disk" listing on the left that has a .vhd file associated with it (it should have "OS.vhd" beside the "Hard Disk" number, where "OS" is the name of the operating system installed.) Click on the "Browse..." button that appears next to the "Virtual Hard Disk File" listing on the right. A file selection window will open.
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Single-click on the .vhd file for the operating system that you wish to remove, then press the "Delete" key. You will be asked if you are sure that you want to delete it: choose "Yes."
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Close the file selection window and the settings window, but leave your original Windows Explorer window open. Locate the "OS.vmcx" file (again, with "OS" being the name of the operating system that you wish to remove) and single-click it to select it. Press "Delete" again, confirming the file deletion when prompted.
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Delete any other files that share a name with the operating system in the Windows Explorer window. Once all files associated with that operating system's virtual machine have been deleted, close the Explorer window and empty the Recycle Bin.
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Tips & Warnings
Make sure that you have closed the operating system in Virtual PC before beginning to delete files or you may receive a message that the files cannot be deleted because they are in use.
