VirtualPC

Long ago, Innotek ported Connectix Virtual PC to OS/2. This product was lost when Microsoft bought Connectix. Microsoft continues to support Virtual PC on Windows.

The Microsoft Virtual PC Wiki offers more information about Virtual PC.

Compressing virtual hard drives

The hard drives supported by VPC tend to grow, but not shrink. To shrink them, you must first fill the unused space with zeros, then use VPC to compact the hard drive. This is the procedure I use to shrink my Windows 2000 virtual hard drives.

1. Check the size of your virtual hard drive files.
2. Make a backup of your virtual hard drive files.
3. Before starting Windows, ensure that the Undo Drives feature is disabled.
4. Delete any files that aren't needed.
5. Start Windows, and defragment all drives.
6. Start Eraser and zero any unused space. I use version 5.3 of this free software which is available here http://www.tolvanen.com/eraser/
7. Exit from Windows.
8. Use the Virtual Disk Wizard to compact each virtual hard drive.
9. Check the size of the compacted virtual hard drive files.
10. Ensure that Windows still runs.
11. Delete your backup.

Windows 2000 under VPC

Microsoft has published quite a few security updates for Windows 2000. Unfortunately, not all of them are compatible with VPC. What follows is a list of updates to be avoided, and another list of those updates that are OK.

Updates that don't work

KB931784 - Crashes at the logon screen.

KB891861 - Crashes before the logon screen.

KB832483 - Won't apply.

KB840987 - Crashes at the logon screen. (Oct, 2008)

Updates that work

KB896423

KB933566

KB935840

KB890830

KB935839

KB927891

KB890046

KB920213

KB927779

KB930178

KB932168

KB925902

KB928893

KB924667

KB918118

KB926436

KB929969

KB923689

KB925398

KB923694

KB923980

KB924270

KB924191

KB923414

KB923191

KB920685

KB917008

KB920670

KB920683

KB921398

KB914388

KB911280

KB917734

KB914389

KB917736

KB913580

KB917953

KB917344

KB908531

KB911564

KB908519

KB904706

KB900725

KB905749

KB905495

KB899589

KB901017

KB896358

KB905414

KB893756

KB899587

KB901214

KB832483

Microsoft VM

KB828026