Virtualization in modern Windows versions

[Smiling Spectre]

I didn't try VPC on newest (i.e. post-XP) systems, because my brand new Win8.1 doesn't compatible with it, but for XP there was shared folder integration with ealrier Windowses. That's how I played WH40k: Chaos Gate. Just saying.

[Japo]

I didn't try VPC on newest (i.e. post-XP) systems, because my brand new Win8.1 doesn't compatible with it
:) See:
The version of Virtual PC you need depends on your host Windows version.

[LIST=1]
Windows 8: Hyper-V (http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/hyper-v-run-virtual-machines)
Windows 7: Windows Virtual PC (http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=3702).
Windows Vista / XP / Server 2003: Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 (http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=24439)

[Smiling Spectre]

Yes, and I am assuming that "Hyper-V" is not exactly "Virtual PC". :) So a) I cannot check older, VPC installs, because it will not work, and b) I (obviously) didn't check it before, on WinXP too. Just because it was too long ago, so it was different, older versions. Mmm? :)

[Japo]

I think it should work. The only important file is the .vhd virtual hard drive, and "Hyper-V" can load it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyper-v#VHD_compatibility_with_Virtual_Server_2005_and_V irtual_PC_2004.2F2007

I haven't used it myself yet, though.

[Smiling Spectre]

It not supports any Windows older than XP. I tried to setup Win98, as it is only reasonable system to emulate in VM under Win8... and I failed. Considerably. :/ So I abandoned the idea. (I tested VMWare though, and it was _some_ success, but I don't need it so much without graphic acceleration support anyway, so... forget it.)

[Japo]

Hmmm have you even tried downloading an earlier version of VPC from Microsoft Download and installing it on Win8? You will probably get a message about the OS version being unsupported, which in my past experience was always meaningless.

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=24439

or maybe (Win7 special version):
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=3702

[Smiling Spectre]

I tried both. It wasn't possible to install pre-7 version, but after some tinkering I was able to install and run 7 one. Installing Win98 on it hangs right after initial setup (old .vhd from my previous VMs simply refused to boot at all, BTW). I tried several times. BSOD after installing was the best reward. So I was forced to abandon the idea. :/

[Japo]

Turns out I can't even use Hyper-V, it requires a CPU with special virtualization hardware support. I don't know if all CPUs have this nowadays, but mine from 2009 still runs like a pro without it.

I can't delay any longer setting up a Win3-4 machine, so I'll try first with VMware player, and let you know.

All these problems for trying Win8... I should just revert to Vista, which is the same f***ing OS and can run VPC 2007, which was so nice for retro gaming. Of course Win7 and 8 could run VPC the same, if only they weren't restricted to prevent it for whatever reasons.

Thank you Microsoft for enhancing your virtualization offer.

[Smiling Spectre]

Well, I am on Intel processor, so no problems with Hyper-V.

Not counting the fact that it _not_ supports any MS Windows before XP. Officially. Huh.

Well, as DOS/Win3 totally supported by DOSBox nowadays, my only problem is accelerated Win95/98. So I'll be grateful knowing about any solution of this matter (VMWare or Virtual Box - I cannot remember which - supports acceleration for XP... but it's too modern for me. Such games usually works even on Win8 anyway. :)

[zirkoni]

I should just revert to Vista, which is the same f***ing OS and can run VPC 2007, which was so nice for retro gaming. Of course Win7 and 8 could run VPC the same, if only they weren't restricted to prevent it for whatever reasons.
I use VPC 2007 on Windows 7 and don't remember having any problems installing/using it.

EDIT: You can't install VPC 2007 if you already have Windows Virtual PC installed.

[Japo]

I have Intel too, but an old one without virtualization support (Core 2 Quad). I'm sure AMD processors can have virtualization support too.

The installer of VPC 2007 gives a compatibility warning on Win8.1. I can try to install it by jumping through some loops, but after MS failed me so miserably by not supporting their own product on their own OS, it looks more reasonable to try first a proven and professional product. Anyway I plan to have my way in the end.

I want a Win9x system because it's my way to cover games also from Win 3.x, until what should run natively. I could use DOSBox but only for Win 3.x, not 9x, and even so it's much more inefficient (not just graphics but even the CPU).

It's VirtualBox that supports direct hardware acceleration from XP on only, and I think it's still a beta/experimental feature disabled by default.

VMware offers direct hardware acceleration in any situation, I think. But I'm not sure if that's included in the free version ("Player"), or how easy it is to enable.

[Smiling Spectre]

VMWare have "deprecated support" for Win98, and Vogons says that there are no hardware acceleration for any non-NT Windows. (There is software acceleration though).

[Japo]

I've read otherwise about hardware acceleration elsewhere, and I've enabled the option after telling VMware it was for Win98, which generated no complaint about support. I'll let you know...

[Smiling Spectre]

Hmm... I am waiting then, thank you. :)

[Japo]

Well I told you the story outside the forum, ;-) if anyone else is interested I can provide the extra details...

In short, support of Win9x by VMware Player (free) is very good, provided you install the necessary "VMware Tools". The only problem was the scaling issue.

I enabled the graphic acceleration option so it should work, but I couldn't really test it with the only old game that I tried. I've read from Google that it should work, although most of the reports came from people who were emulating modern Windows versions.

[Smiling Spectre]

I enabled the graphic acceleration option so it should work, but I couldn't really test it with the only old game that I tried. I've read from Google that it should work, although most of the reports came from people who were emulating modern Windows versions.
Yes, I am speaking exactly about this part. :) *sigh* Ok, I will try it myself then... When I'll have some free time... Thank you again! :)

[Japo]

If you know a program for Win9x with which I can test it quickly, I could give it a go. From Google I only read from people who just used the "Windows Experienced Index" on the guest system to determine if it was accelerated. But Win9x did not have this feature.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/what-is-windows-experience-index

[Smiling Spectre]

We-ell... Try AI Wars (http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/ai-wars-the-awakening), for example? It definitely can be set to hardware acceleration. First Resident Evil is another good example, but I fear, it was wonky even on real hardware, due limited selection of the videocards. Also, Recoil worked great with acceleration, I think, but I cannot remember if it takes choices or simply fallen back to software if you hadn't needed gear. Try it?