Microsoft Virtual PC

What is MS Virtual PC
Microsoft Virtual PC (renamed Windows Virtual PC for the Windows 7 release) is a virtualization suite for Microsoft Windows operating systems, and an emulation suite for Mac OS X on PowerPC-based systems. The software was originally written by Connectix, and was subsequently acquired by Microsoft. In July 2006 Microsoft released the Windows-hosted version as a free product. In August 2006 Microsoft announced the Macintosh-hosted version would not be ported to Intel-based Macintoshes, effectively discontinuing the product as PowerPC-based Macintoshes are no longer manufactured.

Virtual PC virtualizes a standard PC and its associated hardware. Supported Windows operating systems can run inside Virtual PC. However, other operating systems like Linux may run, but are not officially supported.

Drivers
If you want to install OS/2 as a Guest on Virtual PC you require the following drivers: The Microsoft Virtual Machine Additions for OS/2 ver 13.500 is included on Virtual PC 2007. This tool will add the following driver on the Config.sys. DEVICE=C:\VM\vmdrv.sys DEVICE=C:\VM\vmmouse.sys IFS=C:\VM\vmmap.ifs DEVICE=C:\VM\vmvdd.sys The Microsoft Virtual Machine Additions for OS/2 will add several functions:
 * Shared Folders allow access to directories at host filesystem by a drive letter
 * GRADD display driver
 * Mouse integration

Versions of Virtual PC

 * Macintosh
 * 1997: Connectix Virtual PC
 * Connectix Virtual PC 2
 * Connectix Virtual PC 3
 * Connectix Virtual PC 4
 * Connectix Virtual PC 4.1
 * Connectix Virtual PC 5
 * Microsoft Virtual PC 6.1
 * Windows
 * 2001: Connectix Virtual PC 4.0
 * 2002: Connectix Virtual PC 5.1
 * 2003: Microsoft Virtual PC 5.2
 * 2004: Microsoft Virtual PC 2004
 * 2006: Microsoft Virtual PC 2004 SP1 (first free available version)
 * 2007: Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 - 6.0.156
 * 2008: Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 SP1 - 6.0.192
 * 2009: Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 SP1 Hotfix rollup - 6.0.210

Virtual PC under Windows
Under a Windows host this are the OS/2 and eCS versions tested to work:

Tutorials

 * [Installing IBM OS/2 Warp 4.52 on Microsoft Virtual PC]
 * [Installing eComStation 2.0 on Microsoft Virtual PC]

About Windows 7
Windows 7 has another version of Virtual PC called "Windows Virtual PC", this version used to require hardware virtualization, but now it had been updated by MS to don't require that. If you have Windows 7, you can still install the older "Virtual PC" but it will not allow you to run it claiming it has compatibility issue.

There is a workaround on Windows 7 to make the old "Virtual PC" run: It will ask you to reboot and it will make some changed on the configuration, after the reboot it will allow you to run the old "Virtual PC".
 * Go to Control Panel,
 * Select Programs and Features,
 * At the Top left you'll find "Turn windows Features on/off", click it,
 * At the bottom uncheck Windows Virtual PC,

Warning: You can not run "Windows Virtual PC" and the older "Virtual PC" on the same Windows 7 Machine, you will have to choose one of both.

Reference and Links

 * Virtual PC Forum
 * Virtual PC Guy's WebLog, Installing OS/2 Warp 4 under Virtual PC