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Windows Secrets Newsletter • Issue 146 • 2008-03-27 • Circulation: over 275,000
 		   
     
Contents
 TOP STORY: XP virtual computing avoids dual-boot complexity
KNOWN ISSUES: Reader tips on portable computing flow in
WACKY WEB WEEK: Is that a good spot over there?
LANGALIST PLUS: Get better results deep-cleaning Windows drives
PC TUNE-UP: Make a bootable thumb drive that runs XP
PATCH WATCH: QuickTime, iTunes install Safari — like it or not
YOUR SUBSCRIPTION: How to change your address or unsubscribe

    
   

For links to every topic in this issue, scroll down to the Index

    
   
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TOP STORY

XP virtual computing avoids dual-boot complexity

Scott Dunn By Scott Dunn

It's possible to have Vista and chow down on your XP cake, too, if you apply a free — for now — virtual machine.

If you're stuck with a Vista PC, but you really prefer using XP, I'll show you how to set up XP as a virtual machine on Vista, plus some tricks you can use to get the most out of this setup.

Why you should give virtual machines a free try

It's unarguable: Windows XP operates more quickly than Vista (a fact that PC World recently demonstrated even with the new Service Pack 1 installed on Vista). Additionally, no one who's independent of Microsoft's payroll suggests that device drivers are just as easily available for Vista as they are for XP, or that Vista supports as many software applications that people own.

It's Microsoft's mission to make the marketplace more Vista-friendly, which seems to be the company's primary motivation for shutting off retail sales of XP on June 30. But many Windows users want to stick with XP, either for performance reasons or so they can use software that's not Vista-friendly. With fewer PCs on the shelf that will run, or even support, Windows XP — and with that number dwindling each day — a way you can run XP on a Vista machine that may be your only option is a blessing.

Operating XP in a virtual machine (VM) is a great alternative for those with newer PCs that may not, out of the box, be XP-compatible. Indeed, when I explained in a Feb. 14 article how to set up a computer to dual-boot between Vista and XP, a number of readers suggested another possibility: run XP in a virtual machine.
UPDATE 2008-04-03: Many readers sent in this suggestion. The first reader to recommend the approach was David Gustafson. Gustafson received a gift certificate for a book, CD, or DVD of his choice for sending the XP-in-a-virtual-machine tip we printed.

One related fact makes this option even greater: you can prove that it works for free, using downloads from Microsoft that will function at least through July 3, 2008. (More on that later.)

The advantages of running a second operating system like XP inside a virtual machine include:

• Compatibility. You don't have to worry about locating XP drivers for most hardware components. Vista's drivers provide all the support XP needs within the VM.

• Faster access. You don't have to reboot your computer to start a session running XP or another operating system in a VM.

• No System Restore bugs. Running XP in a virtual machine bypasses the fact that XP deletes Vista's restore points, as I discussed in an article on Feb. 21.

• Safer surfing. As Windows Secrets contributing editor Mark Edwards pointed out in a May 24, 2007, article, running a browser in a virtual machine provides an extra layer of security between your virtual system and your primary OS.

In my tests, I've found Microsoft's Virtual PC to be a simple and convenient way to run XP within Vista. But, if you're interested in trying virtual-machine software from a non-Microsoft source, download the free VMware Player from (who else?) VMware.

To use the VMware Player to install Windows XP, you'll need to install some additional software and create a couple of special files. Fortunately, self-described freelance Perl programmer John Bokman details the steps on his Web site.

How to install XP on Microsoft Virtual PC

Before beginning, make sure that you meet all of these requirements:

1. A computer with adequate muscle. Your PC needs to a be good performer, with at least 2GB of disk space and 128MB of RAM to run Windows XP. That means 128MB of RAM over and above what your current operating system demands, not 128MB total. More than 128MB of spare RAM works better. You can find the requirements on a Microsoft System Requirements page.

2. A copy of Microsoft's Virtual PC. Virtual PC is free and — once you've installed the (equally free) Virtual Machine Additions — you'll probably find the software is easy to work with.

3. A copy of Windows XP. You'll need a Windows XP install disc to add that operating system to your virtual machine. If you're transferring a retail copy of XP from another machine, this should not be a licensing issue. If your only copy of XP is an OEM copy, however, you may need to purchase a retail copy while packages are still available. See my Mar. 13 article for a discussion of licensing concerns.

If you only need XP (or Vista) to run in a VM for a few weeks for testing purposes, Microsoft makes preactivated images of those operating systems available for free at its Download Center.

Note, however, that this free version of XP expires on July 3, 2008. Microsoft has been giving away these short-term versions for some time, so it's possible that another downloadable version of XP will be available when the current one expires. If you ever reinstall the OS within your VM, unfortunately, you'll also have to reinstall any software you added to the VM.

Let's get started with the installation process. It looks long, but if you follow my steps precisely, it's straightforward:

Step 1: Get a copy of Virtual PC from Microsoft's Download Center.

Step 2: Launch the downloaded setup.exe and follow the steps in the Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 Wizard.

Step 3: Launch the Virtual PC Console by choosing Start, All Programs, Microsoft Virtual PC. (In Vista, you can also click Start, type Virtual PC, and press Enter.)

Step 4: If you have no virtual machines, the New Virtual Machine Wizard starts automatically. Otherwise, you'll need to click the New button to start the New Virtual Machine Wizard. Click Next.

Step 5: In the wizard, select Create a virtual machine and click Next.

Step 6: Type a name for your VM. If you want to change the folder that the VM (.vmc) file is stored in, type in a new path or use the Browse button. Click Next.

Step 7: Specify Windows XP as your operating system (this is the default if you're running Vista). Click Next.

Step 8: I recommend you select Adjusting the RAM and increase the setting rather than accepting the wizard's 128MB default. Your choice depends on several considerations, including how much RAM your system has and whether you'll be running other applications in Vista at the same time that you're working in the VM. You can always adjust the RAM setting later. Pick a number, enter it, and click Next.

Step 9: Reserve a chunk of hard disk space to simulate a hard drive for the VM to use. Select A new virtual hard disk and click Next for this file. (It has a .vhd extension.) The default option is to let the virtual disk expand dynamically until it reaches the size you specify. Click Next.

Step 10: Specify the size and location of the .vhd file and click Next. Then click Finish.

Step 11: Select your new VM in the Virtual PC Console window and click Start.

Step 12: When the system finishes loading the VM, insert your XP install CD or DVD and press Enter. XP setup should begin. If it doesn't, choose CD, Use Physical Drive X: (where X is the drive letter displayed). Then press Enter again.

Step 13: Allow XP setup to proceed just as though you were installing the OS on a new computer. Installation is a faster process on a virtual machine, because the PC hardware doesn't have to go through a hardware reboot several times during the installation.

Step 14: Once you've installed XP and have it running in a window, you'll need to install some Virtual Machine Additions to give Virtual PC more features and flexibility. From the window that shows your new XP VM, pull down the Action menu, and select the option entitled Install or update Virtual Machine Additions.

Without the Virtual Machine Additions, your mouse pointer is trapped inside the VM until you press the Right-Alt key on your keyboard. With VM Additions installed, however, you can move the mouse freely between the windows.

VM Additions also enables folder sharing between your VM and the host OS, supports drag-and-drop file copying between guest and host systems, and sharing the Clipboard between guest and host systems. VM Additions also adds joystick support, provides optimized video drivers, and more.

Tricks to improve your VM experience

If you haven't run a virtual machine before, it's a different experience from what you're used to. Here are a few quick-start tricks to make your XP virtual-machine journey easier:

• The new Ctrl+Alt+Delete. The Ctrl+Alt+Delete combination affects only your host version of Windows. If you need this feature within your VM, hold down the Right-Alt key and press Delete instead.

• Run full screen. To run your VM full screen, hold the Right-Alt key and press Enter. Repeat to reduce the VM to a window again.

• Make your VM hibernate. To get the equivalent of Windows Hibernate within the VM, click the VM's Close button or pull down the Action menu and click Close. Then choose Save State when the system prompts you.

• Share folders. To share a folder between your VM and your host OS, right-click the folder icon in the bottom of your VM window and choose Share Folder. Select the folder (on your computer) that you want to share and specify a drive letter. Click OK. Within the VM, the folder appears as a network drive with the letter you assigned.

• Adjust memory. If you need to adjust the amount of memory you're giving your VM, you must first close the virtual machine down completely, without the Save State feature. This is detailed in the following steps:

Step 1. Within the VM, choose the Start button and then the Shut Down option. Alternatively, use the VM's Close button (or pull down the Action menu and select the Close option) and choose Turn off.

Step 2. Select the VM in the Virtual PC Console window and click Action, Settings.

Step 3. Select Memory on the left side and adjust the slider on the right side. Click OK.

Running XP in a virtual machine isn't perfect. XP won't run as fast in a VM as it would running by itself. In addition, VMs have a limitation that may be a deal-breaker to some: Microsoft's Virtual PC does not support access to USB devices from within the VM. Note that VMware Player does not have this problem.
UPDATE 2008-04-03: Many readers sent in this suggestion. The first reader to recommend the approach was David Gustafson. Gustafson received a gift certificate for a book, CD, or DVD of his choice for sending the XP in a virtual machine tip we printed.

Running the free, preactivated version of XP within either Microsoft's Virtual PC or VMWare Player can give you a sense of whether the VM approach is right for you — without spending any money.

Readers receive a gift certificate for a book, CD, or DVD of their choice for sending tips we print. Send us your tips via the Windows Secrets contact page.

 Scott Dunn is associate editor of the Windows Secrets Newsletter. He has been a contributing editor of PC World since 1992 and currently writes for the Here's How section of that magazine.

Contents  Index

   
   
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KNOWN ISSUES

Reader tips on portable computing flow in

By Scott Dunn

In my Mar. 20 article, I described techniques for putting an entire Linux OS on a flash drive, which is almost like having a pocket computer that can run many of your favorite applications.

I mentioned some limitations and presented a warning, but readers have come to our aid with insights on protecting and using your diminutive computer accessory.
Backing up is a good idea, recovery is better

I cautioned prospective users to remember how easy it is to lose a flash drive.

One of the most practical suggestions we received is Jeff Weed's reasonable proposal to identify your ownership. If an honest person finds your flash drive, you have a chance to get it back:
  • "Whenever I get a new flash device, I always store a plain text file on the root folder with the file name !Owner-Info.txt.

    "I create it with Notepad and list my name, e-mail address, and phone number along with a statement requesting anyone who finds it to contact me. Then I set the file to be read-only so I can't mistakenly erase it. The exclamation point (!) in the file name helps ensure that the file appears at the top of the list when someone views the files with most any file manager.

    "The plain text format (.txt) helps ensure that the file can be read on any computer.

    "Of course, all this assumes that your lost device is found by an honest person. But, even if it was stolen, an honest person may end up with it before long. Also, you might recover a flash card but not the device it was in, but that's better than nothing.

    "I have been doing this for a few years now. I did recover a lost digital camera one time (after 6 months), because it was found by a college student who was curious enough to look at what was stored on the card."
Good approach, Jeff. It's simple to do, and there's a pretty good chance an honest person who finds the device would notice your contact file.

Here's another trick along this line: A co-worker of mine, a passionate recycler, is always trying to figure out a way to use the name-and-address labels that charities send in their donation pitches. One of these labels fits tidily on the side of a memory stick.

I'll publish more tips as we finish testing them. Reader Weed will receive a gift certificate for a book, CD, or DVD of his choice for sending a tip we printed. Send us your tips via the Windows Secrets contact page.

Contents  Index

   
   
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EDITOR'S BOOKSHELF

Windows Vista Secrets Get the tips you need about Windows Vista
The all-new Windows Vista Secrets helps novices and experts alike understand Microsoft's latest operating system. "To really appreciate what is in Vista, you almost need to read through the leading book on the product, Windows Vista Secrets, by Brian Livingston and Paul Thurrott," writes Rob Enderle, principal analyst of the Enderle Group, in TechNewsWorld. "It's 595 pages of things you can do with this product — most of which you probably wouldn't have discovered for some time, let alone right at first." Check the book out now for tips you can use.
More information: United States (B&N) / Canada / Elsewhere

Spam-Proof Your E-Mail Address, 2nd Ed. Spam-Proof Your E-Mail Address, 2nd Ed.
This 32-page e-book by Brian Livingston gives you step-by-step instructions that can prevent 97% of the spam that would otherwise clog an e-mail account. You could call it "Livingston's Spam Secrets." The PDF e-book is the result of months of experiments and tests we conducted. We now receive little or no spam to the addresses we used as guinea pigs. These tests show that you can make your e-mail addresses invisible to spammers, not just battle an ever-growing flood. The methods we describe work with Windows, Apple, and Linux and don't require any filters or block lists — but you can use those in addition to the book's techniques, if you wish. More info

    
   

Contents  Index

   
   
WACKY WEB WEEK

 Is that a good spot over there?

Parking  It's a vehicular jungle out there, with packed traffic, surly drivers, and a paucity of parking places, all begging the question, "Where the Sam Hill is everyone going to park?"

With a large portion of the population behind the wheel, there's a growing trend that makes it seem OK for drivers to park as though they had their eyes closed. The adherents of this cult feel it's acceptable to park diagonally, to park way too close to your car, and — if they drive a particularly gargantuan SUV — that by some anomaly of the space-time continuum their corpulent chariot qualifies as a "compact."

If you've ever felt powerless against these irritating infractors, fear no longer. Simply print out a citation from the following Web site (which has an unprintable name), slap said citation on the offender's windshield, and walk away triumphantly! Visit the site

Contents  Index

   
   
INDEX

The following topics appear in the free version

TOP STORY   XP virtual computing avoids dual-boot complexity
  Why you should give virtual machines a free try
  How to install XP on Microsoft Virtual PC
  Tricks to improve your VM experience
   
KNOWN ISSUES   Reader tips on portable computing flow in
  Backing up is a good idea, recovery is better
   
WACKY WEB WEEK   Is that a good spot over there?
   
You get all of the following in the paid version

LANGALIST PLUS   Get better results deep-cleaning Windows drives
  "Enhanced" disk-cleanup settings not enough
  Get ready to rid yourself of old, temp trash
  Run my command with caution the first time
   
PC TUNE-UP   Make a bootable thumb drive that runs XP
  SpyBot's new RootAlyzer tool is a winner
  Agnitum's Outpost AntiVirus Pro speeds scans
  Proogly bypasses Web content blockers
   
PATCH WATCH   QuickTime, iTunes install Safari — like it or not
  Updater for media players adds unwanted payload
  Vista support policy relaxed; this link can help
  Prepare for Windows XP SP3: it's coming soon
  Missing drivers are stalling Vista SP1 deliveries
   
It's easy to get all our paid content! Contribute whatever it's worth to you
Readers who make a financial contribution of any amount will immediately receive the latest issue of our full, paid newsletter and 12 months of new paid content. Pay as much or as little as you like — we just want as many people as possible to have this information.

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Contents  Index

   
   
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The Windows Secrets Newsletter is published weekly on the 1st through 4th Thursdays of each month, plus occasional news updates. We skip an issue on the 5th Thursday of any month, plus the week of Thanksgiving and the last two weeks of August and December.

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Contents  Index