Virtual PC for Mac

[mac_myname]

hi group,

I have a basic general question about Virtual PC for Mac. WIll it allow me to connect to a Windows 2000 VPN, download any files i need, use any programs i have on the Windows OS, then transfer them to use on the Mac Applications? Like office, and email?
if anyone knows of a good place to find info on this(other then the website) let me know

Thx

[kenny]

The answer to all of the above is most definitely yes.

That's exactly what I use VPC for -- VPN to work, do what I need there, transfer files back and forth, etc. Transferring standard office files (Word, Excel, etc.) are no problem with the MacOSX-native versions of the apps. Email is a bit trickier, though, since Outlook is a very Windows-centric thing, but you can certainly run it in VPC and connect to the mail servers at work (or wherever).

A word of caution, though... VPC is very processor/memory intensive. I have it running on a TiBook/800 with 1GB of memory (256 allocated to Win2k), and it's just usable. I've tried XP on it, and it's just unbearably slow. But given a choice between a slightly sluggish Windows and having to carry a Windows laptop? Well, I'm a patient man...

[Cheryl]

Kenny,

I have a question about Virtual PC. I do not use it, so I need to ask an expert.
A friend is trying to install windows 98 from the Windows CD. He is having trouble.
*****
I installed Virtual PC 5, opened it and I created a new virtual hard drive. I was asked to create a disk image, I did that, then it asked what Operating System I would be installing, then how much space and how much memory. (it had presets for these though which I used, except for the amount of space which I set to 5GB) I created it, started it up, and it was a DOS environment that said: NO OS INSTALLED. INSTALL OS.
So I put in the Win 98 cd, and then clicked on disk capture. Then it asked me if I wanted to boot from hard drive or boot from cd rom. I chose the second. It then said...Starting windows 98, and then gave me the selection of: Running setup from the win 98 cd rom,
The Windows 98 Menu pops up with these options:

1. Start with CD-Rom support
2. Start without
3. Install Windows

I have tried all three options, and each time I try them, the same thing
happens that all I get is a blinking "_"
****
What is he doing wrong?

[kenny]

Hmmm... This got me to digging around in my box of unused and forgotten CD's...

The CD I had woudn't even boot, but fortunately, I have the floppy and was able to capture that to start the install. As I type this, it's well into its way copying files to the harddrive (and it's the first time my TiBook has cranked up BOTH fans.. yikes..) It'll be a little trip down memory lane... So I don't know what he could be 'doing wrong', but a couple of possibilities occur to me:

1. Is this the full Win98 CD or an upgrade? I don't know how familiar you are with Win98, but an upgrade CD absolutely cannot be used to install to a blank VPC image.

2. It sounds like he's saying that he captures and boots from CD. I don't remember the win98 CD's being bootable (mine definitely is not). Does it boot in a "real" PC (assuming one is available to try)? I'm not 100% certain that Win98 never released as a bootable version, I've just never encountered one.

3. Could this CD be a system restore CD from another machine? Could it be a little less... ahem.. legit?

I believe for this to work, the disc has to have the phrase "for PCs without Windows" printed on its face.

I hope you find some of this helpful..

[Cheryl]

Thank you. I'll let you know what the status is. I just emailed him with the question.

[Pengu]

Windows 98 Install CD's most definitely ARE bootable. It only boots to DOS, but it *IS* bootable.

[kenny]

Ok. Maybe the later pressings added that. The original copy I have definitly is not bootable. It came with a boot floppy instead. It was an early (first revision) release, so I don't find it surprising that later revs would be bootable..

*shrug*

[Pengu]

OK. If anyone is using Win98 FIRST edition, that's just CRaZy anyways...