Need help with Virtual PC

Big Jizay · December 2008

I just downloaded Virtual PC from Microsoft. I don't know anything about Virtual PC, so if I ask stupid questions, please excuse me. Downloading it was easy, but I'm wondering about using Server 2003 on a virtual machine. I have the 120 day trial disk that came with the MS Press book, but I have already installed it on a different physical computer. My question is: Should I use that same 120 day trial disk to install Server 2003 on a virtual machine? In virtual pc, do you have to activate the operating system? I looked on Microsoft.com to see if they had a 120 day trial that I could download, so that I'd receive a different key than the key my 120 day trial has. I didn't see that version anywhere on the website. Hopefully this makes sense to everyone.

The reason I'm asking questions about Virtual PC here is because I figure that most people studying for the 291 have installed Virtual PC recently.

skrpune · December 2008

I haven't started messing around with Virtual PC myself yet, but I do have a MS link for downloading a 180-day trial edition of Server 2003 R2.

As for the other parts of your question, I'll leave that to folks with more info...anything else I say would just be me guessing!

dynamik · December 2008

I believe server gives you 60 or 90 days before you even have to activate it, so just skip that step and finish 291 before then

Seriously though, the worse that's going to happen with multiple activations is that they won't accept it. Go ahead and give it a try. If it doesn't work, just work within the pre-activation period or get another trial from the link she posted.

If you have the money, consider getting a Technet subscription. $350/year ($250/year to renew), and you get all their products with no time trials or limitations.

Big Jizay · December 2008

Thanks Dynamik and Skrpune for your input. I tried going to the link to download it, but instead of downloading it straight from the net, Microsoft wants to ship me the disk in the mail. I'll try Dynamik's idea first, and if I run into problems with that, then I guess I'll have the disk shipped. Knowing Microsoft, that could take awhile

Alif_Sadida_Ekin · December 2008

I just downloaded the 180-day evaluation version from Microsoft last week. There's an option to have them email you a link for the download. You have to register for a Windows Live ID though. They're image files that you can burn to a CD. I used Active ISO Burner to burn the image files: http://www.ntfs.com/iso-burning.htm

Big Jizay · December 2008

Alif_Sadida_Ekin wrote:

I just downloaded the 180-day evaluation version from Microsoft last week. There's an option to have them email you a link for the download. You have to register for a Windows Live ID though. They're image files that you can burn to a CD. I used Active ISO Burner to burn the image files: http://www.ntfs.com/iso-burning.htm

I downloaded the image and then put server 2003 on my virtual machine, but the virtual machine started as if it was already installed, which is fine. However, when I was at the login screen, I had no idea what the password was because it just started at the login screen, and I have no chance to configure what the password would be.

Big Jizay · December 2008

Nevermind I figured it out. Thanks!!!

Big Jizay · December 2008

I want to activate this copy, but I didn't receive the activation key. I wonder why that is. I didn't receive an email or anything. Microsoft just let me download the ISO.

Need help with Virtual PC

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