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AnswerCopy a Windows XP Mode Virual machine to another Windows 7/Windows XP Mode computer

  • Thursday, November 05, 2009 9:56 PMMark Chris Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
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    I am in the middle of testing Windows 7 compatibility in our environment. I hope to roll it out to a few of my end users. I started testing Windows XP Mode running on Win 7 Pro 64bit.

    I'm concerned about rollout and in regards to Windows XP Mode. My question is this;

    Is there an easy way to copy a fully configured Window XP Mode VM from one pc to another and have it operate?

    I am still looking at standardizing new hardware and possibly imaging/ghosting pc's.. so this may not be a problem for me. However at the current time it is.



    Mark C
     

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  • Friday, November 06, 2009 5:07 PMJohn Paul CookMVPUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
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    I'm more concerned about the Windows XP Mode and it's "Auto Publish" setting. If I configure Windows XP Mode and Virtual PC on a Windows 7 pc, install applications inside of the Windows XP Mode Virtual PC and have the "auto publish" feature turned on.... then transfer the Virtual PC files to another Windows 7 pc running Windows XP Mode and Virtual PC, will the "auto publish" features transfer as well?


    This will work if you copy more files.

    When a new application is installed into an XP Mode vm, a shortcut for the application is created in the user's profile on the physical machine. If you copy these shortcuts to a new machine, you will transfer the published application.

    Use Windows Explorer on the physical machine and go to %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Virtual PC\Virtual Applications\Windows XP Mode to find the shortcuts for publishing.
    • Marked As Answer byMark Chris Friday, November 06, 2009 8:40 PM
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  • Thursday, November 05, 2009 11:59 PMJohn Paul CookMVPUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
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    Copy the files from one machine to the same locations on another machine and you'll have a working vm. But that doesn't mean you'll have a troublefree vm. When you copy a vhd, you have an exact copy - same computer name, same SID. That's a blocking issue if the vm must be joined to a domain. If the vms aren't joined to a domain, it is at least an annoyance. When the second copy of a vhd comes online on your network, it will display a duplicate name on the network error message.

    Using sysprep is the official method for changing exact clones into unique machines.
     
  • Friday, November 06, 2009 2:45 AMsmjainMVPUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
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    Just to add to what John said, basically you just want to treat your VM like you would a real computer.  What would you do if you were doing with with real XP machines?  The same thing would apply to the VMs.
     
  • Friday, November 06, 2009 2:23 PMMark Chris Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
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    John Paul,

    thank you for your response. I realize copying files will allow me to get one VM on one machine onto another, also having a problem with duplicate machine names and SID is common in a AD network as well.

    I'm more concerned about the Windows XP Mode and it's "Auto Publish" setting. If I configure Windows XP Mode and Virtual PC on a Windows 7 pc, install applications inside of the Windows XP Mode Virtual PC and have the "auto publish" feature turned on.... then transfer the Virtual PC files to another Windows 7 pc running Windows XP Mode and Virtual PC, will the "auto publish" features transfer as well?

    I'm currently trying to test this... it's taking me some time to get another pc ready. I was going to test this with a Virtual Machine, but apparently you cant run irtual PC inside a Virtual Machine (aka Installing Windows Virtual PC or Windows XP Mode inside a VM).


    Mark C
     
  • Friday, November 06, 2009 5:07 PMJohn Paul CookMVPUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
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    I'm more concerned about the Windows XP Mode and it's "Auto Publish" setting. If I configure Windows XP Mode and Virtual PC on a Windows 7 pc, install applications inside of the Windows XP Mode Virtual PC and have the "auto publish" feature turned on.... then transfer the Virtual PC files to another Windows 7 pc running Windows XP Mode and Virtual PC, will the "auto publish" features transfer as well?


    This will work if you copy more files.

    When a new application is installed into an XP Mode vm, a shortcut for the application is created in the user's profile on the physical machine. If you copy these shortcuts to a new machine, you will transfer the published application.

    Use Windows Explorer on the physical machine and go to %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Virtual PC\Virtual Applications\Windows XP Mode to find the shortcuts for publishing.
    • Marked As Answer byMark Chris Friday, November 06, 2009 8:40 PM
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  • Friday, November 06, 2009 8:41 PMMark Chris Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
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    AWESOME!!!! :-)
    Mark C