Using Microsoft’s Virtual PC with Linux
August 3rd, 2006 by 
jay
While I’m at work I use Windows. While I’m at home I use Linux.
While I’m at work I’m usually working. While I’m at home I’m usually working on my next Linux or Programming HOWTO.
Well it’s been a slow copule of weeks at work and I don’t very work to do that is urgent and I’d really like to crank out some Linux howto’s but it’s kind of hard to do on a Windows PC.
Then I discovered Microsoft’s VirtualPC 2004 which is FREE and now I’m posting this from Firefox running on Xubuntu via VirtualPC.
So if or when you’re stuck on a Windows PC and you want to run a Linux LiveCD this article’s for you.
First download and install Microsoft’s VirtualPC 2004.
Then download a Linux LiveCD.
*NOTE* If you use:
Ubuntu 6.06 (Xub or Kub) - Boot into “Safe Graphics Mode”
Knoppix 4.0.2 - The graphics will only display in 256 colors- and I couldn’t find a cheat.
Slax 5.1.7 - wouldn’t work at all
KnoppixHelix & nUbuntu worked fine.
BackTrack - No Network cards
Once you’ve downloaded a Linux ISO save it to a directory and then launch VirtualPC.
Since this is a Windows App the whole process is pretty much Point And Click 
Give it a name:
Then a target OS: which will be Other
Give it some RAM: My Workstations’ got 2GB and I’ve successfully alocated 512MB
Create A New Virtual Hard Disc
Save the VirtualPC Settings File
And you’re done with the Setup
Now if it is open launch the VPC Console
Now Click Start and a new blank Console will open.
Click CD-> Capture ISO Image..
This opens up a File Dialog so you can go find the ISO you downloaded eariler.
Once you select the ISO VPC automaticly start to mount the disc. After about 20 seconds you should see the LiveCD come to life but if not there may be a problem.
Once the Linux CD is fully booted up you can “enter” the VPC by double clicking in the VPC window. The first click select the VPC window and the second activate sthe mouse in Linux. To release the mouse from VPC just hit the Right Alt key and Windows will now have control. To toggle fullscreen use Right Alt+Enter.
There is an add-on pack that will allow the VPC to access your loacal drives but I haven’t found it yet.
When VPC doesn’t have an ISO mounted there are a host of settings you can tweak.
And that’s it. Have fun.
HOWTO Tips N Tricks
Posted in Linux, HOWTO, Tips N Tricks | 
June 20th, 2007 at 5:03 am
This article was really useful, I tried exactly same process, everything works fine, except the mouse, mouse does not work for Knoppix in MS Virtual PC.
Please let me know if you have any suggestion for this issue, thx.
July 11th, 2007 at 11:01 am
At the boot prompt (”boot:”) type linux i8042.noloop
then the mouse will work =D
November 22nd, 2007 at 2:18 pm
Hi i’m trying to get the live cd working on VPC. It gets to a point then says ‘kernal panic - not syncing: attempted to kill init!’ Im using VPC 07 but its on a pretty old machine. any ideas? thanks