In this article, we will look at several ways to improve the performance of a virtual machine VMware Workstation, Oracle VirtualBox, Microsoft Hyper-V or any other. Virtual machines are quite demanding on the characteristics of the computer, because during their operation several operating systems are running on the PC at the same time. As a result, the virtual machine may be significantly slower than the main operating system or even stutter.
In this article, we will look at several ways to improve the performance of a virtual machine, Oracle VirtualBox, Microsoft Hyper-V, or any other.
Content:Dynamic or fixed virtual hard disk?
When creating a virtual machine, you can create two different types of virtual hard disks. By default, the virtual machine uses a dynamic disk, which takes up the necessary space on the physical storage medium and grows only as it fills up.
For example, when creating a virtual machine with a 30 GB dynamic disk, it will not immediately take up 30 GB of the computer's hard disk. After installing the operating system and the necessary programs, its size will be about 10-15 GB. Only as data is added, it can increase up to 30 GB.
This is convenient from the point of view that the virtual machine will take up space on the hard disk, which is proportional to the amount of data stored on it. But, the operation of a dynamic hard disk is slower than a fixed one (sometimes also called distributed).
When creating a fixed disk, all 30 GB on the computer's hard disk will be allocated to the virtual machine disk immediately, regardless of the amount of data stored on it. That is, the fixed hard disk of a virtual machine takes up more space on the computer's hard disk, but saving or copying files and data on it is faster. It is not so prone to fragmentation, since the space for it is allocated as large as possible, instead of being added in small parts.
Installing the VM Tools Pack
After installing a guest operating system on a virtual machine, the first thing to do is install a package of tools or drivers for your virtual machine, for example: VirtualBox Guest Additions or VMware Tools. Such packages contain drivers that will help the guest operating system run faster.
Installing them is simple. In VirtualBox, boot up the guest operating system and select Devices / Mount Additional Guest OS Disk Image… "This computer"
In VMware Workstation, select menu Virtual machine / Install the VMware Tools package... Then run the installer, which will appear as a separate disk in the folder "This computer" guest operating system.
Add the folder with the virtual machine to the exclusions of your antivirus program
The antivirus program, among others, also scans the files of the virtual machine, which reduces its performance. But the fact is that the antivirus program does not have access to files inside the guest operating system of the virtual machine. Therefore, such a scan is meaningless.
To get rid of a decrease in the performance of a virtual machine, you can add a folder with it to the exceptions of the antivirus program. Antivirus will ignore all files in this folder.
Intel VT-x or AMD-V activation
Intel VT-x and AMD-V are special virtualization technologies that are designed to provide greater performance for virtual machines. Modern Intel and AMD processors usually have this feature. But on some computers it is not automatically activated. To enable it, you need to go into the BIOS of the computer and activate it manually.
AMD-V is often already activated on the PC, if supported. And Intel VT-x is most often disabled. Therefore, make sure that the specified virtualization features are already enabled in the BIOS, and then enable them in the virtual machine.
More RAM
Virtual machines are demanding on the amount of available RAM. Each virtual machine includes a complete operating system. Therefore, it is necessary to separate your PC operating system into two separate systems.
Microsoft recommends a minimum of 2 GB of RAM for their operating systems. Accordingly, such requirements are also relevant for the guest operating system of a Windows virtual machine. And if you plan to use third-party demanding software on a virtual machine, then even more RAM will be required for its normal operation.
If, after creating the virtual machine, it turned out that there is not enough RAM for its normal operation, then it can be added in the virtual machine settings.
Before doing this, make sure the virtual machine is powered off. Also, it is not recommended to provide a virtual machine with more than 50% of the virtual memory physically present on the computer.
If, having allocated 50% of your computer's memory for a virtual machine, it turned out that it did not work comfortably enough, then your computer may not have enough RAM to work normally with virtual machines. For normal operation of any virtual machine, 8 GB of RAM installed on the main PC will be enough.
Allocate more CPU
The main load during the operation of a virtual machine falls on the central processor. Thus, the more CPU power a virtual machine can take, the better (faster) it will work.
If the virtual machine is installed on a computer with a multi-core processor, then in the virtual machine settings for it, you can select several cores for its operation. A virtual machine on two or more CPU cores will run noticeably faster than on one.
Installing a virtual machine on a machine with a single-core processor is not recommended. Such a virtual machine will work slowly and its performance of any tasks will be inefficient.
Correct video settings
Video settings can also affect the speed of the virtual machine. For example, enabling 2D or 3D video acceleration in VirtualBox allows some applications to run much faster. The same applies to the possibility of increasing the video memory.
But, as in the case of RAM, a lot depends on the video adapter that is installed on the main computer.
Virtual machine and SSD drive
The first and best computer upgrade to date is installing an SSD drive on it. This will significantly speed up the operation of the computer, and, accordingly, the virtual machine installed on it.
Some users install virtual machines on another (HDD) disk of their computer, leaving only the main operating system on the SSD. This makes the virtual machine run slower. Free up space on the SSD drive and move the virtual machine to it. The difference in the speed of work will be felt from the first minutes.
If possible, do not place virtual machine disks on external storage media. They are even slower than the built-in HDD. Options are possible with connecting a virtual machine via USB 3.0, but USB 2.0 is out of the question - the virtual machine will work very slowly.
Suspension instead of closing
When you have finished working with a virtual machine, you can pause it instead of shutting it down completely.
The next time you launch the virtual machine application, you can turn on the virtual machine in the same way as usual. But it will load much faster and in exactly the same state and from the place where you finished working last time.
Suspending the guest operating system is very similar to using hibernation instead of shutting down the PC.
Improving performance inside the virtual machine
It is always necessary to remember that the operating system installed on the virtual machine is not much different from the one that runs on the main computer. Its work can be accelerated by following the same principles and using the same methods that are relevant for any other operating system.
For example, system performance will increase if you close background programs or those that automatically start at system startup. System performance is affected by the need to defragment the disk (if the virtual machine is located on the HDD), and so on.
Programs for working with virtual machines
Some users claim that Oracle VirtualBox is the fastest tool for working with a virtual machine, for others - VMware Workstation or
It's scary to think what could happen to the operating system if a virus gets there. And the OS in VirtualBox does not threaten anything! No virus or other bug will be able to get to the main system from a newly installed suspicious program, no matter what you do, no matter what you do, the state of the guest OS can be returned to a working state with just a few keystrokes - for this it will be enough to select a pre-taken snapshot of a healthy system.
Beginning in articles:
Virtual machine. Virtual machine settings.
It's time for the settings of the virtual machine itself. In the upper left corner, click on the icon "Tune".
An additional window with settings will open. You will see in the first window your system name, type and version.
In the tab "Additionally" you need to specify a place to store the system snapshots that you will take.
Specify the clipboard settings, how it will interact with the main system.
Enable or disable the mini toolbar about the system status, connected devices and its location (by default it is located at the bottom of the screen).
On the menu "System" tab "Motherboard" the size of the RAM you have already installed will be indicated.
You can also set the boot device order here. Install the first device from where the operating system will be installed.
In the advanced settings, you can leave everything as it is. If so, an explanation for each item is displayed at the bottom of the window.
In the tab "CPU" indicates how many processors are available and how many will be used in the virtual machine. If you install OS 32 (86), then there should be 1 processor, if 64, then 2 processors or more, it all depends on the capabilities of your computer.
The item "CPU Load Limit" sets the maximum size for the load of the main processor. I always set 75% and that's enough.
Check the box "Additional Features" -> "Enable "PAE/NX" so the guest system can directly work with the processor.
Menu item "Display", tab "Video"- here you set the graphical memory size for the video card of the virtual machine. How much to install is up to you. If you are going to play serious games in it, then of course the graphics should be high.
"Number of monitors"- shows how many monitors are available and on how many monitors you want to display the virtual machine.
"Additional features" allow you to specify whether 2D and 3D graphics will be used in the system.
In the menu item "Carriers" the number of virtual and real connected CD / DVD media and hard drives is set.
In the inner window "Information carriers" select "IDE controller", two icons will appear to add disks, hard drive and CD/DVD or virtual.
Select the one you need and set it as empty (see screenshot). Further here, on the right, you will see "Drive", where you need to set its parameters and indicate the location, whether it will be a disk image, or a virtual drive, or a real drive. Below, for the speed of work and permission to work directly, you can set the corresponding checkboxes in the items.
Be sure to install primary IDE drive with the installed operating system.
Menu item "Audio". The operating settings are always already set by default, but if you want to change them, use another sound device present on your computer, or turn off the sound altogether, make the appropriate settings.
Next item "Net". In the latest versions of VirtualBox, all the settings for interacting with the network card are already configured by default and are quite functional, unlike the first versions of the program, where everything had to be configured manually after browsing the entire Internet in search of a hint.
If you also have a network card installed and you work with two providers, or maybe you have a home network, then of course all this can be configured here. All the details in another article.
In step "USB" nothing can be touched, unless of course you want to connect an additional device. And flash drives can be manipulated directly from the virtual machine by selecting the menu "Devices", paragraph "USB" and choose which flash drive you want to connect. Attention! If you switch the flash drive to the guest system, then it will not be displayed in the real system and the opposite will happen after turning it off from the guest.
And the last menu item "Shared Folders". Here you can add or remove shared folders for real and guest OS. They are connected in the virtual machine as a network drive, so when connecting, immediately check the box "Auto-connect". And you can also choose how the folder will work with files in this network drive, with full control access or "Only for reading".
The virtual machine is now set up. You can safely run it and install the guest operating system.
We got a little familiar with processor virtualization technology and learned how to enable this feature. Today we will continue the topic, we will install virtual operating systems on a computer, configure resources, and launch.
This issue provides a brief overview of the two most popular shells for creating and using virtual machines. These programs are also called hypervisors.
Virtual machines can be easily and independently installed on ordinary home computers, but they are also widely used on servers.
Virtual servers with virtual remote desktops are created to solve various tasks on one physical computer.
What is a virtual machine on a PC and its purpose
For personal use, it is quite suitable if you decide to master a new operating system on your own. Now you do not need to have an additional computer. No need to remove the familiar Windows. You can learn while browsing mail and social networks and at the same time gain skills in installing, configuring new, useful and interesting programs. Developers test how applications work in new and old environments, test the operation of both operating systems and programs and hardware.
But the main purpose is perhaps not in this, but in the obvious savings. After all, it is not for nothing that this technology has been developed for a long time. For servers to work, first of all, you need high-performance equipment, which is expensive. A typical server uses its resources somewhere around 40-60%. And if there are two or more such servers, then it turns out that half of the capacities are idle.
To get rid of clustering, do not implement a bunch of physical servers and virtual machines are designed. On the same computer, you can install, for example, a mail server, a DNS server, a domain controller, and a proxy server. With the right calculation and configuration, you will have four servers running on one physical server. The physical computer will run at optimal power.
How to set up a Hyper -V virtual machine for Windows?
The hypervisor program is designed to install, configure, run and manage virtual machines. In Windows 10, the developers made their own, built-in, and you don’t have to buy anything in this way. By default, this snap-in is not visible in the operating system and we need to install it as an additional component. To do this, in the "Control Panel" we find the link "Programs", and in it "Install additional Windows components"
Check the boxes for the required components:
The installation of the hypervisor will begin, and the changes will be applied. The system will ask you to reboot.
When rebooting, do not forget to check if processor virtualization is enabled in the BIOS!
What else do we need to run a virtual operating system? We just need to find its iso image and download it to your computer. I have a distro of Linux Fedora for astronomy enthusiasts in the form of Iso. I wonder what operating system it is? Let's first find our Hypervisor. To do this, click on the "Start" menu, go down and find "Administrative Tools".
You can display shortcuts on the desktop for convenience. The manager is designed to manage virtual machines. And "quick creation" speaks for itself. Click on this label. By default, the system offers to create a Windows 10 or Linux-Ubuntu virtual machine. But today we will look for another image, click "Change installation source":
Do not forget to specify the network adapter and the name of the virtual machine in the "advanced parameters".
In the "Explorer" we are looking for our desired image of the operating system:
Then press the big blue button:
Virtual machine Hyper-V is created with default options, usually the minimum system requirements to run. The system itself selects the number of processor cores, allocates the optimal amount of RAM, creates a virtual hard disk based on the available space. The location of the virtual machine is also automatically selected on the disk. But you can change all the settings for yourself. Before connecting, go to:
All parameters are changeable; carefully read what and for what it is intended:
After you can connect.
Like any operating system, the virtual one also requires installation. Everything is the same as in real life :)
Typical Linux installation:
After loading the KDE graphical shell, we will continue to install the distribution kit on the VIRTUAL hard drive by selecting the appropriate shortcut:
The Hyper-V virtual machine is managed by clicking the buttons at the top of the panel:
The buttons allow you to start, pause, shut down, create a checkpoint, and export the virtual machine. Everything is like in a real computer :). Hyper-V will be fine on server editions of Windows. True, there is a lot to set up. And this hypervisor crashed a couple of times after major cumulative updates of the “dozens”. It had to be reinstalled.
VM Workstation virtual machine overview, how to set up and install
Another popular solution is VM Ware Workstation. This is a very flexible software solution, I had no problems with it. It's not free. But it is lightweight, and works flawlessly, it was easy to set up. Downloading and setting up the program. On the latest editions of Windows 10, the hypervisor will not start, the program will give an error. If you get an error when you first start the virtual machine vmware player and device/credential guard are not compatible, first .
We agree with the instructions of the master; after installation, restart the computer. We find the launch file through the Start menu and click on it:
Open the program, create a new virtual machine.
Choose the usual type of installation:
Next, the wizard, as expected, will offer to install the operating system. He offers to do this either from a CD / DVD disc or from an ISO file. I have a file on the disk, and I will use it. In this example, I'm installing Windows XP.
When using "express install", parameters such as computer name, keyboard layout, product key, username, account will be set by default. This is not always convenient, and this data is corrected after installation, or at the time of creating an image of the operating system. But in the latter case, you will have to go through all the steps manually - just like on a physical computer.
Do not forget to specify the name of the virtual machine and its location in the next window.
Here we come to the key settings. You need to specify the size of the virtual hard disk:
Almost done. For most operating systems, the hypervisor selects the optimal sizes for both memory and hard disk, but they can be changed later:
We start the virtual machine, after that the installation of the operating system will begin. Please note that peripheral devices connected to a physical computer can also be used in a virtual machine. Some of them (flash drives, external hard drives) will need to be connected manually through the menu "Virtual Machine" - "Connected equipment"
Management of virtual machines is clear and simple. There is also a control panel, which is located at the top of the window:
Windows XP virtual machine on Windows 10 video
Let's see an example of creating a virtual machine in a short video:
Nothing complicated! Good luck!
A virtual machine, for its stable operation, needs a sufficient amount of system resources allocated to it. This, first of all, concerns the use of free RAM, graphics memory and, accordingly, the resources of the central processor.
On a personal computer with outdated components, you can, of course, run the virtual machine itself, but the operating systems installed in it will run very slowly or will not start at all.
On a medium-sized PC, the emulated operating systems can function relatively stably, and with proper configuration of the VM parameters, you can squeeze out the maximum performance. Comfortable work is the most important thing, right?
The following few tips will help you do this, no matter which virtualization system you choose. These can be the most popular and quite functional, VMware, or, for example, less common among ordinary users - Virtual PC, Parallels, etc.
Let's see what we can do to improve performance. Let's start?!
VIRTUAL MACHINE
Create disk with fixed size instead of dynamic. When creating a VM, you can choose between two types of virtual disks, fixed or dynamic. By default, the last one mentioned above is used and, as an advantage, it takes up little space immediately when it is created. As a disadvantage, it grows during use and is slower than fixed.
Install your virtual machine tools. After installing the operating system, the first thing you need to do is install the Guest Additions, which help the hardware run faster. The required item is located in the "Devices" menu of the VirtualBox guest operating system. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation.
Add exceptions to your antivirus. Anyone can check your VM files on every access, degrading performance. This is a useless scan, it will not detect viruses. To speed up the process, you can add the entire virtual machine directory to the antivirus exclusion list.
Take care to enable Intel VT-x/AMD-V. VT-x and AMD-V are special processor tools that enhance virtualization. They can be activated automatically or manually. You may need to go into your computer's BIOS and enable the setting yourself. It is also worth making sure that it is enabled in the VirtualBox settings.
Allocate more RAM. Virtual machines are gluttonous, as a result, it is recommended to allocate at least 2 GB of RAM to them. More is possible, but preferably at least one third of the available.
Allocate more CPU cores. Your computer's CPU does a huge job of running the VM and its software. Therefore, the more cores it uses, the better it will work. They can be assigned in the settings window.
Add video memory. Adjusting some video settings can also improve speed. For example, turning on the 2D or 3D acceleration feature will allow you to use some applications at a more reasonable speed.
Use an SSD whenever possible. SSD is one of the best places to host virtualization systems.
Suspend instead of shutting down. When you're done, you can save the state of the machine instead of completely shutting it down, and the next time you start the guest operating system, it will pick up where you left off instead of starting from scratch.
Improve performance inside. Your virtual OS can be configured in the same way as the main operating system. Reduce the number of background applications, as well as programs in . Use the Disk Optimization tool (defragmentation), etc. That's all!
View a list of all computer tips in . We look forward to your participation in our FB group.
Let's take a closer look at what virtual machines for Windows are and what they are for. Learn all about the best OS simulators and how to get started using them.
A virtual machine (VM) is a computer application with which a user can create a simulation of an operating system. An OS image is installed on the machine for use inside an existing system. Very convenient, isn't it? But there are also pitfalls. Read what you will encounter during installation and which virtual machine for Windows versions 7.8 and 10 is better to choose.
Why do you need virtual machines for PC?
In most cases, VMs are used to test software in . To work with multiple operating systems, you need only one computer, which significantly speeds up the work.
You can run multiple virtual machines on the same computer at the same time. Their number depends on the available RAM and space on the child's disk, since the virtual OS consumes exactly the same memory resource as the regular copy installed on the computer.
With the help of virtual machines, you can work with programs and functions that are not available in the main OS. Also, it is possible to create backup copies of VMs, with their subsequent movement and use on other computers.
Viruses, bugs and other failures of the virtual OS do not affect the operation of the main system. After the machine is closed, the additional OS stops and the RAM is freed.
During the operation of the VM, the device may slow down, because the increased consumption of storage resources leads to an increase in the processing time of requests.
Reasons for installing a VM:
- You want to get acquainted with the work of other operating systems without their full installation. If there is a need to replace an existing OS, first use the virtual simulator to test other software options. This will save you from possible bugs and incompatibility with the hardware;
- You are a developer and want to create a comprehensive system for testing applications you create.
virtual box
VirtualBox is a virtual machine for Windows 7,8,10. The virtualization environment is distributed free of charge and can be installed both to work with operating systems and to deploy network infrastructure and hosting sites.
VirtualBox main window:
The main feature of this virtual machine is cross-platform. It works great on all versions of Windows. Also, from the developer's site you can download installers for Mac OS, Debian. In the virtualization environment itself, you can install any desktop OS.
With VirtualBox, you can familiarize yourself with the functionality of the OS or test the program in safe mode without harming the main system. Often users prefer to install old games on virtual machines that are incompatible with modern operating systems.
After the simulator is completed, all data and changes will be saved. The next time you turn it on, you will be returned to the desktop and can continue to perform tasks.
Advantages and disadvantages
Benefits of VirtualBox:
- Free distribution. 90% of similar software is paid, while VirtualBox can be obtained completely free of charge. The functions and capabilities of the program are not limited to the developer;
- Ability to create screenshots - screenshots of a virtual system. The resulting image will only display the additional OS window. Taking screenshots with the main OS degrades the resolution and also captures your regular desktop;
- Creation of an exact copy of an existing virtual machine;
- Ability to drag and drop folders, shortcuts and other objects inside the simulator;
- Unified file system - from the virtual machine you can access the directories that are stored on the PC, and vice versa;
- Simultaneous work with several machines.
Also, a distinctive feature of the new VirtualBox 4 is a convenient virtualization management system and an intuitive program workspace. Also, in the new assembly, the ability to capture video from the screen of an additional OS is available.
VirtualBox supports working with USB-drives connected to the computer.
Program disadvantages:
- Computer slowdown. Even if your PC has good technical specifications, enough space for RAM and permanent memory, when using a virtual machine, you will experience slower performance of all functions. If during the process of creating a VM you allocated too much memory to it, the computer will freeze or shut down severely;
- Insufficient video memory. If you need to achieve the highest quality image, it will be difficult to do this using VirtualBox. The program allows you to configure the settings for using the video card only at the basic level.
How to install
To install the VirtualBox program, download the installer from the official website of the developer - Oracle. The installation process is standard and does not require additional settings:
- Run the EXE file;
- Select the Hard disk where the root folder with the program will be located;
- Wait for the installation to complete. If necessary, the user can view hard disk usage statistics during the installation process.
In the "Custom Setup" field, it is possible to disable support for USB, network services. This allows you to reduce the final size of the application.
Video tutorial on how to install two OS using VirtualBox
After installing the program, you can start creating the first virtual machine. Click on the "Create" button in the upper left corner of the window. The VM settings tab will open:
In the setup wizard window, select the type of virtual OS (Windows, Linux, Debian, MacOS) and its version. Specify a name for the created simulator and click on the "Next" button.
Then, the program will give you the opportunity to independently specify the amount of RAM that will be allocated for an additional OS. For novice users, we advise you to set the value that is indicated in the "Recommended main memory size" field.
The size of the RAM for the VM should be determined depending on the technical characteristics of your PC. If your computer has 4 GB of RAM available, 512 MB-1 GB will be enough for the simulator to work properly.
Next, the program will ask you to select an OS image in the file system (which corresponds to the previously specified family and version). When the setup is completed, a window will appear with a brief listing of all parameters. Click on "Finish".
After the installation of virtual Windows is completed, an icon for starting the OS will appear in the main window of VirtualBox. Click on it and wait for the desktop to load. If necessary, install the drivers.
To update drivers automatically, open the Devices tab in the virtual machine toolbar. Then click on the desired media type and follow the instructions in the new window to get the new software.
Ready. Now you can start working with the virtual operating system. To exit the program, first turn off the OS, and then close VirtualBox.
VMware
VMWare Workstation is the best virtual machine for Windows 10. The developer positions the program as a convenient platform for creating . Compared to other popular counterparts, VMWare supports more features for customizing a virtual machine and allows you to synchronize the simulator with software development tools.
This virtualization environment is popular among programmers, web designers and other professionals who often have to test their projects for cross-platform.
Advantages and disadvantages
Among the advantages of VMWare are:
- Convenient toolbar;
- Synchronization with Microsoft development tools, in particular the .NET platform and the Visual Studio software environment;
- Safety system. Built-in VMWare tools provide a high level of protection for your files in an additional OS. The simulator can detect attempts by malicious activity to eliminate them;
- Operation of encryption services for the created virtual machines.
Application disadvantages:
- Paid distribution. The user can download a free trial version of the utility, but to get the full version of the application with all available features, you will need to pay for an annual or monthly subscription;
- Not suitable for beginners. If you have not used operating system simulators before, we recommend that you start with simpler options. For example, VirtualBox and Hyper V standard for Windows. VMWare is suitable for advanced users who prefer to manually configure the system.
How to install
You can download a virtual machine for Windows from the official website of the developer VMWare.com.
It is recommended to turn off Windows Defender or other running antivirus during the installation process. This is only necessary for the correct installation of all files and encryption algorithms that the program uses for virtual machines. No harm will be done to your main OS, since the product is downloaded from an official source.
Overview of the functionality and the first setup of the program
To create the first virtual machine in VMWare, you will need to download the OS distribution kit that you want to use in the emulator to your computer. Then open the window of the installed application and click on the field "Create a new virtual machine"
Note! The user can create a group of virtual machines instead of several simulators. This allows you to reduce the resource of consumed RAM and speed up the computer and the OS simulator.
In the VM Configuration Wizard window, specify the path to the operating system image (it can be a file in the computer's memory or a boot disk). Also, it is possible to set up a virtual machine without installing the OS (you can install it later).
- In the window that appears, specify the OS name, username and password for accessing the account;
- Specify on which disk of your computer the virtual machine will be stored;
- Allocate the amount of RAM you need to run the VM;
- Set up the equipment (automatically or manually).
After completing the virtual machine setup, wait for the OS image to install and start working:
Microsoft Virtual PC
Microsoft Virtual PC is another popular virtual machine emulator. The program is well compatible with all versions of OS Windows. If you are using a Microsoft product as your main OS, we recommend choosing Microsoft Virtual PC for emulation.
Advantages and disadvantages
Emulator Benefits:
- Excellent compatibility with all versions of Windows OS. In most cases, the user does not need to install any additional drivers for the virtual OS. All of them are synchronized with the main system;
- Shared access to the file system. Access files stored on the PC hard drive through the VM window;
- Support for 64-bit Windows OS in "Guest host" and "Guest environment" operating modes;
- Support for hardware virtualization.
Disadvantages:
- There are paid features. The program is distributed free of charge, but you will have to buy a subscription to support setting up a group of virtual operating systems;
- There is no support for Linux-like systems.
Overview of the functionality and the first setup of the program
To install a virtual OS, first load its image into the computer's memory, and then open the Microsoft Virtual PC application. Click on the "Create a virtual machine" button and in the new window configure the following settings:
- Set the name of the new OS;
- Allocate space for her hard drive and the amount of RAM;
- Select which devices the VM will support (network environment, flash drives, and so on).
Outcome
We have told you about the best virtual machines for Windows, but not all of them. If you think that these are not the best - write in the comments! Help novice readers decide which emulator to start with.
