Virtual PC

A software program commonly known as just VPC that allows the OS/2 user to run other x86 operating systems as a task, depending on hardware utilised this is done either by software emulation or if you have a relatively modern system it is done by hardware virtualisation.

Virtual PC for OS/2 was discontinued in 2003 after Microsoft purchased the package, however system integration packs developed for later versions of the software released by MS continue to work with the OS/2 version of the system.

Virtual PC technologies were also used in different Microsoft products:
 * Microsoft Virtual Server
 * Microsoft Windows Virtual PC
 * Microsoft Windows CE 5.0 Device Emulator

Versions

 * Macintosh
 * 1996: Virtual PC 1.0 - (MacOS 7.5.5, PowerPC)
 * 1997: Virtual PC 2.0
 * 1998: Virtual PC 2.1 - last update 2.1.3 (Apr 1999)
 * 1999: Virtual PC 3.0 - last update 3.0.3A (2000-04-26)
 * 2000: Virtual PC 4.0 - last update 4.0.2 (MacOS 8.5, PowerMac G3 or G4)
 * 2001: Virtual PC 5.0 - last update 5.0.4 (2002-06-25), first version for MacOS X
 * 2002: Virtual PC 6.0 - update 6.0.2
 * 2003: Microsoft Virtual PC 6.1 - last update 6.1.1 (2004-02-10)
 * 2004: Microsoft Virtual PC 7 - last update 7.0.3 (2007-08-15)

All versions are capable of running OS/2 guest systems.


 * Windows
 * 2000: Virtual PC 4.0
 * 2001: Virtual PC 4.2
 * 2002: Virtual PC 4.3
 * 2003: Virtual PC 5.0
 * 2003: Virtual PC 5.1
 * 2003: Virtual PC 5.2
 * 2003: Microsoft Virtual PC 2004 (5.3.582)
 * 2004: Microsoft Virtual PC 2004 SP1 - became free product in 2006
 * 2007: Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 (6.0.156.0)
 * 2008: Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 SP1 (6.0.192.0)
 * 2009: Hotfix rollup 958162 (6.0.210.0) - required for screen resolution up to 2048x1920 (32bit).


 * OS/2 Warp
 * 2002: Virtual PC 4.2 for OS/2
 * Mar 2002: Virtual PC 4.3.2 for OS/2
 * Sep 2002: Virtual PC 5 for OS/2
 * Nov 2002: Virtual PC 5.1 for OS/2 - Last known version for OS/2

Publications

 * Virtual PC 5 manual (eComStation.it)

License and availability

 * Discontinued commercial software.

Authors & publishers

 * Eric Traut
 * Connectix (Original developer)
 * Innotek (OS/2 port and guest additions)
 * Microsoft