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.

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 - From eComStation.it

License and availability

• Discontinued commercial software.

Authors & publishers

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