> On Mon, 27 Apr 2009 06:05:02 -0700, Tester
> <(email address - cut out)> wrote:
>
> >I have just read an article that said Microsoft will ship VPC on Windows 7,
> >to support "Windows XP mode" in order to encourage "small business users to
> >move to Windows 7.
> >
> >As far as I know there are three major virtual PC solutions, VMWare, VPC and
> >VirtualBox. The only reason I don't use VPC is that it lacks support for USB!
> >For example, there are an old software that is used at my office, it checks
> >license by a USB dongle. There is another embedded development tool that
> >connects to a debugging device via USB. So in order to move the company move
> >to Windows 7, the virtual PC solution must support USB or the software
> >vendors provide drivers for Windows 7. Since the latter option is not always
> >available, for example the software company is out of business, it's better
> >for the VPC to support USB.
> >
> >What is the reason that VPC doesn't support USB while VMWare and VirtualBox
> >do?
>
> THis is a question asked about once a week or so and it is invariably
> *not* replied to by any official Microsoft person with inside
> information. At least not wit giving any time scale for actual
> implementation..
>
> That being so we can safely assume that Microsoft is not at all
> interested in supplying support for USB in the guests of their
> virtualization software. One could argue that VPC2007 is not really a
> Microsoft product, they bought it from Connectrix a few years back so
> they might consider it a product only barely maintained.
>
> But then realize that not even the very latest offering, Hyper-V, has
> support for USB! And this is new development from MS...
>
> Concerning USB software protection hardware keys I have today tested a
> working solution at least for the SafeNet Sentinel SuperPro:
> An external USB hub connected to via the TCP/IP network from the
> company DIGI (AnywhereUSB) can actually (with some work) be configured
> to be used by a virtual computer!
> It is a rather costrly solution, but for me at least it *is* a
> solution....
>
> --
>
> Bo Berglund (Sweden)
>

>I have just read an article that said Microsoft will ship VPC on Windows 7,
>to support "Windows XP mode" in order to encourage "small business users to
>move to Windows 7.
>
>As far as I know there are three major virtual PC solutions, VMWare, VPC and
>VirtualBox. The only reason I don't use VPC is that it lacks support for USB!
>For example, there are an old software that is used at my office, it checks
>license by a USB dongle. There is another embedded development tool that
>connects to a debugging device via USB. So in order to move the company move
>to Windows 7, the virtual PC solution must support USB or the software
>vendors provide drivers for Windows 7. Since the latter option is not always
>available, for example the software company is out of business, it's better
>for the VPC to support USB.
>
>What is the reason that VPC doesn't support USB while VMWare and VirtualBox
>do?

>> It is a rather costrly solution, but for me at least it *is* a
>> solution....
>
> Yes the DIGI AnywhereUSB does work, to a small extent. It is intended for
> USB software keys and dongles. Not sure if it will allow storage and other
> periphs...

>PabloCruzio wrote:
>>> It is a rather costrly solution, but for me at least it *is* a
>>> solution....
>>
>> Yes the DIGI AnywhereUSB does work, to a small extent. It is intended for
>> USB software keys and dongles. Not sure if it will allow storage and other
>> periphs...
>
>Boy, that's a helluva "solution" to foist off on the *honest* users of one's wares.
>
>Shame on those vendors.

>
>
>"Bo Berglund" wrote:
>> Concerning USB software protection hardware keys I have today tested a
>> working solution at least for the SafeNet Sentinel SuperPro:
>> An external USB hub connected to via the TCP/IP network from the
>> company DIGI (AnywhereUSB) can actually (with some work) be configured
>> to be used by a virtual computer!
>> It is a rather costrly solution, but for me at least it *is* a
>> solution....
>>
>> --
>>
>> Bo Berglund (Sweden)
>>
>Yes the DIGI AnywhereUSB does work, to a small extent. It is intended for
>USB software keys and dongles. Not sure if it will allow storage and other
>periphs...

> What is the reason that VPC doesn't support USB while VMWare and
> VirtualBox
> do?

> On Mon, 27 Apr 2009 18:37:47 -0700, "Karl E. Peterson" <(email address - cut out)> wrote:
>>PabloCruzio wrote:
>>>> It is a rather costrly solution, but for me at least it *is* a
>>>> solution....
>>>
>>> Yes the DIGI AnywhereUSB does work, to a small extent. It is intended for
>>> USB software keys and dongles. Not sure if it will allow storage and other
>>> periphs...
>>
>>Boy, that's a helluva "solution" to foist off on the *honest* users of one's
>>wares.
>>
>>Shame on those vendors.
>
> Are you shaming DIGI and the others who are supplying a solution to
> the problem of remote access to USB devices or are you shaming
> virtualization software makers that force these workarounds on us to
> get USB into the virtual machines?
> It is not really clear from your comment what your view is....
> Notice that AnywhereUSB and the SILEX products are not specifically
> aimed at virtual computers, they instead target the market of
> relocating the USB devices via the network thus allowing multiple
> users access to them (albeit one at a time).

>"Tester" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
>news:(email address - cut out)...
>> What is the reason that VPC doesn't support USB while VMWare and
>> VirtualBox
>> do?
>
>
>Because MS clearly does not care about having a competitive virtualization
>product.

>On Mon, 27 Apr 2009 06:05:02 -0700, Tester
><(email address - cut out)> wrote:
>
>>I have just read an article that said Microsoft will ship VPC on Windows 7,
>>to support "Windows XP mode" in order to encourage "small business users to
>>move to Windows 7.
>>
>>As far as I know there are three major virtual PC solutions, VMWare, VPC and
>>VirtualBox. The only reason I don't use VPC is that it lacks support for USB!
>>For example, there are an old software that is used at my office, it checks
>>license by a USB dongle. There is another embedded development tool that
>>connects to a debugging device via USB. So in order to move the company move
>>to Windows 7, the virtual PC solution must support USB or the software
>>vendors provide drivers for Windows 7. Since the latter option is not always
>>available, for example the software company is out of business, it's better
>>for the VPC to support USB.
>>
>>What is the reason that VPC doesn't support USB while VMWare and VirtualBox
>>do?
>
>THis is a question asked about once a week or so and it is invariably
>*not* replied to by any official Microsoft person with inside
>information. At least not wit giving any time scale for actual
>implementation..
>
>That being so we can safely assume that Microsoft is not at all
>interested in supplying support for USB in the guests of their
>virtualization software. One could argue that VPC2007 is not really a
>Microsoft product, they bought it from Connectrix a few years back so
>they might consider it a product only barely maintained.
>
>But then realize that not even the very latest offering, Hyper-V, has
>support for USB! And this is new development from MS...
>

>> Does this mean that unless we update our hosts to Windows7 RC we are
>> left without USB support in the guests?
>>
>> --
>>
>> Bo Berglund (Sweden)
>
> That is certainly how I read it. VPC7 will only run on Windows 7.

>On Tue, 28 Apr 2009 09:39:08 -0400, "Bob Campbell" <(email address - cut out)>
>wrote:
>
>>"Tester" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
>>news:(email address - cut out)...
>>> What is the reason that VPC doesn't support USB while VMWare and
>>> VirtualBox
>>> do?
>>
>>
>>Because MS clearly does not care about having a competitive virtualization
>>product.
>
>http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=2621
>MJF: Will Virtual PC 7 be available independently of Virtual XP? Or
>are the two only available hand-in-hand?
>
>Woodgate: Customers can use Windows Virtual PC independently of
>Windows XP Mode. We expect developers and IT Professionals to do
>this, as they do today, and we catered to these folks by adding the
>commonly requested support for USB to Windows Virtual PC.

> "David Wilkinson" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
> news:(email address - cut out)...
>
>>>> Does this mean that unless we update our hosts to Windows7 RC we are
>>>> left without USB support in the guests?
>
>>> That is certainly how I read it. VPC7 will only run on Windows 7.
>
>> I guess I am concerned that VPC 2007 will not be updated for Windows
>> 7, and that only VPC7 will work. VPC7 sounds great, but not if you do
>> not have hardware virtualization.
>
> http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=2621

>reports of display problems in the Windows 7 Beta.
>Also Windows 7 does not run well as a guest on the current VPC (though it works
>well in VMWare workstation).
>I guess I am concerned that VPC 2007 will not be updated for Windows 7, and that
>only VPC7 will work. VPC7 sounds great, but not if you do not have hardware
>virtualization.
>Bill Grant wrote:
>>> Does this mean that unless we update our hosts to Windows7 RC we are
>>> left without USB support in the guests?
>>>
>>> --
>>>
>>> Bo Berglund (Sweden)
>>
>> That is certainly how I read it. VPC7 will only run on Windows 7.
>
>I also get the impression that VPC7 will require hardware virtualization, which
>is not good if your machine does not have it.
>
>Do we think that VPC 2007 will run on a Windows 7 host? There have been some
>reports of display problems in the Windows 7 Beta.
>
>Also Windows 7 does not run well as a guest on the current VPC (though it works
>well in VMWare workstation).
>
>I guess I am concerned that VPC 2007 will not be updated for Windows 7, and that
>only VPC7 will work. VPC7 sounds great, but not if you do not have hardware
>virtualization.

>> Do we think that VPC 2007 will run on a Windows 7 host? There have been some
>> reports of display problems in the Windows 7 Beta.
>
> It does. The problem with the blank screen is the video driver on the
> host, and update to that has fixed it on all my machines.
>
>> Also Windows 7 does not run well as a guest on the current VPC (though it works
>> well in VMWare workstation).
>
> It worked fine here.
>
>> I guess I am concerned that VPC 2007 will not be updated for Windows 7, and that
>> only VPC7 will work. VPC7 sounds great, but not if you do not have hardware
>> virtualization.
>
> I don't know if new additions will come out for Win7 running in a VM,
> but there's no problem running VPC2007 on a Win7 host.

>>> Does this mean that unless we update our hosts to Windows7 RC we are
>>> left without USB support in the guests?
>> That is certainly how I read it. VPC7 will only run on Windows 7.
> I guess I am concerned that VPC 2007 will not be updated for Windows 7,
> and that only VPC7 will work. VPC7 sounds great, but not if you do not
> have hardware virtualization.

> On Tue, 28 Apr 2009 17:58:24 -0700, "Steve Jain [MVP]"
> <(email address - cut out)> wrote:
>
>>On Tue, 28 Apr 2009 09:39:08 -0400, "Bob Campbell" <(email address - cut out)>
>>wrote:
>>
>>>"Tester" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
>>>news:(email address - cut out)...
>>>> What is the reason that VPC doesn't support USB while VMWare and
>>>> VirtualBox
>>>> do?
>>>
>>>
>>>Because MS clearly does not care about having a competitive
>>>virtualization
>>>product.
>>
>>http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=2621
>>MJF: Will Virtual PC 7 be available independently of Virtual XP? Or
>>are the two only available hand-in-hand?
>>
>>Woodgate: Customers can use Windows Virtual PC independently of
>>Windows XP Mode. We expect developers and IT Professionals to do
>>this, as they do today, and we catered to these folks by adding the
>>commonly requested support for USB to Windows Virtual PC.
>
> Does this mean that unless we update our hosts to Windows7 RC we are
> left without USB support in the guests?
>
> --
>
> Bo Berglund (Sweden)

> VPC7 requires hardware virtualization as well as Windows 7.
>
> http://msmvps.com/blogs/donna/archive/2009/04/30/windows-xp-mode-in-windows-7-requires-2gb-and-pc-with-intel-vt-or-amd-v-enabled-in-the-cpu.aspx

>> Don't you think that the necessity for 2GB ram and (especially)
>> hardware virtualization will completely nullify Windows XP mode as a
>> motivator for switching from XP to Windows 7 on existing hardware?
>
> Maybe, but that is not what it is designed to do. As Scott Woodgate
> made clear, this is aimed at application compatibility for small
> business and they expect most users to buy new equipment already
> configured.

> Bill Grant wrote:
>>> Don't you think that the necessity for 2GB ram and (especially) hardware
>>> virtualization will completely nullify Windows XP mode as a motivator
>>> for switching from XP to Windows 7 on existing hardware?
>>
>> Maybe, but that is not what it is designed to do. As Scott Woodgate made
>> clear, this is aimed at application compatibility for small business and
>> they expect most users to buy new equipment already configured.
>
> Bill:
>
> Really? I would have thought that the people who cling to old software are
> by and large the same ones that cling to old hardware. And they do so for
> the same reason: limited resources.
>
> --
> David Wilkinson
> Visual C++ MVP

> Those people won't upgrade. Win 7's XP mode is for people who want to
> upgrade, have a capable machine, but have some required applications
> with compatibility issues. It's not intended to be magic that lets old
> machines seem like new machines.
>
> If someone with limited resources also has minor technical skills, you
> can buy 4GB of ram these days for as little as $35. That would be less
> than the cost of the OS upgrade, so it doesn't add much. That might be a
> very reasonable solution for someone with a 3-year old computer, or
> maybe even a 5-year old computer. I wouldn't consider an os upgrade very
> likely for machines more than 5 years old.

> Robert Comer wrote:
>>> Do we think that VPC 2007 will run on a Windows 7 host? There have been
>>> some reports of display problems in the Windows 7 Beta.
>>
>> It does. The problem with the blank screen is the video driver on the
>> host, and update to that has fixed it on all my machines.
>>
>>> Also Windows 7 does not run well as a guest on the current VPC (though
>>> it works well in VMWare workstation).
>>
>> It worked fine here.
>>
>>> I guess I am concerned that VPC 2007 will not be updated for Windows 7,
>>> and that only VPC7 will work. VPC7 sounds great, but not if you do not
>>> have hardware virtualization.
>>
>> I don't know if new additions will come out for Win7 running in a VM,
>> but there's no problem running VPC2007 on a Win7 host.
>
> Thanks, Bob:
>
> VPC7 looks great, but the machine I want to move to Windows 7 does not
> have hardware virtualization, so I will need to use VPC2007 (or VMWare) to
> get the XP capability I need.
>
> [Yes, most people have no problem running Windows 7 as a guest in VPC2007
> (using the Vista additions), but some do. For me it was impossibly slow,
> so I switched to VMWare, which worked fine.]
>
> --
> David Wilkinson
> Visual C++ MVP

> Bill Grant wrote:
>> VPC7 requires hardware virtualization as well as Windows 7.
>>
>> http://msmvps.com/blogs/donna/archive/2009/04/30/windows-xp-mode-in-windows-7-requires-2gb-and-pc-with-intel-vt-or-amd-v-enabled-in-the-cpu.aspx
>
> Bill:
>
> Don't you think that the necessity for 2GB ram and (especially) hardware
> virtualization will completely nullify Windows XP mode as a motivator for
> switching from XP to Windows 7 on existing hardware?
>
> --
> David Wilkinson
> Visual C++ MVP