Testing Software with a Free Virtual Machine Solution

Are you looking for a Windows PC just to create and test a layer? There is a free and fast solution to use a machine with Microsoft Windows XP/Vista OS without pay one cent for the Windows license. This solution is supplied by directly by Microsoft.

Microsoft has released for the Virtual PC software solution, with full OS Windows XP Service Pack2 or VISTA. In each of these there is a different MS Internet Explorer 6, 7 and 8 Beta 1.

The main purpose for these machines is as described from Microsoft:

VPC Hard Disk Image for testing web sites on IE on Windows XP SP2

But beside that, you can use these images also for other needs, maybe as Systems Administrator you need to install software, doing tests, or packaging software.

Images will expire after some months (3/4 months), that means you will not use these machines after the expiration date, but during this period you are able to do all your things.

Only requirements is the Microsoft Virtual PC 2007, and of course enough space on your local hard drive.

How to use:

• Download the images from Microsoft Internet Explorer Application Compatibility VPC Image to your local disk
• Expand the VHD file compressed in the downloaded file
• Start the Microsoft Virtual PC 2007
• Create a new Virtual machine and use the VHD file previously expanded.

After these steps you will have a full virtual machine with a base Microsoft OS, the only thing to remember is to download the new image when the VPC images expires.