Sections:

1. Automatic Setup Instructions
2. Manual Setup Instructions
3. Update Instructions
4. Runtime Setup Instructions
5. Features
6. FAQ (read if you are confused)

1. Automatic Setup Instructions:

2. Manual Setup Instructions:

1. Download Virtual PC Here: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/virtualpc/default.mspx
2. Run the Virtual PC setup and install using all the default options.
3. Run Virtual PC, then close after it's fully initialized (This sets up the files that we will later copy from %AppData%)
4. Copy all the contents of the folder "%Program Files%\Microsoft Virtual PC" to the folder "PortableVirtualPC\App"
5. Copy all the contents of the folder "%Program Files%\Microsoft Virtual PC\Utility\VMNetSrv" to the folder "PortableVirtualPC\bin\VMNetSrv"
6. Copy the file "%AppData%\Microsoft\Virtual PC\VPCKeyboard.dll" to "PortableVirtualPC\App" ***
7. Copy the file "%System32%\drivers\VMM.sys" to "PortableVirtualPC\bin\VMM\VMM.sys"
8. Open Regedit (Start->Run->Regedit) and navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Virtual PC\5.0\Registration" and copy the "PID" number (should be format XXXXX-XXX-XXXXXXX-XXXXX) into the file "PortableVirtualPC\bin\regkey.txt"
9. Uninstall Virtual PC
   

*** Where is this file? See the FAQ!

3. Update Instructions

I haven't really written any code to support updating, but the process is really very simple. If an update for Virtual PC comes out, simply delete the Virtual PC files, and go through the original installation process again.

If I come up with an update for Portable Virtual PC, just overwrite all the old files with the new versions.

The only thing you really should watch out for is that you don't overwrite your 'Virtual Machines' folder.

4. Runtime Setup Instructions

Once Portable Virtual PC is running, everything else works exactly like the regular Virtual PC. The only difference is, you must save all of your files in the folder "PortableVirtualPC/Virtual Machines"

5. Features

• Fastest possible load time - All setup processes run concurrently
• Dynamic virtual machine loading - Virtual machines are linked on run time so you never have to re-setup virtual drive links.
• Advanced file cleanup/Settings restoration - If you already have Virtual PC installed, no files/configurations will be altered. All settings are restored upon Portable Virtual PC closing.
• Crash cleanup - If for some reason Portable Virtual PC goes belly up, don't worry! Just run Portable Virtual PC again, and it will allow you to restore your settings to how they were originally.
• Automatic Setup - I do what I can to make life easy for you.
• Independent reg-key management - You use your own free Virtual PC registration key (keeps me out of trouble)

6. FAQ

Q. Where are these "%Program Files%", "%AppData%", and "%System32%" folders?
A. I used those shorthand folder locations because not all versions of windows use the same location for these folders. Here's some common locations:
%Program Files% = C:\Program Files
%AppData% = C:\Documents and Settings\yourusername\Application Data
%System32% = C:\Windows\system32

If you can't find the AppData folder, make sure you have "Show hidden files and folders" enabled. To enable this, open a folder and go to Tools (tab)->Folder Options...->View (tab)->"Show hidden files and folders" (Radio button)

Q. Why does my internet connection cut out for a couple of seconds whenever I launch or close Portable Virtual PC?
A. In order to be able to share you internet connection with virtual machines, a special driver must be loaded into the system. When the driver is loaded, it reconfigures your connection to work with Virtual PC. This problem is unavoidable since the driver must be loaded in order for Virtual PC to work.

Questions? Comments? Email me at portable@lococobra.com

Cheers,
   -Lococobra