Installing Windows 7 on Virtual PC 2007 SP1

Windows 7 Beta build 7000 has been out for quite some time. I had already installed it on several system including my core desktop as well as some laptops such as the Dell Inspiron 6400 which I had mentioned earlier in my post. 

Today, lets go through the step by step installation on the Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 Sp1 which I guess anyone can do from any system. Virtual PC provides a great way to test the Windows 7 environment (except for drivers).

Ok, lets I presumed you have a Microsoft Password account to login and download the Windows 7 beta and obtain one of the corporate beta CD-KEY. Otherwise, do so here:

32 bits

64 bits

and the CD-KEYs are: 

Windows 7 Beta 64-bit Product Key

7XRCQ-RPY28-YY9P8-R6HD8-84GH3
JYDV8-H8VXG-74RPT-6BJPB-X42V4

482XP-6J9WR-4JXT3-VBPP6-FQF4M
D9RHV-JG8XC-C77H2-3YF6D-RYRJ9

6JKV2-QPB8H-RQ893-FW7TM-PBJ734

HJRK-X6Q28-HWRFY-WDYHJ-K8HDH
QXV7B-K78W2-QGPR6-9FWH9-KGMM7

TQ32R-WFBDM-GFHD2-QGVMH-3P9GC
GG4MQ-MGK72-HVXFW-KHCRF-KW6KY
CRJ8X-Q3D3G-V6T98-HMX62-2W3KX

Windows 7 Beta 32-bit Product Key

6JKV2-QPB8H-RQ893-FW7TM-PBJ73
TQ32R-WFBDM-GFHD2-QGVMH-3P9GC
GG4MQ-MGK72-HVXFW-KHCRF-KW6KY
4HJRK-X6Q28-HWRFY-WDYHJ-K8HDH
QXV7B-K78W2-QGPR6-9FWH9-KGMM7

D9RHV-JG8XC-C77H2-3YF6D-RYRJ9
JYDV8-H8VXG-74RPT-6BJPB-X42V4
7XRCQ-RPY28-YY9P8-R6HD8-84GH3

482XP-6J9WR-4JXT3-VBPP6-FQF4M
RFFTV-J6K7W-MHBQJ-XYMMJ-Q8DCH
XGD8W-B6WBM-8FDJ2-R43TQ-XP3KM

And before you scream at me for posting these keys, I would like to clarify something. If you recalled, I had previously posted a way to "keygen" the CD-KEY from Microsoft website, but I realized its nothing more than a random generator which will pick from the set of keys above. And these are the official corp cd-key used for the beta. So I do not really see a problem here. Well, maybe other than allowing some of you to download the ISO and install without creating a Password account.

Anyway, here we goes. Boot up the DVD and you shall see:

Well, if you do not, then there is seriously some hardware that is totally incompatible with Windows 7 and you should thrash that hardware before Windows 7 launches. In this case, its a virtual pc, so it should not happen at all.

Next, choose Install to start the installation.

You will notice that somehow there is an upgrade option enabled. Well, according to some sources, Windows 7 will upgrade any Vista installation. So, its good to know that we probably can choose NOT to reinstall when Windows 7 launches.

Since we are using a virtual pc, we have to set up the drive and format it for the installation. 

And here we goes. I did not had much problem with the installation, so I suppose you should not have as well since its a similar Virtual PC.

Next, you shall see the familiar, yet a bit different Starting Windows screen after a few reboots.

You shall need to login with the account you created along the way in the wizard. However, you will notice something new, which is the sharing account password, also known as Homegroup. This is a new feature in Windows 7.

After which, you should see the desktop below.

Lastly, do not forget to check for updates. Windows 7 has provides not just security patches, but drivers updates using the build in windows update function.

Well, it is a lot more simple and straight forward as compared to installing Vista on Virtual PC.