How to create virtual machine shortcuts in Virtual PC (833142)

SUMMARY

This step-by-step article describes how to create shortcuts to virtual machines that you have created in Microsoft Virtual PC 2004. You can start a particular virtual machine by using a shortcut. You can also use these shortcuts to start virtual machines that have various command-line options enabled.

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Create a virtual machine shortcut

To create a virtual machine shortcut, follow these steps:

1. Start Virtual PC.
2. In the Virtual PC console, click the virtual machine that you want to make a shortcut for.
3. Drag the virtual machine that you selected in step 2 to the desktop of the host operating system.

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Modify the startup options of a virtual machine shortcut

You can start virtual machines that are running under Virtual PC in several different modes by using command-line options in the Target box of the shortcut. For example, when you use the -fullscreen option, the virtual machine starts in full-screen mode.

For more information about Virtual PC command-line options, see the "Command-line options" section of this article.

To modify the command-line options in a virtual machine shortcut, follow these steps:

1. Right-click the virtual machine shortcut that you want to modify, and then click Properties.
2. In the Target box, type the command-line option that you want at the end of the path that appears in the box, and then click OK.
   
   For example, if you want to use the -fullscreen command-line option, type the following text in the Target box:

   "drive:\Program Files\Microsoft Virtual PC\Virtual PC.exe" -pc "VirtualMachineName" -launch -fullscreen

   
   
   Note The path statement to the Virtual PC.exe file and the virtual machine name must be encased in quotation marks.

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Command-line options

This section describes some of the command-line options that are available in Virtual PC. The examples that are listed below show how to type the command-line options in the Target box of the shortcut.

• pc
  Use the pc option to specify a virtual machine in the virtual machine list for an action.
  
  For example, type "drive:\Program Files\Microsoft Virtual PC\Virtual PC.exe" -pc "VirtualMachineName" -launch
• launch
  Use the launch option to start the virtual machine.
  
  For example, type "drive:\Program Files\Microsoft Virtual PC\Virtual PC.exe" -pc "VirtualMachineName" -launch
• fullscreen
  Use the fullscreen option to open the virtual machine in full-screen mode or to switch the virtual machine that is running to full-screen mode.
  
  For example, to open the virtual machine in full-screen mode, type "drive:\Program Files\Microsoft Virtual PC\Virtual PC.exe" -pc "VirtualMachineName" -launch -fullscreen
  
  Or, to switch a virtual machine that is already running to full-screen mode, type "drive:\Program Files\Microsoft Virtual PC\Virtual PC.exe" -pc "VirtualMachineName" -fullscreen
• window
  Use the window option to switch the virtual machine to window mode.
  
  For example, type "drive:\Program Files\Microsoft Virtual PC\Virtual PC.exe" -pc "VirtualMachineName" -window
• pause
  Use the pause option to suspend operation of the virtual machine.
  
  For example, type "drive:\Program Files\Microsoft Virtual PC\Virtual PC.exe" -pc "VirtualMachineName" -pause
• resume
  Use the resume option to start the virtual machine again after you have have used the -pause option.
  
  For example, type "drive:\Program Files\Microsoft Virtual PC\Virtual PC.exe" -pc "VirtualMachineName" -resume
• help
  Use the help option to display the "Using the command line" Help topic. This topic includes a complete list of the command-line options that are available.
  
  For example, type "drive:\Program Files\Microsoft Virtual PC\Virtual PC.exe" -help

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