How to Migrate Guest PCs from the Trial Version of Virtual PC for Windows to the Retail Version (824667)

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To migrate guest PCs from the trial version of Virtual PC to the retail version, use either of the following methods. When you remove the trial version of Virtual PC, the .vhd drive image files are not removed. The Windows registry entries that record the details of the guest PC's operating system configuration information are removed from the host PC.

Method 1: The Trial Version Has Been Removed, or You Do Not Have Many Guest PCs to Migrate

For each guest PC that you want to migrate, follow these steps:

1. On the host PC, start Virtual PC.
2. Click New PC.
3. Click Next.
4. Type a name for this guest PC, and then click Next.
5. Click Guide Me, and then click Next.
6. In the list of operating systems, click the version of Windows that the guest PC is running, and then click Next.
7. Accept the default memory setting, or adjust it to the correct one, and then click Next.
8. Click Select an existing hard disk image, and then click Next.
9. Click Browse, select the image, and then click Open.
10. Click to select Enable undo support. This step is optional.
11. Click Next, and then click Finish.

Method 2: The Trial Version Has Not Been Removed, or You Have Many Guest PCs to Migrate

If you installed the retail version of Virtual PC for Windows and have any guest PCs in the retail version, do not use this method.

Note Because there are several versions of Microsoft Windows, the following steps may be different on your computer. If they are, see your product documentation to complete these steps.

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

1. Shut down all guest PCs in the trial version of Virtual PC for Windows. If you have the Undo Drives feature turned on, you may be prompted to select a shut down option. Click Shut down PC and keep changes. Do not save the state of any guest PCs.
2. Point to Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.
3. Locate and then click the following subkey:

   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Connectix

4. On the File menu, click Export.
5. Type a name for the key, and then save the file to the desktop.
6. Quit Registry Editor.
7. Verify that the file is on the desktop.
8. Locate and then open the following folder:

   C:\Program Files\Connectix\Virtual PC 5.2 Trial Online Installer

9. In that folder, double-click Autorun.exe.
10. Click Install Virtual PC 5.2 Trial Version, and then click Next.
11. Click Remove, and then click Finish.
    
    The trial version is removed.
12. Restart the host PC.
13. Install the retail version of Virtual PC for Windows.
14. Restart the host PC to finish the installation.
15. On the desktop, right-click the export file, and then click Open With.
16. Select WordPad, and then click OK.
17. On the Edit menu, click Replace.
18. In the Find what box, type Virtual PC Trial; in the Replace with box, type Virtual PC, and then click Replace All.
19. Save the file, and then quit WordPad.
20. Double-click the modified export file, and then click Yes to confirm that you want to import the settings.

All the guest PCs from the trial version are now available in the retail version of Virtual PC for Windows.