You may receive an "Unable to initialize Virtual Switch Networking" error message when you start a Virtual PC for Mac Version 7 virtual machine (886382)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Virtual PC for Mac Version 7

SYMPTOMS

When you start a Microsoft Virtual PC for Mac Version 7 virtual machine, you may receive the following error message:
Unable to initialize Virtual Switch Networking.
Access to the external network and host will be unavailable to all guests using Virtual Switch Networking. Guests using Virtual Switch will still be able to access other guests using Virtual Switch.
The virtual machine starts, but you cannot connect to your network or to the Internet from the virtual machine.

CAUSE

This problem occurs when you start a Microsoft Virtual PC for Mac Version 6.1 virtual machine that uses Virtual Switch Networking before you start a Virtual PC for Mac Version 7 virtual machine that uses Virtual Switch Networking.

Note This problem occurs even if you exit Virtual PC for Mac Version 6.1 before you start Virtual PC for Mac Version 7.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, you must exit Virtual PC and then restart your Macintosh computer. When you do this, the Macintosh computer's memory is cleared, and Virtual PC for Mac Version 7 can use Virtual Switch Networking.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:11/11/2004
Keywords:kbnetwork kbtshoot kbprb KB886382 kbAudEndUser
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.