Need help uninstalling Windows Virtual XP from Win7

[luvhuffer]

Can't find any uninstall info for Windows Virtual PC or Virtual Windows XP (The program uses both names) in the program. looked everywhere. And it didn't run the programs I wanted to run. Have to admit this is the first virtual program I've tried and my noobiness is showing.

 

[gbhall]

Is it not in control panel - add and remove programs?

 

[luvhuffer]

no nothing there. And no uninstall apps in program files. And nothing on line when I googled it.

 

[gbhall]

http://apcmag.com/inside-windows-7s-virtual-xp-mode.htm is the best intro to this software that I can find. I had heard of it, but knew nothing before. Now I know it is a download, you need suitable hardware (but there are few ways to determine if you have it), that you will probably need to pay for it when fully released, that it comes with a ready-built version of XP at some 450Mb, and you will need an XP license. It is for business users anyway and no use for gamers (too slow).

Now to why you cannot unload it.....dont know, but lets guess. (a) it did not fully load successfully (b) the installer is full of bugs (c) the installer currently does not offer an uninstall (d) there is an ominous ring to the words "lets you run a virtual XP session directly inside Windows 7" which could mean it replaces so much Win7 code the only method of removing it is to roll back to before it was installed.

So what can you do ? (a) nothing (b) try install it again which works for some baulky software - Norton springs to mind (c) download it again and hope it is a bit more debugged (d) roll back Win7 to before you installed it (e) delete and reinstall Win7

I dont really understand why MS are developing a virtual XP package when there is already a virtual PC package working fairly well in XP and Vista. More of a marketing exercise than a real need I would guess ("oh no, you don't need to waste time installing a copy of XP, just pay the $$$, we will do it for you").

As to the programs you cannot get to work in Win7, you might find virtual PC is a better bet, but I'm not holding my breath.

 

[luvhuffer]

OK The program opened when first installed. When I try to open it now, it says there's a missing/corrupted file (actually it says it can't find a file so 6 of one half dozen of the other). When I try to reinstall over the old install I get the "this program is already installed goodbye" kind of message (I'm in XP or I'd write it down). After dinner I may try to manually uninstall it. That'll give me a chance to muck about in 7's registry. Haven't been in there yet except to add some right click options.

EDIT: gb, are you talking about the Windows Virtual PC? Because that's what I've been talking about. You have to download Virtual PC and XP Mode runtime together. You need to run the XP Mode inside of Virtual PC. The Virtual PC is a 450MB download. The XP Mode is actually an update for the virtual PC program. See what I'm talking about here.

 

[gbhall]

It does not really matter, but if you have ever used virtual PC, you will know once you load an actual OS into virtual PC, it creates a large file which is the installed virtual OS. The 450Mb download is one of those, ready-built for you by MS, as a version of XP. The actual virtual PC setup is about 32Mb.

I was confused as to why MS are doing this XP build themselves, instead of letting you control your own build - the answer seems to be that it is indeed fundamentally different to just Virtual PC, because you can share the whole PC with the host OS, and this is not the case with 'normal' virtual PC.

 

[luvhuffer]

In the Program Files I have "Virtual Windows XP" which is a 1.04 GB file.

In the Program Files (x86) I have "Windows Virtual PC" which is a 4.3 MB file. It has a Virtual Windows XP.vhd file. when I look on line for what program opens a .vhd file, the Microsoft Application Search program says:

Windows has the following information about this file type. This page will help you find software needed to open your file.

File Type: Unknown
Description: Windows does not recognize this file type.

LOL !! That's about par for the course eh?

 

[gbhall]

Too right !

I have tried virtual PC under XP-pro and installed Win 3.11 and Win98se. In both cases, I bumped into the 'unable to share with XP' problem I mentioned above, that virtual-XP claims not to have under win7. Mind you, my PC definitely lacks the apparently important shareable hardware CPU characteristics. How is yours ?

Would you care to share what you hope to achive by running virtual XP? In my case it would be to carry on running business critical software despite not being able to buy XP any more (have you seen the price at the moment?), and despite not being able to run XP any more on any new hardware we have to buy. Doesn't look good to me....

 

[luvhuffer]

I use an old music player musicmatch 7.5 that won't install in Win7. I also use audacity to record but neither it nor the sound recorder works The onboard Realtek HD sound will only allow me the line in option for a recording source. No system mixer option.

I also finally found the uninstall for Virtual XP in the update section of the Program and features app in control panel. Had to click on view installed updates. I never did find the uninstall for the Windows Virtual PC. Ended up manually deleting it.

 

[gbhall]

Ok, I see your requirement almost certainly calls for direct driver access to the hardware, maybe even 16-bit? Little doubt in my mind you are going to have to find alternative software if you move to Win7. No doubt you already introduced yourself around the audio & video forum?

 

[luvhuffer]

No, I'm a stubborn old coot who likes to make himself crazy before asking for help. My whole computer education has been a learning by doing exercise. But I'll probably go over there eventually.