Connectix recently added several new features to Virtual PC 5.0.4. Please see the "Virtual PC for Mac Version 5.0.4 New Features" document for more detailed information.
The new features include:
-Password Protection and Security
-Sockets-Based Shared Networking
-Advanced COM Port Settings
-CPU Usage Controls
-"Type CTRL-ALT-DEL" Menu Item
-Long Filename Support for Shared Folders
-Improved Printing Help and Printer Icon in Virtual PC Toolbar
+ Fixed bug that caused occasional issues with Windows XP installation and stability.
+ Addressed performance issue for 32-bit operating systems running in Virtual PC under Mac OS X that was introduced in version 5.0.3. For most users, Virtual PC 5.0.4 restores performance in Mac OS X to be equal to or better than version 5.0.2. Connectix is continuing to investigate and improve the performance of Virtual PC.
+ Allow Virtual PC to run in Mac OS 9 when extensions are disabled (Shift-boot).
+ Fixed conflict between Virtual PC shared folders and Apple File Sharing in Mac OS 9.2.2 that could cause the OS to hang.
This Updater will only update released versions of Virtual PC for Mac 5.0, 5.0.1, 5.0.2 or 5.0.3.
Please note: This updater will not update any prior versions of Virtual PC. Users of Virtual PC 1.x, 2.x, 3.x or 4.x should visit the Connectix web site (http://www.connectix.com) for upgrade information.
NOTE: Make sure to shut down all of your PC's (no saved states) before running the updater. Saved states from some previous versions of Virtual PC are not compatible with Virtual PC 5.0.4.
1) Place the Virtual PC 5.0.4 Update application on your hard drive.
2) Double-click to launch the Update application.
3) Select "Install." The Update application will update Virtual PC 5.0 / 5.0.1 / 5.0.2 / 5.0.3 to version 5.0.4 and prompt you to quit when completed. You must restart your machine when the update has completed.
4) You've now updated to Virtual PC 5.0.4!
When you run Virtual PC in Mac OS X for the first time after installing or updating, you will be prompted to authenticate the application. Authentication is necessary to load the Virtual Switch component for Virtual PC. If authentication fails for any reason (i.e. you typed your administrator password incorrectly) then the Virtual Switch component will not load and Virtual Switch will be unavailable during that session. Virtual PC will however, run normally with Shared Networking.
Virtual PC 5.0.4 sets Sockets-Based Networking (OS X only) as the default method of network connectivity for Virtual PC in Mac OS X. Sockets-Based Networking (SBSN) provides greater functionality for shared networking in Virtual PC. Please see the "Virtual PC 5.0.4 New Features" document for a detailed explanation of SBSN.
If you have troubles connecting or using SBSN, the traditional Virtual PC method of shared networking using Open Transport is still available and can be changed in the Settings for each PC you want to run. Shared OT networking should be used if you encounter difficulties or issues arising from using Sockets-Based Networking.
Virtual PC 5.0.4 contains the same version of the Virtual PC Additions as version 5.0.3. If you have already updated your Additions from version 5.0.3, you will not need to update them for 5.0.4.
The Virtual PC 5.0.4 update includes a new version (008041) of the Virtual PC Additions. The new Additions are incorporated into the application itself so updating your Additions is an easy process. The Additions are supported in Windows 95, 98, Me, NT 4.0, 2000, XP Home and XP Professional. Other operating systems are not supported by the Virtual PC Additions.
The new Additions include the following updates:
- Fixed bug in MRxVPC.SYS that caused corruption in network provider resources.
- Fixed issue for displaying fonts correctly on Hebrew systems in Windows 9x.
- Fixed problem with VPCHelper that prevented logging out of Windows 98.
- Fix for MRxVPC.SYS to allow long filenames in Windows 2000 and XP.
- Installation of new Additions will automatically enable DMA in Windows 9x and NT 4.
- For users that have installed their own copy of a supported Windows OS, the installation of the new Additions will speed up the display of the Start menu and Start menu items.
The Virtual PC Additions are located in an ISO CD image within the Virtual PC application. You can check the version of your currently installed Additions in a running PC by clicking or control-clicking on the Additions icon in the toolbar and choosing "Get PC Info".
You can automatically mount and launch the Additions installer in most cases by doing one of the following:
- Clicking "Update" when prompted by Virtual PC to update your Additions.
- Clicking "Install" when prompted to install Additions on a drive image that does not contain a version of the Additions (i.e. you installed your own copy of a Windows operating system).
- Clicking or control-clicking on the Additions icon in the Virtual PC LED bar and choosing "Install Additions".
The Additions installer will automatically mount and run in Windows to begin the installation.
Virtual PC contains functionality to log and send troubleshooting details so that Connectix engineers can obtain detailed information on issues to improve future versions of Virtual PC.
If you experience a crash, simply choose "Save Troubleshooting Details" from the Virtual PC Help menu. This copies a log into a "Details" file in your Virtual PC folder automatically. If you continue to experience problems, please have this file on hand when you contact Connectix Technical Support. The support agent may then request the file to obtain more detailed information about the problem.
The Troubleshooting Details file contains diagnostic information about your Mac and Virtual PC. If you'd like to see the information that has been gathered, simply open the file for viewing in a text editor.
First, check Virtual PC's built-in help. Contextual menu items are available in a number of windows as well as context-sensitive tool tips and Help buttons. The built-in help is available via the Apple Help Viewer, which you access from the Help menu or a Help button in many Virtual PC windows.
Additionally, check the Connectix online Knowledge Database at http://www.connectix.com/support/.
The most up-to-date information used by our Technical Support staff is now available to our customers.
Connectix also sponsors online forums in which users can obtain further information and communicate with other Virtual PC users. The forums are available through the Connectix web site.
