Microsoft KB Archive/824632

= You Cannot Use a Windows XP Startup Floppy Disk to Install Other Operating Systems =

Article ID: 824632

Article Last Modified on 11/24/2003

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APPLIES TO


 * Connectix Virtual PC for Mac 5.0

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SYMPTOMS
You cannot install another version of Windows to a new drive image when you use Virtual PC with Windows XP. You cannot use the startup floppy image to install another copy of Windows XP.



CAUSE
The floppy image titled &quot;Win XP Boot Floppy&quot; does format a drive image or recognize the inserted CD-ROM. The &quot;Installing Other OSes&quot; Read Me file incorrectly states, &quot;Virtual PC 5.0 with Windows XP Home Edition: The Windows XP boot floppy included with the Windows XP Home Edition of Virtual PC 5.0 will allow you to boot a new virtual machine and access the CD ROM drive to install an OS from a CD.&quot; However, the Windows XP boot floppy that is included with the Windows XP Home Edition of Virtual PC 5.0 is useful only as a startup disk for certain Windows XP-related repair functions. Microsoft will change the &quot;Installing Other OSes&quot; Read Me file to indicate this.



RESOLUTION
If you purchased a copy of another Windows operating system, you should have a startup disk that recognizes the inserted CD-ROM.

To create a startup disk, follow these steps:
 * 1) Click Start, click Settings, and then click Control Panel.
 * 2) Double-click Add/Remove Programs.
 * 3) Click the Startup Disk tab.
 * 4) Click Create Disk.

Windows prepares the files that it must copy.
 * 1) Insert a disk when you are prompted, and then click OK.

Windows formats the disk and copies the startup files onto the disk. After it generates an image, see Virtual PC's built-in Help system for information about how to continue.

If you do not have a disk drive, take the physical Windows startup disk to a Macintosh computer that has a disk drive (built-in or USB), and use the DiskCopy utility by Apple to generate a disk image. After you generate an image and copy it over to the Macintosh computer that is running Virtual PC, see the built-in Help system in Virtual PC for information about how to continue.

Additional query words: virtualpc virtual pc mac macintosh floppy boot

Keywords: kbprb KB824632

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