Microsoft KB Archive/824355

Knowledge Base

How to optimize Virtual PC performance

Article ID: 824355

Article Last Modified on 5/7/2007

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APPLIES TO

• Connectix Virtual PC for Mac 6.0

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SUMMARY

This article lists several steps that you can take to optimize the performance of Virtual PC.

MORE INFORMATION

To optimize the performance of Virtual PC, follow these steps:

Note Because there are several versions of the Mac operating system, the following steps may be different on your computer. For more information, see your product documentation.

1. Optimize the Virtual PC Preferences:
   1. On the Virtual PC menu, click Preferences.
   2. Click Sound, and then click to select the Mute sound in background check box (unless you are using it).
   3. Click CPU Usage, and then move the CPU usage when Virtual PC is in foreground slider all the way to the right to maximize Virtual PC performance when it is running in the foreground. The default setting for this slider is High.
      
      The default setting for the CPU usage when Virtual PC is in background slider is Medium. You can move this slider to the right to increase Virtual PC performance when it is running in the background.
2. Optimize the Virtual Machine Settings:
   1. Allocate as much RAM as possible to Virtual PC:
      
      In the Virtual PC List dialog box, click the guest operating system that you want to configure, and then click Settings.
   2. Click PC Memory, and then move the top slider to the right to allocate more RAM to Virtual PC.
      
      Note Do not allocate more RAM to Virtual PC than is physically available.
   3. Click Networking, and then click to clear the Enable Networking check box.
      
      Note This step disables network connectivity. Do not perform this step if you require network connectivity.
   4. Click Restart.
3. Turn off Virtual Memory (Mac OS 9 only).
   
   Note This function is not available for VPC 6.1 in Mac OS X. The VRam can only be set to a minimum of 4 megabytes (MB).
   
   For more information about virtual memory, review the Apple Technical Info Library article, "Power Macintosh: Turn on Virtual Memory for Best RAM Usage," at the following Apple Web site:

   http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=16889

4. If you are using Mac OS 9, use the Extensions Manager control panel to switch to a "base extension set":
   1. On the Apple menu, click Control Panels, and then click Extension Manager.
   2. In Extensions Manager, click the arrow in the Selected Set box, and then click Mac OS version Base.
      
      Note Make sure that you save the current set of extensions that are running before you switch to the base extension set. The base extension set is located either at the top of the dialog box with a drop-down menu or on the File menu.
   3. Restart your computer.
5. Quit all nonessential programs.

For additional information about how to optimize your Macintosh system configuration, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

297238MacOFF: How to Optimize Your Macintosh System Configuration

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The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.

Additional query words: speed up better faster

Keywords: kberrmsg kbprb KB824355

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