I wish to teach myself to use Server 2003 (or 2008) by loading it onto a virtual machine operating within a host machine running Windows 7 Pro. Server applications are specifically excluded. I can do so with no problem in XP Pro. It would appear that Windows 7 has gone backwards in terms of functionality in this respect? Is there any way round this? Third party applications perhaps?

Hi, As you can run virtual machines on a Windows XP host but not on a Windows 7 host, this issue should be related to Windows 7. I suggest discussing it in our Windows 7 forum. They should be the best resource to troubleshoot this issue. http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/category/w7itpro/ Tim Quan - MSFT

Hi TimMany thanks for reply. What have I got wrong? Firstly, I thought I was in a Windows 7 forum - specifically, "programs" that run in Windows 7 Pro viz: Windows Virtual PC. It would appear that a moderator by the name off Lisa has moved me out of Windows 7 - Programs forum into this one. Secondly, surely one must be able to run virtual machines in Windows 7 Pro as the new XP Mode in Windows 7 Pro is simply a virtual machine called Windows Virtual PC, which is running Windows XP SP3? All this info I have gleaned from the MS Windows 7 site.Are you saying that Windows 7 Pro is unable to run any virtual machine other than Windows Virtual PC (which it surely does run?) as a guest on a Windows 7 Pro host?Please put me straight, and if necessary move this question back to wherever it belongs.Thanks again Tim.

LisaYou have moved my question to Windows server forum. This is very specifically a question relating to Windows 7. In fact I have since had a reply from a moderator called Tim there that I should not be in Windows Server forums at all, but back where I was when you decided to move me!Please be more careful in future. This is a problem that relates specifically to Windows 7 and the program Windows Virtual PC, NOT to Servers per se.Thank you.