Microsoft continues to offer free copies of its Windows operating systems, a “tradition” that the company started back in 2006 after the release of Internet Explorer 7. The software giant is attempting to compensate for the shortcomings of the Windows design in older releases of its platforms, in which a single version of Internet Explorer can be installed at a time. This limitation makes it difficult for developers building websites to test their code in different IE versions on Windows Vista and Windows XP.
This is where the Internet Explorer Application Compatibility VPC Image comes in. This download offers free, virtualized copies of XP and Vista, each with different versions of Internet Explorer. There are no less than five downloads available, all free of charge.
The VPC Hard Disk Images are time bombed, and only allow usage for a limited period of time. However, for the past few years, Microsoft has updated the Internet Explorer Application Compatibility VPC Image downloads without fault, just ahead of their expiration date.
In Windows 7, Internet Explorer 8 can be turned off, a move which is roughly equivalent to having the browser almost completely uninstalled. At the same time, the next generation of IE, Internet Explorer 9 can be deployed alongside older versions of IE on top of Windows 7 and Vista.
- A Virtual Hard Disk (VHD) file is a file that acts as a virtual hard drive and can contain everything found on a hard disk, such as a file system, files, folders and more. Because physical computers can boot from a VHD, the VHD format is useful for configuring a specific combination of software that can be easily deployed to a group of users on.
- 'Win2Go&D.VHD': Default is Dual-Mode. Real HDD is Write Protected. 'Win2Go&DW.VHD': Default is Dual-Mode. Real HDD is Write Enabled. Download Manual. IODD Virtual HDD Drive Guide; Program uncompress the zip file to a proper folder. (if possible, the file path name is in English and has no space) run EXE. 2015-06-20 - VHDTool(v0.6.0.5)-01.7z.
Adding the VHD file extension changes this file to a virtual hard disk file, supported by VirtualBox, allowing you to run Windows XP as a virtual machine. Setting Up a Windows XP Virtual Machine Using VirtualBox. After you’ve extracted your Windows XP download files, you’re ready to begin setting it up as a virtual machine.
“This download page contains different VPC images, depending on what you want to test.
- IE6-on-XP-SP3.exe contains a Windows XP SP3 with IE6 VHD file. Expires October 1, 2010
- IE7-on-XP-SP3.exe contains a Windows XP SP3 with IE7 VHD file. Expires October 1, 2010
- IE8-on-XP-SP3.exe contains a Windows XP SP3 with IE8 VHD file. Expires October 1, 2010
- IE7-VIS1.exe+IE7-VIS2.rar+IE7-VIS3.rar contain a Vista Image with IE7 VHD file. Expires 90 days after first run.
- IE8-VIS1.exe+IE8-VIS2.rar+IE8-VIS3.rar+IE8-VIS4.rar contain a Vista Image with IE8 VHD file. Expires 90 days after first run
For The Vista image, you will need files in that set, downloaded and in the same directory, then run the EXE in the root directory,” Microsoft stated.
Microsoft Windows Xp Vhd Download
The Internet Explorer Application Compatibility VPC Image are available for download here.