Ubuntu under Virtual PC 2007

After successfully installing Windows 98SE in a virtual PC using Microsoft's Virtual PC 2007, it was time to test using a non-Microsoft operating system.

I created a new virtual PC and downloaded Ubuntu 6.10 - "the Newest Ubuntu Release." It would not install using Virtual PC 2007 because of incompatibility related to color depth. Ubuntu 6.10 defaults to 24-bit color depth and Virtual PC 2007 supports a maximum of 16-bit color.

There are documented workarounds for this problem, but I could not get any of them to work. I'll look into this problem again in the future.

Meanwhile, I downloaded Ubuntu 6.06 LTS - "Ubuntu with Long Term Support."

This version installed using Virtual PC 2007 without a problem by selecting the "safe graphics mode" option.

After the successful installation of Ubuntu 6.06 LTS, it detected updates which I installed promptly. The only problem I had to address was to enable the sound by specifying the Sound Blaster 16 sound card which Virtual PC 2007 emulates.

Many people have reported "crackling" sound problems with the SoundMAX device installed on the ASUS P5B Deluxe WiFi-AP motherboard. I have not experienced this problem in either Windows XP MCE 2005 or Vista Ultimate x64 (RTM Build 6000) which are both installed in Nighthawk.

It is interesting that I am now encountering this problem with sound generated from the virtual PC running Ubuntu. However, there is no problem with the sound generated from the host Vista Ultimate x64 (RTM Build 6000.)

Very strange.

The captured image on the right shows 2 virtual PCs running Ubuntu (in the foreground) and Windows 98SE (in the background), both of which are hosted by Virtual PC 2007 running in Vista Ultimate x64 (RTM Build 6000.)

Next up: Installing Windows XP Professional using Virtual PC 2007.