 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
Mac Forum / Applications / Virtual PC / May 2006New VPC User - Initial Questions
Hi All I've just installed VPC 7.02 on 10.4.6 (with no problems despite previous posts - the readme file actually said *not* to restart during installation), and I have a few questions after using it for a few days. Sorry if they've been asked before. 1) I only seem to be able to have the XP window in 2 sizes - full screen or approx 70%. I cannot re-size the smaller initial starting size. Is this the default behaviour - just 2 possible sizes? 2) The number pad on my wireless Apple keyboard is not recognised. I have looked in the keyboard section of PC settings but it doesn't seem to mention this. Anyone know where I can find out how to sort this? 3) Regarding the RAM assigned to VPC. I have 512MB on my iBook so initially thought to set the PC setting to the maximum possible (as I'm using MS Access with large amounts of data). Does this mean that only the remainder is then available for OS X apps I have running at the same time? 4) I intend to double my RAM. What would you recommend I then set the RAM setting to maximise XP performance. 5) Can you recommend any sites dedicated to VPC, particularly with a view to maximising performance. (or any miscellaneous tips) Sorry if I'm asking a lot. If anyone can answer anything (or point me in the right direction) I'd greatly appreciate it. Many TIA, Regards Jason ___ >Hi All > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >approx 70%. I cannot re-size the smaller initial starting size. Is this the >default behaviour - just 2 possible sizes? Make sure you install the VPC Additions, you should be able to dynamically resize the screen by dragging the corner, or use the standard Windows method of resolution change to get any of the standard resolutions. >2) The number pad on my wireless Apple keyboard is not recognised. I have >looked in the keyboard section of PC settings but it doesn't seem to mention >this. Anyone know where I can find out how to sort this? Most likely you will need to enable num-lock inside Windows. >3) Regarding the RAM assigned to VPC. I have 512MB on my iBook so initially >thought to set the PC setting to the maximum possible (as I'm using MS >Access with large amounts of data). Does this mean that only the remainder >is then available for OS X apps I have running at the same time? That's bad! You really need 512MB for OS X alone for decent performance. Unless you are working with huge amounts of data that can't fit into it, you should try and keep Windows set to 256MB. Increasing memory allocation above that will reduce performance. >4) I intend to double my RAM. What would you recommend I then set the RAM >setting to maximise XP performance. 256MB >5) Can you recommend any sites dedicated to VPC, particularly with a view to >maximising performance. (or any miscellaneous tips) There are quite a few sites around, try googling this group for the various links...I don't have them on hand.  SignatureCheers, Steve Jain, Virtual Machine MVP http://vpc.essjae.com/ I am not an employee of Microsoft. On 6/5/06 22:04, in article 0l3q529rgd2kd5dequ0mck3ong3qn7llei@4ax.com, >> Hi All >> [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > standard Windows method of resolution change to get any of the > standard resolutions. Thanks Steve, the XP screen res was set lower than my iBook so that's sorted it. >> 2) The number pad on my wireless Apple keyboard is not recognised. I have >> looked in the keyboard section of PC settings but it doesn't seem to mention >> this. Anyone know where I can find out how to sort this? > > Most likely you will need to enable num-lock inside Windows. Does anyone know how I can do this. I've found a few bits of code which tweak the BIOS but I'm not that confident with anything like that & am unsure as to how applicable this is to a VPC environment. Anyone know a simple way of enabling the number pad. I think it's definitelt a nu-lock issue as the number keys are behaving like arrow keys. >> 3) Regarding the RAM assigned to VPC. I have 512MB on my iBook so initially >> thought to set the PC setting to the maximum possible (as I'm using MS [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > can't fit into it, you should try and keep Windows set to 256MB. > Increasing memory allocation above that will reduce performance. I've dropped it back to 256 & noticed an improvement. Thanks. Regards -J- Press the "clear" key on the keyboard. This should enable the numeric keypad. > On 6/5/06 22:04, in article 0l3q529rgd2kd5dequ0mck3ong3qn7llei@4ax.com, > [quoted text clipped - 43 lines] > Regards > -J- On 7/5/06 04:00, in article 1146970802.478295.8850@u72g2000cwu.googlegroups.com, "chimefamily@yahoo.ca" > Press the "clear" key on the keyboard. This should enable the numeric > keypad. Thanks for that. I wasn't even sure what the 'clear' key was for a minute or two, but all's sorted now. Cheers -J- Jason. I've been using VP for a year or so now and I can answer (I think) a couple of the questions. In reference to the size of the windows I believe only the two are avaiable. I can't anwer the keyboard problem, the RAM deal I would highly recommend that you upgrade the RAM soon because you could end up with a lot of Kernel errors. 512mb is recommended but you need to double that. I have 1gb on my mac mini and on my Ibook. While VP is running I usually run Entourage, Safari Word and Excel. In VP I always have an acct. program database program and IE running. Since upgrading the RAM i've never had a problem with memory. The best site for info on VP is where you are now. Can't help you on the other stuff but I hope this helps. Stuart On 8/5/06 19:40, in article 1147113606.315344.56540@v46g2000cwv.googlegroups.com, > Jason. > [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > Stuart Hi Stuart, Thanks for the reply. My usage will be similar to yours. The main (and often the *only*) app I'm using in VPC is MS Access. So, of the 1GB RAM you have, have you assigned 512MB to PC Memory in the 'PC Settings' screen/option ? That is what I was thinking of doing, but have been confused by Steve's advice in his response to my original post: Steve advised that if I double my RAM (from 512MB to 1GB) to set the PC Memory at 256MB. Is this correct? If you're reading this Steve, why not increase it if the RAM's been doubled. I have to admit to being a total novice when it comes to things like this. If it is left at 256MB will VPC still benefit from the increased RAM? Thanks again Stuart, & I'd welcome your advice re the RAM thing, Steve. Cheers -Jay- >Thanks for the reply. My usage will be similar to yours. The main (and >often the *only*) app I'm using in VPC is MS Access. [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] >to things like this. If it is left at 256MB will VPC still benefit from the >increased RAM? Yes, increasing the RAM assigned to a virtual machine increases its overhead. The sweetspot for VPC and XP is 256MB. As I mentioned, you should run at 256MB unless you specifically are seeing issues from lack of memory in XP. Adding RAM does not automatically mean a performance boost. Of course, this ultimately depends on your RAM needs in Windows, but the overwhelming evidence from users on this newsgroup is that 256MB is the right amount for the best performance for most users. If you want more background, you'll find a seemingly endless list of threads that have discussed this in great detail. OS X "needs" about 512MB of RAM for itself. By going to 1GB, you're leaving plenty of RAM for OS X and it's applications (768MB) and plently for Windows XP to run (256MB). SignatureCheers, Steve Jain, Virtual Machine MVP http://vpc.essjae.com/ I am not an employee of Microsoft. Hi all, there seems to be a great deal of vpc knowledge in this group so please allow me to put my question here as well. I own a G4 Powerbook with 1.250 Gb memory and a ATI mobility 9700 AGP with 128 Mb. VPC tells me it's a S3 32/64 with just 16 Mb. Hence, one of my 3D design s/w (Alibre) doesn't display properly. I've made several attempts to have VPC to re-look at a driver update but it keeps telling me, the S3 driver is the newest. Does anyone have a clue where I can change the graphics adapter? Thanks to all in advance rgds kd >Hi all, > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > >Does anyone have a clue where I can change the graphics adapter? You can't. Virtual PC emulates the video card, since it cannot directly access or even use a Mac-based video card (PowerMacs and Intel PC are architecturally different and incompatible). SignatureCheers, Steve Jain, Virtual Machine MVP http://vpc.essjae.com/ I am not an employee of Microsoft. Steve, thanks for your reply. I.a.w., there is no way where I can ramp up the memory allocation of VRAM? rgds kd >Steve, > >thanks for your reply. I.a.w., there is no way where I can ramp up the >memory allocation of VRAM? > >rgds kd No, you cannot change the RAM or type of video in VPC. SignatureCheers, Steve Jain, Virtual Machine MVP http://vpc.essjae.com/ I am not an employee of Microsoft. To put it another way: The virtual PC is a software re-creation of various hardware components. Every aspect of a hardware PC has to be emulated in software, CPU, RAM, HD, etc including Video Card. At some point the creators of the program have to make some arbitrary decision about which graphics card to emulate. This is just a piece of code (a rather complex one, no doubt) and it's not like they would bother to create multiple graphics card emulations. The emulated card has no relationship to your actual graphics card in the same way that the emulated CPU has no relationship to your actual CPU. The issue of the amount of VRAM is probably another issue, and no doubt it could be possible to make this an option, but then I suspect that there would be no performance advantage to 99% of people. Then there is also the possibility that the hardware being emulated only supports a limited configuration of memory. When I say 'could', I am being mostly hypothetical, as is the rest of this post. On 15/5/06 10:32 AM, in article l0jf62ldctdbe100u6l04379ksqcdtniam@4ax.com, >> Steve, >> [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > No, you cannot change the RAM or type of video in VPC. |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2008 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.