Microsoft Virtual PC is a non-free (proprietary) software. It isn't supported by Debian. It's probably wiser to use a free SystemVirtualization tool.

Models covered
Virtual PC 2007 (32bits), on Windows XP and Vista 32bit

Overall Status

Legend :
= OK ; Unsupported(No Driver) ; = Error (Couldn't get it working); [?] Unknown, Not Test ; [-] Not-applicable
= Configuration Required; = Only works with a proprietary driver

Important Note

Debian Etch

Make sure read at least the sections Kernel Parameters and Xorg Display before installing Debian.

Debian testing and unstable aren't really coverd by this guide, but still, here are a few hints :

Debian Testing

same as Etch. Also, kernel 2.6.22 requires the i8042.noloop=1 hack listed below

Debian Sid

Use 2.6.24-486 (kernel 2.6.24-686 hangs at boot time see bug 433606).

the following bugs workaround aren't needed anymode : kernel parameter i8042.noloop=1, clock=pit and well as psmouse's hack.

Configuration

Kernel Parameters

You should pass some parameter to the kernel. This can be achieved in two ways :

• At installation time, when you first boot the kernel, pass the following kernel parameters : "vesa i8042.noloop=1 clock=pit vga=791" (see CD Boot prompt screenshot)

or, after installation :

• Open a terminal as Root (under Gnome : Menu> Application> Accessories > Root Terminal)

• run :

  gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst

• Find the line starting with "# defoptions=", and replace it with :

  # defoptions=vesa i8042.noloop=1 clock=pit vga=791

(Leave the "#" at the beginning of the line).

• then run update-grub

Xorg Display

The video adapter emulated is an "S3 Inc. 86c764/765 [Trio32/64/64V+]", PciID:5333:8811

• If you installed a GUI (Desktop), you will have to reconfigure Xorg, because the display will be too wide and corrupted, like :

That's because the Virtual PC emulation is incomplete ("s3" doesn't support 24bit mode, as explained here. see bug 470408 )

That's easy to fix :

• Press Ctrl-Alt-F1, to switch to virtual console.

• Login as root.

• Then replace "DefaultDepth 24" with "DefaultDepth 16" in /etc/X11/xorg.conf by running :

  sed -e 's/^DefaultDepth.*/DefaultDepth 16/' -i /etc/X11/xorg.conf

• then restart gdm, with :

  invoke-rc.d gdm restart

RandR

• xrandr is working

High Resolution

• If you need higher resolution (1280x1024), you can use fbdev video driver in /etc/X11/xorg.conf, with vga=794 as kernel parameter (but xrandr doesn't seems to work anymore)

• Another solution to get high resolution: Instead of using the fbdev video driver you can simply change the default "S3" driver in section "Device" Identifier "S3 Inc. 86c764/765 [Trio32/64/64V+]" to "vesa" in /etc/X11/xorg.conf - In conjunction with vga=794 as kernel parameter you will get 1280x1024 too (xrandr will still work!)

Audio

The emulated audio device is a "SoundBlaster 16" compatible device.

• Open a terminal as Root (under Gnome : Menu> Application> Accessories > Root Terminal)

• run :

  gedit /etc/modules

• Add the line "snd-sb16" at the bottom of the page.

This problem has been reported upstream alsabug 3842.

Networking

The emulated device is a "Digital Equipment Corporation DECchip 21140 [FasterNet]" PCI id:1011:0009.

• The device (or driver) has no link detection. So network-manager will show an unplugged device. Even though it's working ! (known upstream by Gnome as bug #418745).
  If you lose Network connection then left click on the nm-applet then click on "Wired Network" :

  • 

• Slow/stalling file transfers on kernel 2.6.22 and 2.6.24. Workaround : run a ping command (typically, you can ping your IP gateway).

Mouse

The mouse is working well.

To enable the scroll wheel, you'll have to pass "proto=imps" to the module psmouse :

• Open a terminal as Root (under Gnome : Menu> Application> Accessories > Root Terminal)

• run :

  echo options psmouse proto=imps > /etc/modprobe.d/psmouse

• Then reboot (or unload and reload that module)

• Debian Testing and Unstable (kernels >= 2.6.19) have "The mouse pointer appears in the center of the screen, but it is unresponsive." which can be solved by passing i8042.noloop=1 to the kernel at boot time (see bug 433815).

Computer Timer

Due to a bug in Virtual PC (KB918461), you need to pass clock=pit as kernel parameter.

• See Kernel Parameters above

The problem can be that the clock is shifting/drifting, or the keyboard repeat the pressed keys.

Power Management

• (not covered... use VPC suspend feature.)

Step by Step Installation

Download Debian ISO image

Pick the Installation that best fits you needs, from http://www.debian.org/CD/. I've picked the NetInst CD (at the time of writing, debian-40r3-i386-netinst.iso).

Create the VM

• Launch "Microsoft Virtual PC" (!!!)
  

• Click on the "New" button
  

• Give your VM a name.
  

• Select the type of the hosted OS (Currently, all linux' are considered other).
  

• Allocate some RAM (128Mb is enough for text only. 512Mb is recommended for GUI/Desktop).
  

• Create a new Virtual Hard-disk image (.VHD, in Microsoft's jargon).
  

• Define maximum size and location for the VHD.
  

• Profile created..
  

Configure the VM to boot from CD

• Select the VM, and click on Start, then quickly...
  

• Go to the Virtual machine window, in the menu "CD". Go to "Capture CD Image", then pick the debian cdrom image you have downloaded previously.
  (FYI, You can enter the VirtualPC's host BIOS by pressing the "DEL" key, at boot time).
  

• You should now reach the Debian CD boot prompt.
  You can type installgui vesa i8042.noloop=1 clock=pit vga=791 to run the nice graphical installer, or just press Enter for text mode.
  

After installation, make sure you read the paragraph about S3/Xorg bug.

That's it !

System Summary

lspci

00:00.0 Host bridge [0600]: Intel Corporation 440BX/ZX/DX - 82443BX/ZX/DX Host bridge (AGP disabled) [8086:7192] (rev 03)
        Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0

00:07.0 ISA bridge [0601]: Intel Corporation 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 ISA [8086:7110] (rev 01)
        Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0

00:07.1 IDE interface [0101]: Intel Corporation 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 IDE [8086:7111] (rev 01) (prog-if 80 [Master])
        Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0
        I/O ports at ffa0 [size=16]

00:07.3 Bridge [0680]: Intel Corporation 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 ACPI [8086:7113] (rev 02)
        Flags: medium devsel, IRQ 9

00:08.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: S3 Inc. 86c764/765 [Trio32/64/64V+] [5333:8811] (prog-if 00 [VGA])
        Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
        Memory at f8000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=64M]

00:0a.0 Ethernet controller [0200]: Digital Equipment Corporation DECchip 21140 [FasterNet] [1011:0009] (rev 20)
        Subsystem: Unknown device [0a00:2114]
        Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 64, IRQ 11
        I/O ports at ec00 [size=128]
        Memory at febff000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K]
        Expansion ROM at febe0000 [disabled] [size=64K]

lsusb

No USB !

Resources

Attachments

Some configuration files and sample outputs.

• debian-etch-on-vpc2007.dmidecode.txt

• debian-etch-on-vpc2007.xorg.conf.txt

Useful Links

• Microsoft Virtual PC homepage.

  • Virtual Machine Additions for Linux guest operating systems (downwload)

• Qemu's qemu-img can convert vhd images.

• D-I Installation report : etch ; testing.

Credits

• Color depth bug :
  . https://help.ubuntu.com/community/HowToConfigureUbuntuForMicrosoftVirtualPC2004

• keyboard bug :
  . http://www.fedoraforum.org/forum/showthread.php?t=181428

• kernel 2.6.19 keyboard bug (not affecting Debian/Etch)
  . https://help.ubuntu.com/community/HowToConfigureUbuntuForMicrosoftVirtualPC2004

• Mouse scroll bug :
  . http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=302862&page=2

• Mouse freezing on 2.6.19+ :
  . https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux-source-2.6.20/+bug/87262