Virtual PC 2007 is a powerful software virtualization solution that allows you to run multiple PC-based operating systems simultaneously on one workstation. This article lists the security options available for Virtual PC, which can be used to lockdown Virtual PC access or restrict a particular feature for non-administrators.

Virtual PC Security Options

1. Login as administrator and launch the Virtual PC Console

2. From the File menu, click Options

3. Click Security

4. Enable the appropriate checkboxes under "Require administrator permissions for:" section. Here are the options listed:

  • Options
  • Settings
  • New Virtual Machine Wizard
  • Virtual Disk Wizard

5. Click OK.

Using the Registry

To configure the above setting via the registry, use these steps:

1. Launch Regedit.exe and navigate to the following location:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Virtual PC \ 5.0 \ Security

2. Create a REG_DWORD value named Locks

3. Double-click Locks and set its Value data accordingly (See table below.)

Data Description
0×001 Disable access to the Virtual PC Options
0×002 Disable access to virtual machine settings
0×008 Disable access to the new virtual machine wizard
0×020 Disable access to the virtual disk wizard

To disable multiple items, simply add the values. For example, to implement the restrictions 1-3, add the three values (which becomes 0x00A). To disable all the features, set it’s value data as 0x02B.

(Thanks to the Virtual PC Guy’s WebLog for the above info.)

If a limited user tries to access the restricted features, the following message is shown:

This feature has been restricted from non-administrative accounts.
In order to access this feature, you will need to login with an account which has local administrative privilege.


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One Comment

  1. Siboy
    said this on Tuesday, April 26th 2011 10:02 am

    How do we do this with Windows 7 XP Mode?

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