Is there a way (API/Scripting) to work with Virtual PC?

Question

Is there a way to interact with Virtual PC¹?

Looking to do basic things like startup and shutdown (with choice of save or turn off etc..) specific VM's.

Any solution other than simulating key presses would be fine, for example

• WMI
• COM+
• ADSI
• PowerShell

1 - Specifically for Virtual PC as in Microsoft Virtual PC (i.e. the one that runs on Vista and earlier), not Windows Virtual PC (i.e. the Win7 one)

Harriet

Why were you so quick to accept the "no" answer? I've been told that it is possible with PowerShell, but haven't found any details on how to do it. I would have left the question open until finding the "yes" answer. – Hungry

All my own investigation proved the same answer. For Virtual PC Powershell is of not help either :( – Harriet

For more answers see this https://mcmap.net/q/1029778/-automate-virtual-pc-2007-with-powershell/328397 – Deedee

Answer 1

Alas, no, see http://www.aspdeveloper.net/Virtual_PC/rn-739-16434_Virtual_PC_API.aspx .

Fortify

That's an old post and says that there will be one for Virtual PC 2005. Doesn't that mean that Virtual PC 2007 would have one also? – Hungry

Answer 2

It's not quite what you're after but there are a whole set of command line parameters you can use on Virtual PC.exe to start and pause VMs as well as set screen modes and disable/enable various options.

You can find them on this MS KB 831501 article.

"Virtual PC.exe" [-singlepc] [-quiet] [-usehostdiskcache] [-pc virtual_machine_name [-disableclose] [-disableopt] [-s3bitclip] [-setbiosno bios_serial_number] [-setassettag asset_tag] [-extnetworking] [-launch] [{-fullscreen|-window}] [-geometry widthxheight{+|-}x offset{+|-}y offset] [{-minimize|-restore}] [{-pause|-resume}]] [-help] [-registervm filename.vmc] [-startvm filename.vmc]

Nappie