Download and install Virtual PC 2007 (for free from http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/virtualpc/default.mspx).

The previous link I gave you is a compressed VPC image. That means that you don't need to install an OS into a VPC session. Windows 2003 Server is already installed as well as VS 2008 beta.


>But am I understanding right that first you install VM, then XP in the VM and then the VPC? It's the operating system component I'm fuzzy on. Does that mean a whole seperate registry etc? But I understand you can share drivers etc - do you need to install all that for the OS in the VM ?
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>( sorry for being an idiot about this but it is starting to sound like a lot more work than just setting up a second box and time - as they say - is money <s> )
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>>I currently have VS2008 RC0 installed on the same box as my VS2005 and had no problem.
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>>It is always a good idea to install Beta versions (and CTP even more) in VM because the un-installer is not always 100% perfect.
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>>A VPC version of teh Beta 2 is already available from http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-ca/vstudio/aa700831.aspx
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>>>Does anyone know what the implications are of installing VS2008 CTP on the same box with VS2005? My understanding is that .net 3.5 works fine under vs2005 but I'm sure somebody here understands this issue in much more depth than I.
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>>>I know about Virtual Machines but it seems like a lot of work to install another operating system just to run one software package. And what about SQL Server etc.?
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>>>Advice on running both on one OS or clarifying my understanding of how to setup the VM would be appreciated. It just seems at first glance that if it is going to take a day to get this up and running on a VM it would be cheaper to just buy a box specifically for testing the CTP.
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>>>Thoughts?