I've written about my trials and tribulations running 64-bit Windows Vista. For the most part, I've had few problems with running 64-bit, but two nagging issues keep bothering me.

The first, and lesser of the two problems, is that Nikon still doesn't make a Nikon RAW codec that works with 64-bit Vista.

The second problem—and more substantial from a work perspective—is that I can't get VPN working with our older Cisco concentrators. So I'd typically boot up my laptop, which does run Vista 32-bit, and connect via VPN using the laptop. That's a little inconvenient, however.

Finally, it sank into my thick skull: run the Cisco VPN connection software in a 32-bit OS on my production system. No, I didn't give up on 64-bit Vista. Instead, I'm running 32-bit Vista using the free version of Microsoft's Virtual PC 2007.

Pic: vista in vm.jpg Title: Vista on Vista Caption: Running 32-bit Vista on 64-bit Vista in a virtual machine.

Users familiar with VMs will no doubt shrug, and say, "What took you so long?"

It certainly did take some time to sink into my brain; I had long tried to figure out why I'd want to run a VM on my home production system. Since then, I've also installed Windows XP under a VM, in order to easily fool around with XP. But mostly, it's useful to me to connect via VPN to the Ziff-Davis intranet.

There are a few limitations. Virtual PC 2007 is itself a 32-bit app (the 64-bit app you download is just a 64-bit installer. You can't run 64-bit Vista under Vista 32-bit. That would be a little mind boggling. Also, no Direct3D for you. At best, if you install Virtual Machine Additions (an optional add-on), the virtual OS will emulate an S3 Trio 32/64—which is a 3D chip, but extremely primitive and not capable of running any of today's 3D apps. That also means no Aero on Vista.

And while I haven't tried, reports from the field suggest you cannot install any Linux distros on Microsoft Virtual PC (surprise, surprise.) If you want to run Linux in a VM under Windows, you'll need VMWare or other commercial Virtual Machine software.

Still, running Virtual PC 2007 solved one key problem I've been having with 64-bit Vista. Maybe it can do the same for you.

Source: extremetech