Virtual PC for Mac Is Not Compatible with the Apple Power Mac G5 Processor

When you try to run Microsoft Virtual PC for Mac Version 6.1 on an Apple Power Mac G5 you will receive an error message that informs you that Virtual PC does not support the CPU in your Macintosh computer.

Virtual PC for Mac Version 6.1 and earlier use a feature that is present in the PowerPC G3 and the PowerPC G4 named "pseudo little-endian mode". Virtual PC for Mac uses pseudo little-endian mode for increased performance when it emulates a Pentium processor. Virtual PC for Mac 6.1 must use pseudo little-endian mode to function.

The new Power Mac G5 processor does not support pseudo little-endian mode. Therefore, the current versions of the Virtual PC for Mac program do not run on the Power Mac G5.

The following versions of Virtual PC for Mac do not run on an Apple Power Mac G5 computer:

• Microsoft Virtual PC for Mac Version 6.1
• Connectix Virtual PC for Mac Version 6.0.x
• Connectix Virtual PC for Mac Version 5.0.x
• Connectix Virtual PC for Mac Version 4.x.x

Because the Macintosh G5 processor does not support pseudo little-endian mode, Microsoft is rewriting and carefully testing portions of Virtual PC for Mac. Microsoft expects to deliver G5 compatibility in the next full version of Virtual PC for Mac. Microsoft will announce the timing of that release later. For more information about Virtual PC for Mac 6.1 system requirements, visit the following Microsoft Web site: http://www.microsoft.com/mac/howtobuy.aspx?pid=sysreq#vpc (http://www.microsoft.com/mac/howtobuy.aspx?pid=sysreq#vpc)