How to optimize virtual machine performance in Virtual PC for Mac

This article describes how to optimize virtual machine performance in Microsoft Virtual PC for Mac version 7 and in Microsoft Virtual PC for Mac version 6.1.

To optimize virtual machine performance in Virtual PC for Mac, follow these steps.

Step 1: Optimize the virtual machine settings

To optimize the settings for a virtual machine, follow these steps:

1. Start Virtual PC for Mac.
2. In the Virtual PC List window, click the virtual machine that you want to configure, and then click Settings.
3. Click PC Memory.
4. In the Total RAM in PC box, type 256.
   
   Note You can configure the virtual machine to use more RAM. However, this may affect the performance of the computer.
5. Under Total VRAM in PC, drag the slider to the left to configure the virtual machine with 4 megabytes (MB) of video memory.

Step 2: Optimize the Windows settings

Note Because there are several versions of Microsoft Windows, the following steps may be different on your computer. If they are, see your product documentation to complete these steps.

Important These steps may increase your security risk. These steps may also make your computer or your network more vulnerable to attack by malicious users or by malicious software such as viruses. We recommend the process that this article describes to enable programs to operate as they are designed to, or to implement specific program capabilities. Before you make these changes, we recommend that you evaluate the risks that are associated with implementing this process in your particular environment. If you choose to implement this process, take any appropriate additional steps to help protect your system. We recommend that you use this process only if you really require this process.

To optimize the Microsoft Windows settings in a virtual machine, follow these steps:

1. Start the virtual machine that you want to configure.
2. Click Start, click Run, type Sysdm.cpl, and then click OK.
3. On the Advanced tab, click Settings under Performance.
4. Click Adjust for best performance, and then click OK.
5. On the System Restore tab, click to clear the Turn off System Restore check box.
6. On the Automatic Updates tab, click Turn off Automatic Updates, and then click OK two times.
7. Click Start, click Run, type Desk.cpl, and then click OK.
8. On the Themes tab, click Windows Classic in the Theme box.
9. On the Desktop tab, click None in the Background box.
10. On the Screen Saver tab, click None in the Screen Saver box, and then click OK.
11. Click Start, click Run, type Wscui.cpl, and then click OK.
    
    Note This step starts the Security Center Control Panel. The Security Center Control Panel is unavailable in Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 1 and in earlier versions of Windows XP. The Security Center Control Panel is also unavailable in Microsoft Windows 2000.
12. Under Resources, click Change the way Security Center alerts me.
13. Click to clear the Firewall, Automatic Updates, and Virus Protection check boxes, and then click OK.
    
    Important This step may increase your security risk and make the computer more vulnerable to attack.