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Microsoft is kicking Virtual PC 2007 Service Pack 1 up a notch with a new update designed to enhance existing capabilities as well as resolve issues that survived past the introduction of SP1. In this regard, the Redmond company has made available for download a hotfix rollup package for both the 32-bit and the 64-bit versions of Virtual PC 2007 SP1. According to the software giant, there are a number of three improvements associated wit the hotfix rollup package and numerous bug fixes.

The update brings to the table “several new features and bug fixes, including: additional operating systems are supported, both as hosts and guests; networking fixes; most interesting of all: the maximum graphics resolution supported in guests increases to 2048×1920 from 1600×1200. Still not quite enough to convince me to spring for one of those 30-inch monitors with their delicious 2560×1200 resolutions, though,” stated Bob Arnson, software design engineer — Microsoft.

According to the company, Virtual PC 2007 SP1 now plays nice with the following platforms: Windows XP Home SP2 and SP3 (also supported as guest operating system) as well as Windows Vista Home SP1, following the support matrix expansion. In addition, the hotfix rollup boosts the performance and stability of Microsoft's free virtualization solution for Windows clients.

“Unfortunately, an unfortunate weakness I reported with the Virtual Server 2005 R2 SP1 installer is present with this update as well: The update is delivered as a "naked" patch that must be installed from an elevated command prompt. To install this update, save the .msp file locally. If you are running Windows Vista, Windows Vista Service Pack 1, or Windows Server 2008, run the update from an elevated command prompt. As with the Virtual Server update, the Virtual PC patches are about 75 percent the size of a full installation, so I really don’t understand why the updates weren’t delivered as customer-friendly major upgrades,” Arnson added.

Virtual PC 2007 SP1 is available for download here.

The hotfix rollup package for Virtual PC 2007 Service Pack 1 is available for download here (32-bit) and here (64-bit).