[[linesdonotexist]]

If like me you bought Virtual PC v7 with XP Pro then upgraded to an Intel Mac you lost the opportunity to run your copy of XP on your Mac - even under BootCamp.

You cannot mount the VPC disks under the Apple EFI/BIOS cludge that the new Intel Mac firmware enables - VPC uses a virtual hard disk technology not mountable by anything I know of that would allow the included copy of XP to be installed.

I called Microsoft and asked for a cross-grade to an installable version of XP. The level-one tech said no, it was impossible.

Perhaps the right thing would be for Microsoft to provide a cross-grade solution to VPC owners who paid extra to get XP - at least until they ship a new version of VPC. I'd be happy to pay for the disks and the shipping.

[mduell]

You can probably sell your copy of VPC with XP Pro for more than the price of an OEM copy of XP Pro ($140). Skip the cross-grade and get some money back in the process.

[365]

Just download a copy via bittorrent. These people want you to play fair and buy a license and then shaft you when you make a perfectly reasonable request. Play by their rules, you certainly hold the moral high ground on this one.

[olePigeon]

You purchased the license to use the media. As long as you use your license key, it shouldn't matter where the media came from. As 365 said, just grab a torrent.

The only problem is that slightly different build versions of XP use different SN schemes. So you'll need to find one that's similar to the one that came with your VPC, or your SN won't work.

[tooki]

The notice I posted clearly says that only model-specific BootCamp questions go in the hardware forums.

365: we strictly prohibit piracy and the advocacy of piracy here.

tooki