More than one XP mode VM in app mode

Is there any way (supported or otherwise) to run applications (in
seamless virtual application mode) from more than one VM at a time?

Basically my goal here is to run two or three copies of an app that
normally allows a single instance, with each running in it's own VM.

Any tricks I missed or other approaches I could take?

"Dave Warren" <dave-> wrote in message
news:...
> Is there any way (supported or otherwise) to run applications (in
> seamless virtual application mode) from more than one VM at a time?
>
> Basically my goal here is to run two or three copies of an app that
> normally allows a single instance, with each running in it's own VM.
>
> Any tricks I missed or other approaches I could take?

An interesting thought. I can't see any reason why not.

You should be able to set up another instance of XP Mode using a
different differencing disk linked to the same base vhd. Even if you can't,
you could install XP SP3 in a vm and add the update for seamless
applications.

I noticed when I installed XP SP3 under WVPC recently that it
automatically offers to download this update.

"Bill Grant" <not.available@online> wrote in message
news:#...
>
>
> "Dave Warren" <dave-> wrote in message
> news:...
>> Is there any way (supported or otherwise) to run applications (in
>> seamless virtual application mode) from more than one VM at a time?
>>
>> Basically my goal here is to run two or three copies of an app that
>> normally allows a single instance, with each running in it's own VM.
>>
>> Any tricks I missed or other approaches I could take?
>
> An interesting thought. I can't see any reason why not.
>
> You should be able to set up another instance of XP Mode using a
> different differencing disk linked to the same base vhd. Even if you
> can't, you could install XP SP3 in a vm and add the update for seamless
> applications.
>
> I noticed when I installed XP SP3 under WVPC recently that it
> automatically offers to download this update.

I had a look at this and it works. I have uploaded a couple of
screenshots to my live space showing two instances of MSE running - one in
each vm.

http://grantaw.spaces.live.com/

In message <#> "Bill Grant"
<not.available@online> was claimed to have wrote:

>
>
>"Dave Warren" <dave-> wrote in message
>news:.. .
>> Is there any way (supported or otherwise) to run applications (in
>> seamless virtual application mode) from more than one VM at a time?
>>
>> Basically my goal here is to run two or three copies of an app that
>> normally allows a single instance, with each running in it's own VM.
>>
>> Any tricks I missed or other approaches I could take?
>
> An interesting thought. I can't see any reason why not.
>
> You should be able to set up another instance of XP Mode using a
>different differencing disk linked to the same base vhd. Even if you can't,
>you could install XP SP3 in a vm and add the update for seamless
>applications.
>
> I noticed when I installed XP SP3 under WVPC recently that it
>automatically offers to download this update.

I spent a bit of time on it tonight, aside from the wizard not wanting
to run to configure the second one, it works fine.

There are a few minor oddities, the reproducible one being that if I
have two VMs running in this fashion if I try to open one in a dedicated
window it warns me that it will shut down apps and lists apps from both
VMs (Although it only actually shuts down the ones in the VM that is
changing to a dedicated window)

I had a bit of weirdness with Windows Update tray icons too, it's not
trivial to identify which instance an application is running under,
although that's not a show-stopper for me.

I also have a bug that I originally believed was related, although as I
was typing this message it happened with only a single VM: Google Chrome
leaves a large blue square on my host's desktop after it's closed, and
in W7's taskbar I still see a window associated with the closed Chrome
session. It doesn't happen every time, but often enough that it seems
to be a bug. I haven't found a way to make it go away without killing
the VM, yet.

On Sun, 31 Jan 2010 11:38:27 +1100, "Bill Grant"
<not.available@online> wrote:

>
>
>"Dave Warren" <dave-> wrote in message
>news:.. .
>> Is there any way (supported or otherwise) to run applications (in
>> seamless virtual application mode) from more than one VM at a time?
>>
>> Basically my goal here is to run two or three copies of an app that
>> normally allows a single instance, with each running in it's own VM.
>>
>> Any tricks I missed or other approaches I could take?
>
> An interesting thought. I can't see any reason why not.

Other than licensing, EULA:
"You may install and use one copy of the Software in

a single virtual machine on a single computer

, such as a workstation, terminal or other device (“Workstation
Computer”) that contains a licensed pre-release copy of Windows 7
Ultimate edition, to design, develop and test your programs for use
with the Software."

--
Cheers,
Steve Jain, Virtual Machine MVP
http://vpc.essjae.com/
http://smudj.wordpress.com/