Correction to the -Extnetworking Switch Command-Line Reference Help (831501)

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, use the following information instead of the information in the Virtual PC Help section that describes the command-line reference for Virtual PC.exe.

Command-Line Reference

Virtual PC.exe is the Virtual PC command-line utility. Virtual PC.exe performs several Virtual PC and virtual machine tasks. By default, it is located in the \Program Files\Microsoft Virtual PC folder.

Syntax

"Virtual PC.exe" [-singlepc] [-quiet] [-usehostdiskcache] [-pc virtual_machine_name [-disableclose] [-disableopt] [-s3bitclip] [-setbiosno bios_serial_number] [-setassettag asset_tag] [-extnetworking] [-launch] [{-fullscreen|-window}] [-geometry widthxheight{+|-}x offset{+|-}y offset] [{-minimize|-restore}] [{-pause|-resume}]] [-help] [-registervm filename.vmc] [-startvm filename.vmc]

Note In the syntax that is listed in Virtual PC Help, the -extnetworking switch is incorrectly specified after the -launch switch. You must specify the -extnetworking switch after the -setassettag switch and before the -launch switch.

Parameters

• -singlepc
  The -singlepc parameter starts the specified virtual machine without starting Virtual PC Console. This parameter can simplify the Virtual PC interface in a corporate or lab environment where users only want to access a virtual machine and do not have to use Virtual PC Console. You can use this parameter only during Virtual PC startup.
• -quiet
  The -quiet parameter prevents the starting of any virtual machines that are configured to start automatically. You can use this parameter only during Virtual PC startup.
• -usehostdiskcache
  The -usehostdiskcache parameter turns on host-side disk caching. Host-side disk caching can improve the performance of virtual machines that run operating systems other than Windows. This parameter can help to resolve poor performance problems with disk-intensive tasks. You can use this parameter only during Virtual PC startup.
• -pc virtual_machine_name
  The -pc virtual_machine_name parameter specifies to perform operations on a specific virtual machine. The virtual_machine_name is the name that appears in Virtual PC Console and the virtual machine window for the virtual machine.
  
  Notevirtual_machine_name is case sensitive.
  
  The following table describes the options for this parameter.

  Value	Description
  -disableclose	Disables the Close button on the specified virtual machine. You can use this parameter only when you start the virtual machine.
  -disableopt	Disables any direct mode execution in the specified virtual machine. This parameter can help to temporarily resolve poor stability issues that programs on a guest operating system may have. You can use this parameter only when you start the virtual machine.
  -s3bitclip	Clips accelerated S3 bit coordinates to 12 bits on the specified virtual machine. You can use this parameter only when you start the virtual machine.
  -setbiosno bios_serial_number	Sets the BIOS serial number of the specified virtual machine to the specified value. This parameter can help to track virtual machines when using hardware management software. You can use this parameter only when you start the virtual machine.
  -setassettag asset_tag	Sets the chassis asset tag of the specified virtual machine to the specified value. This parameter can help to track Virtual PCs when using hardware management software or tracking other specific information. You can use this parameter only when you start the virtual machine.
  -launch	Starts the specified virtual machine. Specify this parameter after -pc and any other optional parameters that appear before -launch in the "Syntax" section of this article.
  -extnetworking	Specifies that all network connections on the specified virtual machine operate in External Only mode. This parameter limits the access of the virtual machine to resources external to the physical computer. You can use this parameter only when you start the virtual machine. This parameter does not affect the virtual machine's network connections that are configured to use Shared Networking.
  -fullscreen	Switches a running virtual machine to Full-Screen mode. This parameter can be used only when the virtual machine is running.
  -window	Switches a virtual machine running in Full-Screen mode to Window mode. You can use this parameter only when the virtual machine is running.
  -geometry widthxheight{+|-}x offset{+|-}y offset	Specifies the location and the window size of the specified virtual machine. The offsets are relative to the upper left corner of the screen. You can use this parameter only when the virtual machine is running.
  -minimize	Minimizes the specified virtual machine. You can use this parameter only when the virtual machine is running.
  -restore	Moves the specified virtual machine to the foreground of the screen. You can use this parameter only when the virtual machine is running.
  -pause	Pauses the specified virtual machine. You can use this parameter only when the virtual machine is running.
  -resume	Restores a paused virtual machine to an active state. You can use this parameter only when the virtual machine is running.

• -help
  Displays the Online Help topic, "Using the Command Line," when Virtual PC 2004 opens. You can use this parameter only when you start the virtual machine.
• -registervm path and filename.vmc
  Registers the specified .vmc file. The registration of the .vmc file adds the corresponding virtual machine to the list of virtual machines. This parameter helps you to use an automated deployment to register a .vmc file without starting the virtual machine. You can use this parameter only when the virtual machine is not running.
  
  Note when you use the -registervm switch, you must specify an absolute path of the .vmc file.
• -startvm path and filename.vmc
  Registers the specified .vmc file. The registration of the .vmc file adds the corresponding virtual machine to the list of virtual machines and starts the virtual machine. You can use this parameter only when you start the virtual machine.
  
  Note when you use the -startvm switch, you must specify an absolute path of the .vmc file.

Examples

The following examples illustrate two ways to use Virtual PC.exe to start a virtual machine. In the examples, Contoso is the name of the virtual machine. The quotation marks are mandatory elements of the code.

• To start a virtual machine without opening Virtual PC Console, type the following command:

  "Virtual PC.exe" -pc Contoso -singlepc -launch

• To start a virtual machine in Full-Screen mode with optimizations disabled, type the following command:

  "Virtual PC.exe" -disableopt -pc Contoso -launch -fullscreen

Note Command-line arguments are case-sensitive, but not the parameters that are passed to these commands.