---
title: Creating a Virtual PC Image for MED-V
description: Creating a Virtual PC Image for MED-V
author: jamiejdt
ms.assetid: 5e02ea07-25b9-41a5-a803-d70c55eef586
ms.pagetype: mdop, virtualization
ms.mktglfcycl: deploy
ms.sitesec: library
ms.prod: w7
---
# Creating a Virtual PC Image for MED-V
To create a Virtual PC (VPC) image for MED-V, you must perform the following:
1. [Create a VPC image](#bkmk-creatingavirtualmachinebyusingmicrosoftvirtualpc).
2. [Install the MED-V workspace .msi package onto the VPC image](#bkmk-howtoinstallthemedvworkspacemsipackage).
3. [Run the MED-V virtual machine prerequisites tool on the VPC image](#bkmk-howtorunthevirtualmachineprerequisitestool).
4. [Manually configure virtual machine prerequisites on the VPC image](#bkmk-howtoconfiguremedvvirtualmachinemanualinstallationprerequisites).
5. [Configure Sysprep for MED-V images](#bkmk-howtoconfiguresysprepformedvimages) (optional).
6. [Turn off Microsoft Virtual PC](#bkmk-turningoffmicrosoftvirtualpc).
## Creating a Virtual PC Image by Using Microsoft Virtual PC
To create a Virtual PC image using Microsoft Virtual PC, refer to the Virtual PC documentation.
For more information, see the following:
- [Windows Virtual PC Help](https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=182378)
- [Create a virtual machine and install a guest operating system](https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=182379)
## How to Install the MED-V Workspace .msi Package
After the Virtual PC image is created, install the MED-V workspace .msi package onto the image.
**To install the MED-V workspace image**
1. Start the virtual machine, and copy the MED-V workspace .msi package inside.
The MED-V workspace .msi package is called *MED-V\_workspace\_x.msi*, where *x* is the version number.
For example, *MED-V\_workspace\_1.0.65.msi*.
2. Double-click the MED-V workspace .msi package, and follow the installation wizard instructions.
**Note**
When a new MED-V version is released, and an existing Virtual PC image is updated, uninstall the existing MED-V workspace .msi package, reboot the computer, and install the new MED-V workspace .msi package.
**Note**
After the MED-V workspace .msi package is installed, other products that replace GINA cannot be installed.
## How to Run the Virtual Machine Prerequisites Tool
The virtual machine (VM) prerequisites tool is a wizard that automates several of the prerequisites.
**Note**
Although many parameters are configurable in the wizard, the properties required for the proper functioning of MED-V are not configurable.
**To run the virtual machine prerequisites tool**
1. After the MED-V workspace .msi package is installed, on the Windows **Start** menu, select **All Programs > MED-V > VM Prerequisites Tool**.
**Note**
The user running the virtual machine prerequisites tool must have local administrator rights and must be the only user logged in.
The **MED-V VM Prerequisite Wizard Welcome** page appears.
2. Click **Next**.
3. On the **Windows Settings** page, from the following configurable properties, select the ones to be configured:
- **Clear users’ personal history information**
- **Clear local profiles temp directory**
- **Disable sounds on following Windows events: start, logon, logoff**
**Note**
Do not enable Windows page saver in a group policy.
4. Click **Next**.
5. On the **Internet Explorer Settings** page, from the following configurable properties, select the ones to be configured:
- **Don't use auto complete features**
- **Disable reuse of windows for launching shortcuts**
- **Clear browsing history**
- **Enable tabbed browsing in Internet Explorer 7**
6. Click **Next**.
7. On the **Windows Services** page, from the following configurable properties, select the ones to be configured:
- **Security center service**
- **Task scheduler service**
- **Automatic updates service**
- **System restore service**
- **Indexing service**
- **Wireless Zero Configuration**
- **Fast User Switching Compatibility**
8. Click **Next**.
9. On the **Windows Auto Logon** page, do the following:
1. Select the **Enable Windows Auto Logon** check box.
2. Assign a **User name** and **Password**.
10. Click **Apply**, and in the confirmation box that appears, click **Yes**.
11. On the **Summary** page, click **Finish** to quit the wizard
**Note**
Verify that group policies do not overwrite the mandatory settings set in the prerequisites tool.
## How to Configure MED-V Virtual Machine Manual Installation Prerequisites
Several of the configurations cannot be configured through the virtual machine prerequisites tool and must be performed manually.
- Virtual Machine Settings
It is recommended to configure the following virtual machine settings in the Microsoft Virtual PC console:
- Disable floppy disk drives.
- Disable undo-disks (**Settings > undo-disks**).
- Ensure that the image has only one virtual CPU.
- Eliminate interactions between the virtual machine and the user, where they are not related to published applications (such as, messages requiring user input).
- Image Settings
Configure the following manual settings inside the image:
1. In the **Power Options Properties** window, disable hibernation and sleep.
2. Apply the most recent Windows updates.
3. In the **Windows Startup and Recovery** dialog box, in the **System Failure** section, clear the **Automatically restart** check box.
4. Ensure that the image uses a VLK license key.
- Installing VPC Additions
On the **Action** menu, select **Install or Update Virtual Machine Additions**.
- Configuring Printing
You can configure printing from the MED-V workspace in either of the following ways:
- Add a printer to the virtual machine.
- Allow printing with printers that are configured on the host computer.
## How to Configure Sysprep for MED-V Images
In a MED-V workspace, Sysprep can be configured in order to assign unique security ID (SID), particularly when multiple MED-V workspaces are run on a single computer. It is not recommended to use Sysprep to join a domain; instead, use the MED-V join domain script action as described in [How to Set Up Script Actions](how-to-set-up-script-actions.md).
**Note**
Sysprep is Microsoft's system preparation utility for the Windows operating system.
**To configure Sysprep in a MED-V workspace**
1. Create a directory in the root of the system drive named *Sysprep*.
2. From the Windows installation CD, extract *deploy.cab* to the root of the system drive, or download the latest Deployment Tools update from the Microsoft Web site.
- For Windows 2000, see [Deployment Tools update for Windows 2000](https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=143001).
- For Windows XP, see [Deployment Tools update for Windows XP](https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=143000).
3. Run **Setup Manager** (setupmgr.exe).
4. Follow the Setup Manager wizard.
After Sysprep is configured and the MED-V workspace is created, Sysprep must be executed.
**To run Sysprep**
1. From the Sysprep folder located in the root of the system drive, run the System Preparation Tool (Sysprep.exe).
2. In the warning message box that appears, click **OK**.
3. In the **Sysprep Properties** dialog box, select the **Don't reset grace period for activation** and **Use Mini-Setup** check boxes.
4. Click **Reseal**.
5. If you are not satisfied with the information listed in the confirmation message box that appears, click **Cancel** and change the selections.
6. Click **OK** to complete the system preparation process.
## Turning Off Microsoft Virtual PC
After all the components are installed and configured, close Microsoft Virtual PC and select **Turn Off**.
## Related topics
Creating a MED-V Image
[How to Set Up Script Actions](how-to-set-up-script-actions.md)