CMD prompt to enable Virtual PC.

[StrikedOut]

Hi.

I have a user who requires XP mode on his Win 7 laptop. All the components have been installed but it looks like Virtual PC needs to be enabled in optional features. However, when I open optional features either through program's and features or directly thought a search, I get a blank window. I have run a few diagnostic tools such as sfc /scannow and running the compatibility tool and checking it for errors as per this thread, http://www.raymond.cc/blog/fix-blank-or-empty-list-in-vista-turn-windows-features-on-or-off-optionalfeaturesexe/ but no luck. However this appear to be the only thing wrong with his laptop and if we can get VPC enabled then I don't need to worry about this too much.

Can Virtual PC be enabled using a CMD prompt? If so what is the line?

[ingramator]

Hey mate, have you tried downloading it from the official Microsoft website?

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx

Good luck!

[StrikedOut]

Got it installed as per their instructions on the XP mode site but it was already installed. Then did a search and found that it sometimes needs to be enabled through optional features. Thanks for the suggestion though.

[ingramator]

Can you remove it and try and to reinstall or is that not the case? Don't have a Win 7 box handy at the moment so I can't really dig in too deep!

[StrikedOut]

Hi, tried to remove and reinstall but still get the same issue. Can it be enabled through a CMD prompt?

[KiHu]

Does your his system support hardware virtualization?

scum.

[+primortal Subscriber²]

Try the following at an elevated command prompt (run as admin)

dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:VirtualPC

[StrikedOut]

Does your his system support hardware virtualization?

scum.

Yep and checked it enabled. What I found strange was the optional features window was blank.

Try the following at an elevated command prompt (run as admin)

dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:VirtualPC

I will try this next time I see him but it looks like it is what I am after.

Many thanks.

[farmeunit]

Can another virtualization program fit his needs? Virtualbox or VMWare Player, for example.

[+BudMan MVC]

I personally would be more concerned with this issue

"when I open optional features either through program's and features or directly thought a search, I get a blank window."

Clearly something is wrong - why do you not care to fix that issue?

[StrikedOut]

The user is one I don't see too often and I did have a good look through at the problem before the user had to leave the office. The issue seems to be reasonably common and running a couple of scans showed his laptop was clean of malware/viruses. His laptop may well be replaced soon and this is the only issue he is having so I just ran out of time trying to fix both issues.

[Detection]

Does your his system support hardware virtualization?

scum.

Scum ?

[+BudMan MVC]

did you check the date and time on the computer?

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/931712

When you click Turn Windows features on or off in the Programs and Features Control Panel item, the Windows Features dialog box is empty. No features are shown.

1. Click Start
   , and then click Run.
   
2. In the Open box, type timedate.cpl, and then press ENTER. The Date and Time dialog box opens.
   
3. On the Date and Time tab, click Change date and time. If the User Account Control dialog box opens, click Continue.
   
4. One of two things will happen next. Choose either A or B to continue.
   A: If you are prompted to type an administrator password, and you see administrator account names listed, you are logged on with a standard account. If A: is true, you are not the computer administrator. If you are logged on with a standard account and you want to continue with this task, you must be able to supply an administrator account name and password every time that you are prompted. Unfortunately, if you do not know the password for any administrator accounts on your computer, these methods cannot help you. You might want to ask someone for help or contact support.
   B: If you are not prompted to type an administrator password, and you do not see administrator account names listed, you are logged on with a computer administrator account. Click Cancel, and then click Cancel again to close the Date and Time dialog box. If B: is true, you are the computer administrator, so let's get started.
   

Problem is if you seeing such a basic problem where you can not see what features have been added, even if you turn run a cmd line command to add the feature. How do you know there is not other issues that would prevent it from working. Did you run a SFC /scannow?

[KiHu]

Scum ?

I was reffering to StrikedOut's picture.

I like Portsmouth FC.

but all in good fun :) got nothing against others.

[Detection]

I was reffering to StrikedOut's picture.

I like Portsmouth FC.

but all in good fun :) got nothing against others.

Ah, I have sigs disabled so just read your comment and could see no picture :rofl:

[StrikedOut]

did you check the date and time on the computer?

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/931712

When you click Turn Windows features on or off in the Programs and Features Control Panel item, the Windows Features dialog box is empty. No features are shown.

1. Click Start
   , and then click Run.
   
2. In the Open box, type timedate.cpl, and then press ENTER. The Date and Time dialog box opens.
   
3. On the Date and Time tab, click Change date and time. If the User Account Control dialog box opens, click Continue.
   
4. One of two things will happen next. Choose either A or B to continue.
   A: If you are prompted to type an administrator password, and you see administrator account names listed, you are logged on with a standard account. If A: is true, you are not the computer administrator. If you are logged on with a standard account and you want to continue with this task, you must be able to supply an administrator account name and password every time that you are prompted. Unfortunately, if you do not know the password for any administrator accounts on your computer, these methods cannot help you. You might want to ask someone for help or contact support.
   B: If you are not prompted to type an administrator password, and you do not see administrator account names listed, you are logged on with a computer administrator account. Click Cancel, and then click Cancel again to close the Date and Time dialog box. If B: is true, you are the computer administrator, so let's get started.
   

Problem is if you seeing such a basic problem where you can not see what features have been added, even if you turn run a cmd line command to add the feature. How do you know there is not other issues that would prevent it from working. Did you run a SFC /scannow?

Thanks Budman, did run through that article too as well as SFC and it all came up clean. The user isn't due in my office for a while but the next time he is I can take another look to see what's going on.

I was reffering to StrikedOut's picture.

I like Portsmouth FC.

but all in good fun :) got nothing against others.

Ah, I have sigs disabled so just read your comment and could see no picture :rofl:

Didn't even spot that (Skate filter :D) As much as I am enjoying the antics going down the M27, I hope they survive. Nothing like a good rivalry to keep things interesting.