Microsoft provides free XP and Vista image download

In order to make up for the defect that the Windows platform can only install a single version of IE browser, it helps developers to test various versions of IE browser on different system platforms. Since the release of IE7 in 2006, Microsoft began to provide developers with a free download of the Windows client virtual image, which is known as the Internet Explorer Application Compatibility VPC Image, which includes virtual image files of different versions of IE browsers on XP and Vista platforms.

As early as June of this year, Microsoft released more than five free XP and Vista virtual machine images through the download center, but as a trial software, they have expired. In order to continue this service, Microsoft released the latest version of the IE application compatibility VPC image yesterday.

Pete LePage, director of Microsoft's IE products, explained: "At the beginning of fiscal 2011, we changed the way VHD files were developed. First, we decided to do the work ourselves, instead of letting the vendor develop it. Second, we realized that some old systems have been retired (Windows XP SP2), so it took some time to find new alternatives to continue to support Windows. XP VHD. & rdquo;

The final answer is that Microsoft has released a new copy of XP and Vista. LePage pointed out: "The biggest change in these images is that Windows XP SP3 is no longer a &squo; full-featured product & rsquo;, replaced by & lsquo; trial version & rsquo;. This means that these free Windows copies no longer use the complex deadline mechanism, and because of the trial version, they will automatically expire after the 90-day trial period ends. & rdquo;

In other words, multiple versions of XP and Vista images released this time will expire on January 11, 2011.

Official download:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=21eabb90-958f-4b64-b5f1-73d0a413c8ef&displaylang= En