Integration features improve the experience of using a virtual machine by providing features that improve the interactions between the virtual machine and the physical computer, as well as between the operating systems of both.

The operating system that runs in a virtual machine is called a guest operating system, and the operating system that runs directly on the physical computer (Windows 7) is the host operating system. Integration features are available for all supported guest operating systems. See the system requirements for information about the operating systems that are supported by Microsoft for use in virtual machines as guest operating systems (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=155832).

Integration features are provided in the Integration Components package, which is included with Windows Virtual PC. If you use Windows XP Mode, the Integration Components package is already installed and ready to use. For all other supported guest operating systems, you must install the Integration Components package in the guest operating system to make the integration features available. From time to time, an updated version of the package may be released for a specific guest operating system. In that case, upgrade the Integration Components package in the guest operating system. For instructions, see Install or upgrade the Integration Components package.

After the integration features are available, you can turn most of them on or off by modifying the Integration Features settings of the virtual machine. The two exceptions are mouse integration and time synchronization, which are always turned on when the package is installed. Mouse integration makes it possible for you to move the mouse seamlessly between the desktops of the host operating system and the guest operating system. Time synchronization keeps the time in the guest operating system synchronized with the host operating system.

The integration features that you can turn on or off are as follows:

For instructions about modifying virtual machine settings, see Configuring a virtual machine.

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