Another reason I love Virtual PC - the BT Home Hub 2.0
Aug. 4th, 2008 | 08:37 pm
There are many of them; Microsoft's Virtual PC software has a plethora of uses in software testing, and for working around those irritating bits of software that I need to use very occasionally that don't play well with Vista x64.
However, one of my favourite features is the 'Undo Disk' functionality. I can boot the virtual machine up, and any changes I make are only temporary. When I shut the virtual machine down, I can either choose to keep those changes, or wipe the slate clean as if the virtual PC had never been booted up.
This evening, I found this most useful in installing a neighbour's broadband connection. A lot of ISPs (especially in the UK) are adamant that you must install the software from their CD in order to setup your ADSL. Normally this is bullshit, and you can simply log on to the modem directly and fill everything in.
Not so with the BT Home Hub.
I've talked about these irritating pieces of kit before, but sadly our new neighbour ordered it before I knew she was getting ADSL so I didn't have time to intercept with a better recommendation. I spotted the courier delivering the wretched thing this morning as I wassitting on the pavement trying not to die doing a manly warm-down after my morning run, and volunteered to set it up for her as I knew there was no way in hell she'd manage it on her own.
In fairness, this is a new breed of Home Hub, and it's actually not as bad as the first. It did at least work properly, a significant improvement on the last one I dealt with. However, I couldn't find a way to activate the BT Total Broadband connection without the BT CD, because instead of the username and password being entered on the router itself, it seems you have to activate the line by authenticating against a proprietary system that can't be got to directly, only via the BT software. Thus, I had to install the CD. Naturally I knew that it wouldn't stop at activating the line and would install a plethora of pointless BT-branded crapware, so instead of subjecting either my own or my neighbours computer to this onslaught, I ran it on a virtual machine I have set up for testing new software at work.
As predicted, it installed some crap diagnostic suite, a bunch of ad-sponsored software, and the Yahoo Toolbar, all without asking. Once it had finished, I checked that the internet connection was active on another computer, then closed the virtual PC, hitting the 'Delete Changes' button. If only removing all that junk was as easy on a real machine...
So, in summary, Virtual PC is useful for activating home ADSL connections without having to then spend the next 20 minutes cleaning your machine of all the unnecessary crap your ISP wants to force on you.
However, one of my favourite features is the 'Undo Disk' functionality. I can boot the virtual machine up, and any changes I make are only temporary. When I shut the virtual machine down, I can either choose to keep those changes, or wipe the slate clean as if the virtual PC had never been booted up.
This evening, I found this most useful in installing a neighbour's broadband connection. A lot of ISPs (especially in the UK) are adamant that you must install the software from their CD in order to setup your ADSL. Normally this is bullshit, and you can simply log on to the modem directly and fill everything in.
Not so with the BT Home Hub.
I've talked about these irritating pieces of kit before, but sadly our new neighbour ordered it before I knew she was getting ADSL so I didn't have time to intercept with a better recommendation. I spotted the courier delivering the wretched thing this morning as I was
In fairness, this is a new breed of Home Hub, and it's actually not as bad as the first. It did at least work properly, a significant improvement on the last one I dealt with. However, I couldn't find a way to activate the BT Total Broadband connection without the BT CD, because instead of the username and password being entered on the router itself, it seems you have to activate the line by authenticating against a proprietary system that can't be got to directly, only via the BT software. Thus, I had to install the CD. Naturally I knew that it wouldn't stop at activating the line and would install a plethora of pointless BT-branded crapware, so instead of subjecting either my own or my neighbours computer to this onslaught, I ran it on a virtual machine I have set up for testing new software at work.
As predicted, it installed some crap diagnostic suite, a bunch of ad-sponsored software, and the Yahoo Toolbar, all without asking. Once it had finished, I checked that the internet connection was active on another computer, then closed the virtual PC, hitting the 'Delete Changes' button. If only removing all that junk was as easy on a real machine...
So, in summary, Virtual PC is useful for activating home ADSL connections without having to then spend the next 20 minutes cleaning your machine of all the unnecessary crap your ISP wants to force on you.