Using Virtual.Server COM interfaces on an x64 Machine and Visual Studio

cicorias — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:08:48 GMT

Recently, I messed up a set of VHD files that were based upon differencing disks. Basically, I killed the parent drive - so, any child drives are useless.

So, how do you know which drives are differencing disks and what is their parent?

One way is through the COM interfaces (that call into an out-of-process server). Virtual Server must be installed and the service running for these interfaces to work.

However, on an X64 machine you won't be able, in Visual Studio 2005 or Visual Studio 2008 see the Typelib registered via the Add Reference -> COM tab. Why? Because Visual Studio is 32 bit and the COM registration on x64 machines is not visible via the WOW64 Registry redirection.

So, a simple fix is to create (copy) the same sub key for win32. A merge of the following will then allow you to set a reference and call into the interfaces

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\TypeLib\{D7526A6D-CF83-48A4-87FD-4FBE2AEC5D93}\1.1\0\win32]
@="C:\\Program Files\\Microsoft Virtual Server\\vssrvc.exe"

What you then need to do is ensure you follow the steps in the MSDN article below to ensure proper COM initialization and setting of the apartment model to MTA instead of STA which is the default attribute applied via the VS templates.

Connecting to the Virtual Server COM Object

Windows Vista Services Explained

cicorias — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 13:51:42 GMT

Here's a nice site that helps us Vista folk out on identifying which services are really needed, can be delayed start, or even disabled. General Service information too.

While I Hibernate most of the time (shutdown -h) there are those times I need to reboot. Anything to save a few...

Windows Vista Services Explained

Windows Updates - almost 1/2 a GIG?

cicorias — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 10:50:25 GMT

What's up with the huge update? Turns out the biggest is Office 2007 SP1 at 390 Meg...

I'm guessing the Vista SP1 will be 3 Gig at this rate...

Shawn Cicoria - CedarLogic : Vista

Using Virtual.Server COM interfaces on an x64 Machine and Visual Studio

Windows Vista Services Explained

Windows Updates - almost 1/2 a GIG?