Do I need to partition my Windows hard disc to run VirtualAcorn?
No, you do not have to partition your drive. VirtualAcorn uses a directory to store programs. RISC OS sees this as a hard disc, but to Windows it is just a directory.
Will VirtualAcorn run all my RISC OS software?
VirtualAcorn runs a real version of RISC OS, not a clone. If a program runs on a real Acorn computer with the same version of RISC OS as VirtualAcorn, then the program will run on VirtualAcorn. The only exception to this is software that requires specific third party hardware, or a special "key" floppy disc. For example the software to drive a video digitiser Podule (like a PCI card) will not work as the physical podule will not be present.
Does VirtualAcorn come with BBC Basic?
Yes.
How fast does VirtualRPC-SA run?
This depends on the speed of your PC. The original RPC delivered around 18 mips (million instructions per second). A 500Mhz desktop PC will quite often run RISC OS faster than a real Acorn RPC. The graphics card fitted to your PC makes some difference to the speed that VirtualRPC-SA runs at. Machines fitted with a Riva TNT2 or better will run VirtualRPC-SA faster then those with integrated graphics cards. Some high spec PCs can run RISC OS software well over sixty (60) times the speed of an Acorn A3000.
How do I get my programs into VirtualAcorn?
Every version of VirtualAcorn comes with !ArcFS, !Squash and !Sparkplug, these can can read compressed RISC OS archives (very similar to zip files). You can compress files on a real Acorn computer and transfer them to the PC. VirtualAcorn can then read these files from the PCs hard drive and de-compress them. On Windows 2000 and XP you can simply insert your Acorn format floppy discs provided you have an internal floppy drive.
I have an Acorn formatted IDE hard disc, can I connect it to the PC and use VirtualAcorn to read the files?
No.
Can VirtualAcorn read Acorn format floppies?
Both VirtualA5000 and VirtualRPC-SA can read Acorn and DOS format floppies directly on Windows 2000 and XP. On Windows 98/ME you will need to use the ArcDisc program to read an Acorn format disc as an image.
Can VirtualAcorn read CD-ROMs?
Both VirtualA5000 and VirtualRPC-SA can read Acorn format CD ROMS on Windows 2000 and XP.
Can VirtualAcorn use a Windows printer?
VirtualAcorn prints out using a RISC OS printer driver. Provided a suitable PDF (Printer Definition File) exists then RISC OS can print to your printer. VirtualAcorn is supplied with a wide range of the latest printer drivers available for RISC OS.
I have lots of Acorn software, is it okay to use this on VirtualAcorn?
If the software is PD or freeware then of course you can run it on VirtualAcorn without worrying about any breach of licence. If however you have commercial software then you should check the licence you have. For example the licence may only allow the software to be installed on one machine. If so you would need to purchase further copies of the product in question in order to be able to run it on a real Acorn machine, and on VirtualAcorn as well.
Can VirtualRPC-SA run a later version of RISC OS?
VirtualRPC-SA runs RISC OS 4.02 as supplied and can also run RISC OS Select.
I want to run VirtualAcorn on more than one machine, is that OK?
No you need to purchase additional copies of VirtualRPC-SA for each machine, contact us for more details.
VRPC manual - draft number 150.001 10th May 2006