Control the Default Virtual Machine Option (Windows NT/2000/XP)

Registry Guide for Windows
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Registry tweaks, tricks & hacks to optimize, enhance and secure Microsoft Windows.

Control the Default Virtual Machine Option (Windows NT/2000/XP)
Category: Home > Windows > System

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When starting a 16bit application you have the option of running each in a separate virtual machine (VDM). With this setting you can change the default value.

Having a separate virtual machine, has the advantage that if the applications crashes only that one application is affected, on the down side it takes more system resources.

Open your registry and find the key and value below, if they don't already exist create them.

Change the value of 'DefaultSeparateVDM' to either 'Yes' or 'No'.

Restart Windows for the change to take effect.


		DefaultSeparateVDM	REG_SZ	"Yes"


	HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\WOW

Settings:

System Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\WOW]
Name: DefaultSeparateVDM
Type: REG_SZ (String Value)
Value: 'Yes' or 'No'

Disclaimer: Modifying the registry can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. We cannot guarantee that problems resulting from modifications to the registry can be solved. Use the information provided at your own risk.

Last Modified: January 7, 1999

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