Currently, Microsoft is offering a free virtual copy of Windows XP SP2 to help developers in shifting the IE6 applications to IE7. The virtual PC image is time-limited and features a pre-activated copy of Windows XP SP2, Internet Explorer 6, and the Internet Explorer 7 Readiness Toolkit. It is projected to provide a test platform for running IE6 and IE7 side by side. However, this VPC image will run out on 04/01/2007.

This image can be employed in Virtual PC 2004 for Windows XP or even Virtual PC 2007 for Windows Vista. IE product manager Pete LePage wrote in the IE Blog:

Now you can install IE7 on your main machine for development, and get all the advantages of IE7, like the RSS platform, native XMLHTTP stack, and improved security, while still running IE6 simultaneously in the VPC on the same computer

Though this service will expire on April 1, 2007, Microsoft hasn’t denied the hopes of offering VPC images in future to assist developers.

Via: Betanews