Microsoft won't lift Vista virtualisation limits

Microsoft planned this week to announce that it was broadening the virtualisation rights for Windows Vista but decided at the last minute to reverse course and stick with existing limits.

The software maker had briefed reporters and analysts on plans to allow the Home versions of Vista to run in virtual machines, addressing criticisms from virtualisation enthusiasts and Mac users who had chafed at having to buy one of the two priciest versions of Windows in order to run Vista in a virtual machine.

Microsoft at first said virtualisation presents inherent security risks and that it hoped by limiting which versions of the OS could act as virtual machines, only sophisticated users and businesses would employ the tactic.

On the Mac in particular, though, virtualisation has become a consumer feature and many people wanted to use the Home versions of Vista, which Microsoft executives concede present no additional security risk.

The company said in interviews this week that it was still concerned about the security risks but said it was going to make the change and leave the choice up to users.

Scott Woodgate, a director in the Windows Business Group, said: "Virtualisation enthusiasts would like to make that choice. We're really responding to that feedback."

Microsoft provided little explanation for the about-face.

The software maker said in a statement late on Tuesday: "Microsoft has reassessed the Windows virtualisation policy and decided that we will maintain the original policy announced last fall."

Ina Fried writes for CNET News.com