Installing Hyper-V RC0 from Scratch - Running Order...

If, like me, you're intending to rebuild your test/dev environment and you are thinking of enabling Hyper-V, what's the best way to ensure you have all the latest, correct bits, installed in the right order?  Well, here's the order that's being recommended to do things in:

1. Install Windows Server 2008 x64 RTM which includes the Hyper-V beta (not enabled by default)
2. Download and install KB949219 -> x64 version for the host
3. Enable the Hyper-V Role - you now have Hyper-V RC0 installed and enabled.

Should you then have any virtual machines, either pre-built from the Hyper-V beta, or VMs you are intending to build from scratch, you need to do the following:

• For Windows Server 2008 (x86 or x64) Virtual Machines - install KB949219 inside the guest OS (x86 or x64)
• For Windows Server 2003 SP2 (x86/x64) - Install the Integration Components from the menu
• For Windows XP SP3 (x86) - Install the Integration Components from the menu
• For Windows Vista SP1 (x86) - Install the Integration Components from the menu

Being able to enable the Integration Components within XP XP3 and Vista SP1 machines means that not only will your mouse no longer get captured (much annoyance) but the guest OS's will also be able to take advantage of the synthetic driver model, providing a much more optimal level of hardware access and performance for the guests.  Windows Server 2003 SP2 already had integration components, but I'd advise you to install the latest integration components if you are bringing these VMs from the Hyper-V beta build.