While trying to install the Windows Virtual PC and Windows XP Mode in Windows 7, the system might return the following message for no apparent reason: “The file could not be written. Virtual hard disk could not be attached to the virtual machine. Please check the values provided and try again.” As I said before, this error seems to be triggered for no apparent reason and tends to show even on those machines which meet the minimum system requirements.

Apprently the issue seems to be triggered by well-known antivirus systems which tends to over-react when the user try to install Windows XP Mode. Basically, such antivirus try to protect the computer from possible threats. To fix this issue and be able to install the Windows Virtual PC and Windows XP Mode just disable your antivirus. Anyway, if you use Kaspersky Internet Security and Kaspersky Anti-virus the story is completely different. As a matter of fact, you have to disable the scanning of Hidden Object in the Application Activity Analyzer or Proactive Defense settings. If the problem recurs, just try to disable or uninstall the whole antivirus.