anyone try virtual windows?

I was reading a different post about installing windows twice, once for standard and one for gaming and I started thinking.
I know thats not always a good thing.

Ive been running 3 different op systems for a long time quite sucessfully, but I have been seeing info about a virtual setup used for among other things software testing.
We have all installed new software and wondered it this would be the one that make the whole house of
cards come tumbling down.

Has anyone tried this and if so what are the system requirements eg.
Would 1.5g memory be sufficient?
What processor/system would possibly be the minimum.
Do driver settings automatically become part of the new machine?
Does the full power of xp come to bear or is it running in a tiny little box with limited functionality.
Im sure that there might be more limitations but what are the options.
Im also sure that some of the programs are better at implementation than others.

I realize that this would not be a solution for gaming requirements, but it could offer a little world to try to fine tune some things without the fear of doing something catostrophic such as a BSOD with loss of information.

I savor the idea that if I totally screw up and tweak things past where common sense played a hand I could just delete the virtual machine with out the ill effects of having to try to figure out what other setting may have been changed that I was unaware of.

I installed VMWare Player on a older system:

XP2200 w/ 1500 ram and 9800 video

I use it all the time trying different Linux flavors and getting used to different apps within those OS's. it is beyond awesome as far as ease of use and hardware hookups.

Once you learn how to go and edit the configuration file [to readjust RAM and such]... it is so easy for beginners like me.

Yep, you can do XP over XP. I have done it (to test my custom XP cd) and it works on my modest rig : P-III/256MB/80GB
But remember : The VPC would use resources from your actual PC. Be care ful about how you allocate resources/devices. For a beginner i would suggest you avoid networks and setup XP on a VHD (virtual hard disk) It will make *.vhd file. Use the option of a fixed size vhd (i use 8GB with NTFS).
First install XP and see if all runs fine and then only proceed to other software.
Good luck and welcome to VPC community!!!!!!!!