Given the problems encountered with Windows Virtual PC (WVP) support, rather than backing off to my Vista 32 Bit host OS, I have decided to back-off to a Vista 64 Bit host OS.  This will enable me to realize the memory relief I am looking for when executing concurrent virtual PCs.

Windows Vista 64 Bit does not provide the performance rating as Windows 7 but it will have to do for now.  I am ordering my 8gb of memory today.

I found a utility on the Internet called CrystalDiskMarkwhich provides meaningful disk performance statistics.  My new Hitachi SATA 3.0gb interface Thinkpad T61p hard drives provide a noticeable performance improvement when compared to the performance of the 5400RPM drives I had been using. 

I had been using the slower 5400RPM drives primarily because it was what was available at the time (2007) for larger capacity drives.

Biggest drawback with not having Windows 7 64 bit as my host OS is that Windows 7 Virtual PCs support attaching a USB device to a VPC....however I am unable to do so with Vista 64 bit and the predecessor VPC 2007 product......so I am NOT able to sync-up my iPhone within a Vista 64 bit VPC.....and of course Outlook must be in the same VPC for the sync-up.