Hi all… can I run my windows vista partition using virtualbox from opensuse? Nowadays I use windows only for gaming and for wifi…
I have a 10 GB ext3 partition which I was using earlier to run Mandriva and now its free… if it is not possible to run the existing vista, can I install to this partition??
Hi, VirtualBox doesn’t need extra partition to run guest operating system, all you need is some GB of free space on which you create vdi file, in which the whole guest operating system is stored, this may be on any linux partition which is mounted. I haven’t tried Vista, but I’m running Xp without problems on VirtualBox, and I guess Vista should run ok as well.
It sounds to me like you don’t quite understand what VirtualBox does.
You can’t use your existing Vista install unless you convert it into a virtual machine. VirtualBox requires you to create a virtual hard disk, which is just a really big file on your host machine. You could store this file on the partition you have for Vista, but the point is you can’t use the installation you already have unless you convert it. I don’t quite know the process with VirtualBox, but thats something that can be found with google.
VirtualBox emulates a virtual computer inside of your computer. This means that when it runs an operating system, it presents the operating system with a specific set of hardware devices that are different from the host machine. VB then translates any hardware requests the guest operating system (Vista in this case) makes, and uses your PCs real hardware.
The upside to this is you can run multiple operating systems, and run applications designed for them natively. The downside is performance; because the software has to emulate hardware in addition to running the guest operating system and applications, the machine can only run basic applications (web browsers, chat programs, simple photo editing, etc). Game support is currently lacking in virtual machines, as 3D support hasn’t been fully implemented yet.
If you can still boot to your Vista partition, then I would just leave it be, and use Vista to only run games.
On a related note, I personally ran a Vista virtual machine for around 4 months, and I could barely use it as it was so slow. Part of this problem is related to my computer though, so your mileage may vary.
Hope this helps
Please correct if I am wrong… i refered the following link…
Lifehacker - Run Windows Apps Seamlessly Inside Linux - Dual Boot
what i understood is, I need some space anywhere in the hard disk to create the vdi file. Then I need to install Windows in virtual machine and the size of the image file grows accordingly.
Sine I don’t have much free space in my opensuse partition, I tried to create the image file in another ext3 partition. I got an access denied error. This may be due to permissions to the normal user. Anyways, I need to install windows again with a CD. What I was asking that whether I can use the existing windows partition itself to create the image, because I don’t have the Vista installation disc with me now. I’m out of my country now…
What I was asking that whether I can use the existing windows partition itself to create the image
till now I thought this was not possible in VirtualBox, but I found something on Google that might help you achieve this How To Run VirtualBox using a Physical Partition using Ubuntu Feisty Fawn « Blarts
You should try checking the VirtualBox forums, in particular the VB on Linux hosts forum. I think there is a FAQ there about this. It isn’t a question that’s specific to openSUSE; it’s common to all Linux host and Vista guest combinations.
I’m pretty sure it’s impossible to install Vista in VB using an existing Vista partition, you’ll need the original CD. There’s something on the Virtualbox website explaining how to do it with XP but Vista is so much more piracy-conscious that I’d be surprised if it was possible.
In any case, you won’t be able to run games because there’s no real 3D acceleration support in Virtualbox (so no Aero either). Vista itself runs well though (I’ve done it), not noticeably slower than properly installed in its own partition if you have reasonably snappy hardware, and don’t run too much stuff simultaneously.
My laptop does not support XP… on booting the cd itself, I get the blue screen error… so can I install vista on its own partition with virtual box?
You still don’t understand. If you want Vista in VirtualBox. you have to create a virtual machine IN VirtualBox, point to the DVD-drive for booting the virtual machine, then install Vista in the VM.
What you are doing is merely guessing, fiddle on hear-say. “My laptop doesn’t support XP” is a clear indication of the level you’re on concerning operating systems, and that’s definitely not the level you need for virtualization.
no…I meant, they don’t provide drivers for xp …
no, virtualbox provides drivers for xp. Virtualbox provides you a ‘virtual machine’, which means it knows almost nothing about the hardware the host machine used.
By the way, it’s not a good idea to play games in virtualbox. It’s slow.
ok… then i can giv it a try… but I don’t think just for wifi and video conferencing, I need a virtual machine…
On Sat, 16 May 2009 22:16:01 GMT, sarin cv
<sarin_cv@no-mx.forums.opensuse.org> wrote:
>
>ok… then i can giv it a try… but I don’t think just for wifi and
>video conferencing, I need a virtual machine…
Kind of odd. Most wifi works in Linux now. Video conferencing is a
bit stranger, MS does not want to be standards compliant, but works
well enough to cause compatibility problems.
hi all… I successfully installed windows xp in my virtual machine using virtual box… but I don’t know how to make it detect my hardwares like webcam, sound driver etc… now, it shows sound drivers are installed but no sound is heard…
What type of laptop are we talking about here? Also, does openSuse have drivers for your webcam and soundcard natively? You may want to look in the properties of the virtual machine concerning the sound. The webcam is probably a no go inside of a virtual machine… At least as Linux as your host.