PDA

View Full Version : Dual Boot Virtualisation: Is it possible?


zoqaeski
June 6th, 2007, 05:41 AM
Heylo all
I'm running a dual boot XP - Ubuntu Feisty system, of which approximately half my hd capacity is devoted to each. However, I never use Windows unless I have to print or something (I can't seem to configure it properly; I'm on a Windows network and it just don't wanna work), and I find it a bit of a hassle to have to reboot if I wish to do some Windows-only stuff.
I was wondering if there is a way to set up a virtualisation system such that I can retain my existing system setup, and simply boot Windows from inside Ubuntu. My knowledge on the subject is very limited, and from what I've read, it seems one has to reinstall the guest OS on a virtual partition or something.
Reinstalling Windows, and all its extras, is almost as painful as having your toenail extracted, and right now I don't really have the time to do so (I'm in the middle of my last year of high school, so yer... big stuff ... EXAMS - argh!!! ... a few months down the track)
Also, since I'm on a Windows server oriented network, would virtualisation even work? I mean, the Windows half of this machine is controlled by the server anyway, and unfortunately I'm not an admin, so I cannot really make any big changes to the Windows bit...

Can anyone help me here?

cheers
Robbie

Dedoimedo
June 6th, 2007, 07:31 AM
Hello,

You could install VMware Server or VirtualBox in a Linux distro.
Then, install Windows as a guest operating system in one of these, as a virtual machine.
Then you would have Windows running in Linux.

Or vice versa. Your only limitation is space and RAM. You can install dual and triple-boot virtual machines. You can do practically anything.

Dedoimedo

zoqaeski
June 7th, 2007, 05:52 AM
The problem is, it seems I still need to install guest operating systems, rather than take advantage of a pre-existing setup. That's what I'd like to be able to do...

Dedoimedo
June 7th, 2007, 06:30 AM
Hello,

This is also doable.

VMware Converter
http://www.vmware.com/products/converter/

Dedoimedo