OK, Here is how I installed XP from my USB while Running Ubuntu. I haven't tested it with other Versions of Windows so try, there's no reason it shouldn't work.
Part I: Installing VirtualBox and Other Stuff.
- Install VirtualBox on your Ubuntu, it's there in the Software Centre.
- Get your hands on a Windows ISO Image. If you have a Windows XP CD, then rip it with IMGBurn which you can find in the Software Centre.
- Open VirtualBox and Click the "New" Button.
- Use the Wizard to create a Virtual Partition for XP. In Operating System Drop-down select Microsoft Windows and in the Version Drop-down select Windows XP or whatever Version you are planning to use.
- Choose the amount of RAM to be allocated to this OS (when it's in use). Don't allocate too much because there will be less RAM for your host system to run, which will crash your entire system. Win-XP requires at-least 512 MB-Ram, but I would gived it atleast 800 MB.
- Create a new hard disk since you probably don't have one already. Click Next to Continue. You will be taken through the Create New Virtual Disk wizard, which will allow you to choose hard disk size, dynamically expanding/fixed size, etc.
- Review the summary it provides at the end and verify the information is correct. After that, the new Virtual Machine will be created.
- Mount the ISO image by clicking on the Settings button. Click the Storage section on the left hand side of the window. Click on the Empty CD medium in the Storage Tree.
- Open the Virtual Media Manager, depicted with an icon like a folder with an up arrow, next to CD/DVD Device under "Attributes".
- Add the disk image file by clicking Add, then choosing the location of the Windows XP ISO image. Select it with "Select", then press OK in the Settings Window. Launch the VirtualBox by pressing "Start".
- Add the disk image file by clicking Add, then choosing the location of the Windows XP ISO image. Select it with "Select", then
press OK in the Settings Window. Launch the VirtualBox by pressing "Start".
- Install Windows. You should have the Windows installer running now. Remember that since you have not yet install the Guest
Additions, you will have to press your Host key (normally Right-Ctrl)
- Install Guest Additions. While the machine is running, under the "Devices" menu, click "Install Guest Additions", which will
launch a setup wizard inside Windows XP. Now you will have OS mouse integration, so you won't have to press the host key to switch
between your host and guest. You also can copy and paste between the two operating systems.
Part II: Getting USB Devices to Work on your Virtual Machine.
Now go to About VirtualBox and find out which Version of VirtualBox you have. Go to this link --- http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads and download the VirtualBox Extension Pack for the Version of VB you have. After downloading the Extension Pack for your version of VirtualBox, install it by opening it.
Now here are the steps for getting USBs to work on your Virtual Machine:
- After installing the extension pack, go to "Settings" and click on "USB," there are two check boxes, check 'em both.
- In Ubuntu, Go to Systems > Administration > Users and Groups, "Users and groups" is not installed by default in Ubuntu 11.10, 12.04 and newer, so you'll have to install it firstly:
Code:
sudo apt-get install gnome-system-tools
- In Users and Groups, click on "Manage groups", scroll down to the "vboxusers" group and click "Propreties", then check the box next to your username and click OK.
Then log out and log back in, plug in an USB stick (or whatever you may need), start a VirtualBox machine and select the USB device in the lower right.
Part III: Preparing
- In Ubuntu, Download Novicorp WinToFlash from http://www.wintoflash.com/home/en/. Make a new folder in /home/ and name it "WinUSB." Put the Windows ISO and WinToFlash in there.
- Open the VM Settings and go to Shared Folders. You can define them there. Click on the Add button, find and select the folder "WinUSB" in which we put the ISO and WinToFlash.
- Click "Start," Right Click on "My Computer" and choose "Map Network Drive." Choose any letter in the Drive Dropdown and in Folder, type in "\\vboxsvr\WinUSB" and click Finish. In My Computer, The Shared Folder will show up in Network Places with whatever Drive Letter you assigned to it. In this How-To, I will be using the "Z:"
- Get Virtual Clone Drive and use it to mount the ISO as a Virtual Drive by right clicking it and choosing Mount ----
Part IV: Finishing Up
- Plug in an USB stick (or whatever you may need), start a VirtualBox machine and select the USB device in the lower right (The small USB icon.) The USB Drive should show up in your Virtual Machine.
- Open "Z:" and run WinToFlash after extracting it. Click the Big Tick Mark and the Wizard should start, in the Windows Files path, choose the Virtual Drive you set up using Virtual Clone Drive and in USB Drive, choose your USB Drive, it should be there in My Computer.
Wait, this process will take at least half an hour. After it is done, set up your BIOS to boot from USB and it should boot from it now.
Note: I haven't tested this on any other version of Ubuntu, you can try, there is no reason it shouldn't work.
Thanks To: C.S.Cameron from UbuntuForums.org, Elizabeth23 from XPForums.com, WikiHow, WebUPD8, Oracle and Novicorp.
This guide might have some mistakes, if you find one, the mail me --- jackey.jaison@gmail.com.
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