On Sun, Nov 9, 2008 at 8:57 PM, Jim March <
1.jim.march@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Sun, Nov 9, 2008 at 8:24 PM, mike havens <
bmike1@gmail.com> wrote:
>> I was told about running windows within a linux install a couple of days
>> ago. I assume this ,eans I will keep my windows partition intact. How does
>> this work; is it like WINE?
>>
>> --
>> :-)~MIKE~(-:
>
> There are three ways to get Windows apps running on a PC that boots Linux.
>
> The first is dual-boot. You choose a real copy of Winwhatever at
> boot, side by side with Linux. The advantage is that you get 100%
> pure total Windows compatibility. The bad news is that a Windows
> virus can nuke your hard disk's ability to boot either OS. This is
> the usual choice for gamers.
>
> Wine adds a partial Windows compatibility layer under Linux and lets
> you run some Windows apps. The selection is actually pretty decent
> but there are sometimes odd glitches. Not for mission-critical
> business apps, that's for damnsure.
>
> A Windows Virtual Machine lets you run a real copy of Windows (most
> people go with XP) underneath Linux. You boot Linux then start a
> "Virtual Machine Manager" application in which you create (or after
> that, adjust) the "hardware parameters" for a fake computer that in
> turn runs Windows.
>
> This is what I use.
>
> On my 2gig Ubuntu machine, I use VirtualBox (
www.virtualbox.org) to
> specify a virtual machine with, in my case, 768megs RAM. Windows runs
> in that. Whenever I use Virtualbox's management screen to start
> Windows, it eats that much RAM from my system.
>
> When installing Windows, I also set up a Windows disk space file.
> This file in the Linux directories is right now about 3gig last I
> looked, and is allowed to grow to 15gig max per my settings. I could
> create a second "disk file" for the virtual machine if I wanted.
>
> Virtualbox comes in two flavors: Open Source Edition (OSE) usually
> found in your distro's repositories, or the "Personal Evaluation Use
> License" (the "full tilt" copy) free for personal non-commercial use,
> but businesses need to pay for it.
>
> The difference is, the "full tilt" variant can do networking between
> the host Linux side and the guest Windows side. In the Virtualbox
> manager screen, you can select Linux directories to share with
> Windows, and from within Windows access those as drive letters. You
> can also do "USB passthrough", connecting USB devices straight to the
> guest Windows box. Don't do that to a mouse, but it can be damned
> useful for printers and other stuff. (For USB memory sticks, just
> share /media or your equivelent with Windows so that within Windows
> you can access USB disks even if they're formatted EXT3 or similar.)
>
> This works really, really well. Stable as all hell. The only
> downsides are a slight speed penalty, and we don't yet have the
> ability to do 3D gaming within the Windows virtual machine. (They're
> working on that.)
>
> The advantages are huge. Any Windows virus is limited to affecting
> the Windows "disk file" which is in your home directory and if you're
> smart, backed up on a regular basis. You can also save a whole series
> of special-needs Windows installs and copy the one you need to the
> working directory.
>
> I'm running the latest Virtualbox 2.0.4 off of their repository under
> Ubuntu Intrepid. Zero problems...I use it to take apart voting system
> databases and for various test purposes. And let's be honest, you
> never know when you just have to run a Win app...hell, I once rented a
> Blockbuster video that just would NOT play in anything. Several
> apt-gets later I said screw it, fired up Windows, watched my damn
> movie :). It happens, y'know?
>
> System requirements: I'd recommend at least a P4 1.4gHz with 1gig RAM
> as a starting point. More memory will help, as will any sort of
> dual-core CPU (AMD or Intel) as they have "hardware virtualization
> support" known as VT-x if it's Intel and AMD-V in, you guessed it...
>
> I run all this on the lowest possible grade of dual-core lappy
> possible ($500 Best Buy special Dell 1525) with 2gigs. It worked fine
> on my last rig, a Celeron-M 1.6gHz Acer with 1.5gigs RAM. I'm able to
> use Compiz to put Windows up on one pane of the cube fullscreen and
> rotate to Linux as desired...great way to freak out the Windows
> droids.
>
> I was able to run a speed comparo with that Acer next to an identical
> machine running Vista home edition straight-up. I set up both with
> 1gig RAM, with my box running Ubuntu, Virtualbox and XP. Running
> *Windows* application (MS-Office stuff) my critter was faster with RAM
> split 50/50 Ubuntu/Windows. Blew my mind.
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> Jim
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