running windows within Linux

[mike havens]

Thanks for the wise answers,  gentlemen. I suppose that makes you
wise-guys:!)



On Sun, Nov 9, 2008 at 11:33 PM, Stephen <cryptworks at gmail.com> wrote:

> virtualization is a good way to go, but if you want to just run a few
> apps and you cannot afford a windows install wine is about your only
> shot.. its really well developed.
>
> i personally dual boot, and i use bios to swap my drives which is a
> little cumbersome but it keeps Vista and Linux form farting with each
> others bootsectors.
>
> but i also have vmware installed as well. but i do weird stuff
>
>
> On Sun, Nov 9, 2008 at 8:57 PM, Jim March <1.jim.march at gmail.com> wrote:
> > On Sun, Nov 9, 2008 at 8:24 PM, mike havens <bmike1 at 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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>
>
>
> --
> A mouse trap, placed on top of your alarm clock, will prevent you from
> rolling over and going back to sleep after you hit the snooze button.
>
> Stephen
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-- 
:-)~MIKE~(-:
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