Windows 7: New to Virtualization

Hey guys, I just got 7 Ultimate installed on my Dell D430 laptop a couple of days ago and I'm just poking around and trying to figure everything out. So far, I love it. I can't believe how much faster it is - compared to Vista. So far, I have nothing bad to say! What's happening to me?!? =)

My question is... What is virtualization all about? I turned it on in the BIOS so that I would get a chance to go through everything after the installation, but I never saw anything else about it - other than what I had read in the advisior before I installed.

In a nutshell, I'd like to know basically what it's used for and where the controls/software are at in Windows 7? I'm not even sure it works that way, but I'd just like to check it out.

Thanks for any help guys!

Cor

Hi Cor, welcome to the Seven Forums

Virtualization makes it possible to run so called virtual machines on your computer. Your Windows 7 system is called the host, and you can install guest operating systems to be run on virtual machines.

Here for instance my laptop's desktop just a moment ago, running three guest OS's (OpenSUSE Linux, Mac OSX and Android) on Seven host:



You need an virtualization application, or platform, to install and run these virtual machines. In the screenshot above those virtual machines are running on VirtualBox from Oracle. It is free, easy to use and configure. More information and download: VirtualBox

Microsoft's own virtualization application is called Virtual PC. You can download it, and the free Windows XP (XP Mode) virtual machine here: Windows Virtual PC: Home Page

Kari

How did you get Mac OS X working on VirtualBox? I'm desperate for this on my other PC.
When I entered the Mac OS X Leopard Install Disc on VirtualBox, nothing shows up at all.

I have legal and valid install media for Mac OSX 10.6 because of my MacBook, but even then it is in a bit grey zone, Apple does not allow Mac OSX to be installed and used on anything else than in their own computers. EULA, the licence agreement makes this very clear.

This is why I am not telling or showing how to do it. You might think I am a tighta**, but that's my policy.

Sorry.

Kari

95% of the people who "Do" get this working, are using hacked copies of the OS that they downloaded from a torrent.

I can tell you from personal experience, that after all the fuss of getting OSX working in a virtual environment, you won't find that you use it often at all because it's "dog slow". I'm sure Kari can back me up on this.

It is. It's dead slow, almost impossible to configure and update. For me it has only been to virtually test a network of three different OS's in same domain (OpenSUSE Linux, Mac & Windows Server). I rather did it in on one computer because of my laziness; testing this kind of stuff with simultaneously running virtual machines I can sit in one place, use one KB and mouse etc.

I would not recommend using MacOSX on a virtual machine, or even on a real PC. The little I need / want to use Mac, I prefer MacBook. The real thing always beats an imitation, even when talking about Macs

Kari

And one more thing,
Where'd you get that clock and weather widget? Kinda looks like the same as the ones you get in Android Smartphones.

That is Android's HTC gadget: HTC Home for Windows

Kari

Nice. I appreciate the info. I'd love to have a Linux box to play with. I've got very little experience with it, and it would be nice to have it on hand like that. What distro do you guys like? I guess to say, what would be good for someone just easing into Linux?

Here's something that might interest you: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials...irtualbox.html