Windows 7 - Win XP - Install on Windows 7 Virtual Machine using VirtualBox HELP

I am not sure where to post this, but I would like to do the same thing here, just install Windowx XP as the guest and the host is Windows 7 PRO X64.


I have tried a few things that I have found on line, but the are not working for me.

Hi Jimmy, welcome to the Seven Forums.

Follow that tutorial, changing these small things:

• Step 4: virtual machine name. Name as you wish, for instance XP Pro
• Step 5: I would give an XP virtual machine 1 to 1,5 GB of RAM. Remember though, that the RAM assigned to a virtual machine is away from the RAM your host machine can use
• Step 8: Decide how big virtual hd you need. I have 25 GB on my main XP virtual machine, although XP runs well on 5 GB
• Steps 13 & 14: choose either your XP install disk or XP ISO-image to be used as virtual machine's CD/DVD
• Step 15: Select also both 3D and 2D acceleration

Then run the virtual machine (tutorial, part 2, step 1), forget the tutorial and just follow instructions on XP virtual machines display to install it. Remember that when mouse is captured by virtual machine, you get it back to Windows 7 by clicking right CTRL.

After installation, read this thread to see how to install VirtualBox Guest Additions to XP virtual machine and so on: Installing software on WinXP virtual machine

From the moment you start, you are going to have a working XP virtual machine in about half an hour.

Ask if you need more information.

Kari

Thanks so much Kari, I do have one question. If you do not have the guest OS running are the resources given back to the host box?

Yes. Immediately. VirtualBox GUI itself uses almost no resources, and everything a virtual machine "steals" (RAM etc.), is returned to host when it's closed.

Kari

[*]Step 5: I would give an XP virtual machine 1 to 1,5 GB of RAM. Remember though, that the RAM assigned to a virtual machine is away from the RAM your host machine can use[*]Step 8: Decide how big virtual hd you need. I have 25 GB on my main XP virtual machine, although XP runs well on 5 GB

just a quick addition if you dont have much space or ram i have had XP pro running on 64mb ram (quite well) and 2gb hdd

Thanks, I have it running now. This is so cool.

You are most welcome.

Hi there
I'd suggest you only give your XP VM 512 - 768 MB RAM. There is NOT a 1 : 1 relationship between REAL RAM on a REAL machine and RAM required on a VM.

Of course it also depends on what applications you want to run on your XP virtual Machine -- however even Photoshop CS4 will run okayish on a 768 MB VM. (Although why you would want to run Photoshop on a VM when it works fine on a Real Windows 7 machine is another question).

A lot of typical legacy apps that are run on XP machines exist from the days where a NEW machine only came with 512 MB RAM.

RAM allocated to a VM is marked "unuseable" by the Host until the VM is powered off.

Start by using less rather than more RAM for your VM's and increase if you need more.

Cheers
jimbo