Windows 7: Virtulization newbie.

Hello again
note you CAN run a 64 bit GUEST OS on a 32 BIT Host when using VMware in most cases but of course Host and Guest together can only see a max of 4GB RAM.

It sounds strange but this is one of the quirks of virtualisation that so long as your CPU is 64 bit capable a 64 bit Virtual machine should be possible even when using a 32 bit Host.

On slightly older INTEL machines to do this you will need the Intel VT virtualisation feature enabled otherwise modern CPU's should work.


If you can't run the 64 bit guest you will have to upgrade your HOST to 64 bit windows first -- but I'd start by trying to install on your current OS.

as far as networks are concerned start with NAT -- the reason for this is although the VM will appear to have it's own separate identity on the network it will actually use the same PHYSICAL IP address as your HOST machine -- the commands destined for the VM will be translated by the Virtual network adapter (NAT = Network Address Translation).

If you use BRIDGED then the VM will have its own PHYSICAL network address so you will need TWO IP addresses to be assigned by your external server or router.

If you are connecting to a School / College network --especially in a Student Residence you might not have enough IP addresses available so it's better to start with NAT.

Finally :

When initially testing Windows 7 x-74 I quite successfully ran this as a VM on a bog standard XP HOST !!!.

Cheers
jimbo

thanks that cleared it up a lot, but i will not be connecting to any school or college,

i will be trying to do the tasks that i did at school, at home, for the hands on experience.

So how'd it go? I'm interested in how a server would run on a VM, I might try it myself.

1. NAT should give you internet access only. Bridged with give you internet and local network access. Host only is used for private networking with other VMs.
2. You should not share C:\. You should share only data folders.
3. If you have internet access make sure that you have an AV running in the Guest especially if you are sharing folders.

well this morning i attempted to install W8 Sever on my external drive and it was going well until i got boot manager error during W8 install http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/s.../VMCapture.jpg
so i the install stopped

it did ask me to restart the system during the install, but i choose "restart later"

According to your specs you are already running a 64bit Win 7 or is this a different machine.

yes i am running a 32 bit machine, the spec are for another machine which i don't have.

You cannot run a 64bit VM on a 32bit machine unless there is VM support in the BIOS. I guess you will have to find a 32bit ISO for your server.

ok i can find a 32bit for the system, does that error means that my boot manager is corrupt for my 32 bit machine? since i have yet to reboot the 32 bit machine, i am worried it will not boot back up.

Thanks

I am confused. Did you install in the VM? If so just delete the VM (right click on the machine entry in VMPlayer and select delete), set it up again and install the 32bit version.