Windows 7 - Best VM solution for a 2gb-er

For a 2Gb machine, what type of VM (WMware or Xp PC) works?

I can't afford to upgrade RAM ya'll so need to be tight and dangerous.

What do you want to run in the virtual partition and what is your OS?

Supposedly i am to boot my VHD from a USB HDD and need to have xp mode or VMware VM installed. Everything to be running on my local machine so no external ESX server etc. As for OS, it's a dual boot and i'm mainly using Windows 7.

I've tried VMware Server 2.0 and it smashed my RAM so that's a no go. About to Try Xp VPC as soon as the VHD is created.

Hi there
it won't be the vmware server that smashed your RAM but the amount of RAM you've allocated to the VM.

Try again but give the Virtual Machine say 512MB or even 1GB RAM. Maybe 640 KB will be a "sweet spot" on that machine.

You can run a VM with less RAM than you need on a Real machine. It's not a 1:1 relationship. This is a complex topic and beyond the topic requested here.

Virtual Server uses LESS overhead than VBOX, Virtual PC or Vmware workstation - and you can have the VM's running in the background.

Also when defining your VM config in vmware server specify the option to ALLOW Virtual Machine swapping -- this will stop your HOST from seizing up and specify the maximum RAM you'll allow ALL Virtual machines is 1 GB. Do this in the EDIT HOST on the right hand side as shown.

Enc screenshot.

Change the values to what I've suggested.

Cheers
jimbo

Ok i will recreate the VM with the level of RAM allocation you've suggested. Be back here soon with results

That seems to do it, lowering the VRAM. I had allocated the max RAM before lol.

System now at 80% but better than 95% like before.

I use VMware player with a 2gb machine. You can create VMs with
EasyVMX!: Virtual Machine Creator

Hi there
if you want to create VM's for using with vmplayer use the 100% FREE QEMU -- no online stuff needed.

I never trust "Online" apps as you never know what's actually happening.

Using VMware Player to Create Images for New Virtual Machines

However the OP's point wasn't in CREATING VM's but in the amount of resources required to RUN them (quite a different topic).

I wiouldn't worry too much about the CPU overhead -- depends on what the VM is running and the first few times its powered on it might be doing things like indexing etc.

Another point is when you create the VM spit the disk into allocate by 2GB slices rather than allocate the whole storage initially --- unless your VM is running a Data base or web server.

VM's DO EAT RAM for breakfast but running a 640 MB RAM XP vm on a 2GB machine shouldn't cause too many problems.

Cheers
jimbo

The only thing that site does is create the config file for you and a virtual harddrive file that will expand. You set it up to boot from your ISO file and install your OS. Its very safe.

I'm not associated with the site in anyway, I've just used it a few times.

Something else to think about: It would appear from your specs that you system does not have the "V" chip needed to run Microsoft's new Virtual PC. Thus, you will not be able to run XPM (XP Mode). So working with VM Ware is a good way to go. There is also Virtual Box from Sun MicroSystems if you are looking for something else to play around with.

VM Ware player has a large selection of VM Players, Linux and other OS (not Mac or Windows) pre-made up on their web site. Click here for more information.

Here is another site that offers VM Ware Player OSs. Ensure you copy down the Login and Password information. Some of the OSs require a Root password, it will also be listed under Login/Password.