Windows 7: Virtual Machines

Hello everyone, The way i use my programs and software require me to switch between Vista and Windows 7. I havent had this problem before because usually if software works on one, it works on the other but for some reason, it only works on vista. I currently have Vista Home Premium and Windows 7 dual booting but its a pain to restart my computer every time i need to switch which leads me to my question:
What are some good VM programs that can use usb and access the internet in for a cheap if not free price?



Thanks in advance guys!

http://www.microsoft.com/downloadS/d...displaylang=en

VMware Player: Run Windows 7, Chrome OS - Free Download for a Virtual PC

VirtualBox

All free.

Edit: I've tried Vbox and VMPlayer. I like VMPlayer the best, but Vbox will mount a VHD and Player won't (not that I've figured out anyway). If you create an image of your drive, you can mount it in Vbox and all your programs will be installed.

Hope this helps.

Gary

Thanks for your reply! I will probably try out those three but i have one more question: How would I go about creating a image of my drive? Ive looked through Vista's backup center and i dont think there is a built in way of doing this.

Your system specs say your running 7 Ult. Can't remember if this was in the RC. Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Backup and Restore. Click on create a system image. This will create the VHD. In Vista there is create a complete PC backup or something like that. I believe it is basically the same thing, but I haven't tried it.

Would you recommend a image program to create one in Vista Home Premium? The RC does have the option to create one so now i just need to create one in vista. I know that Vista Home Premium doesnt have the option to create a image.

Thank you for all your help so far.

Other imaging software can create an image, but I don't know of one that can create a VHD. Don't know if you can transfer the image from some third party imaging software to a virtual machine or not. I'm sure you won't be able to just mount the image in Vbox and have it work like it did with the VHD.

Hi there
Acronis Universal Restore will allow you to image your "Real" OS and restore it back to "Different" (i.e the Virtual) hardware.

If you Image your old OS and then use vmware to create your new Virtual Machine you can use the bootable rescue disk to boot your "Real Image" which will be converted to the Virtual one. This process is called P2V (Physical to Virtual Conversion).

You'll probably have to re-activate the new VM as the hardware will be different from the "Real" Hardware but the advantage is that you will find all your apps installed and working.

cheers
jimbo

I tried making an image using Acronis but every time it froze have way through. I did however have luck with the VMplayer suggested by Gary and i know have vista installed with Windows 7 as the host. I wish windows vista home premium had a system image option built in but, because it doesn't, and i have not had any luck with other third party programs, i will just re-install all my programs the old-fashioned way.

Thanks Gary and Jimbo for your replies and help!

Your welcome. Have fun!