32 bit or 64 bit version on a partitioned hard drive

The main restrictions in vBox are in the area of device support. But if you do not have to accesss external devices, that may be no big deal. If you do use vBox, make sure you install the Guest Additions which you find under the "Devices" Tab. (see picture).

One of the advantages of vBox is that you can then (with guest additions) switch seamlessly between the host system and the guest system. E.g. the picture below I took with a snipping tool that is on my Windows7 although the guest is Ubuntu.

Triple boot is not a big deal either. But as Zonbie suggested - if you are only showing Office, it may be an overkill.

Hello Kazza, welcome to Seven Forums!


It would be easiest with less boot issues to use a program like VirtualBox to install separate Operating Systems to a single virtual Hard Disk Drive, you would have to create one large enough to contain all three, say 100GB.

Of course you would need valid Windows activation keys for each OS installed as well as keys for the different Office versions, these would be needed whether you install using VBox or to 'real' partitions on the PC HDD.

Kazza said:

If going the VirtualBox Option, the devices I might intend on using as part of the training are:
- printer
- usb
- the laptop's cd/dvd burner
- an external harddrive for backups

Would there be any problems using these devices?

Would there be any problem with linking each of the outlook versions to my internet/email provider?

I am not 100% certain whether this will all work - especially the Outlook part which I have never used. I will send a PM too Kari who is a real vBox expert. Will ask him to have a look at it.

Kazza said:

If going the VirtualBox Option, the devices I might intend on using as part of the training are:
- printer
- usb
- the laptop's cd/dvd burner
- an external harddrive for backups

Would there be any problems using these devices?

Would there be any problem with linking each of the outlook versions to my internet/email provider?

Just an idea, I think I would do it like this:

• Install one of the Office versions to your host machine (let's say 2003)
• Install VirtualBox
• Download free 90 day trial of Windows 7 Enterprise, install it on two separate VirtualBox virtual machines
• Install Office 2007 on first vm, and Office 2010 on second
• Set your email accounts on every version of Office, don't forget to check that messages are not deleted from server when read to Outlook

This way you really don't have to think if three different versions of Office are disturbing each other. I have set up Outlook on 4 different computers, all checking the same mail addresses, without a problem, all staying in sync. Important is to leave a copy of the message on server, otherwise different Outlook PST-files don't stay in sync.

VirtualBox vm's can access the printer, USB ports and CD/DVD burner of your host without any problems. They can also access an external HD connected to host.

The 90 day trial of Windows 7 Enterprise runs 90 days. However, it can be legally rearmed 3 times, giving you over a year to think another solution .

Kari

THis thread is a duplicate of this one:

https://www.sevenforums.com/installat...ard-drive.html

and the virtualisation/triple-boot guys have already offerred good suggestions there.

Kazza, I suggest not duplicating your questions across the forum.

Regards,
Golden