Virtual Machine vs Dual Booting

[michael diemer]

I've been dual booting W7 and Linux for awhile now. Recently I've been wondering about doing a VM instead. What I'm wondering is, is one to be preferred over the other? What are the pros and cons of each? Both would allow me to keep W7, but use Linux for most internet work. This avoids the EOL problem lurking ahead in 2020. Both also let you stop fooling with the increasingly frustrating monthly updates, as you can keep your W7 install offline except for occasional software updates. For myself, I could use W7 as the base OS, and install Linux (Zorin or Mint) as the VM, and use that for the internet. One advantage I can see is that I can do both without having to reboot. Currently, if I'm on Linux and I want to use Windows to say, work on my music, I have to reboot, either to start the other OS on the same computer, or to wake-up my other computer, where I do most of my music. I use the older computer to test or play with music software. So I use them both. But maybe a VM makes more sense for both?

 

[Barman58]

Both have advantages and disadvantages you have pointed out the disadvantage of a dual boot but the advantage is the two OS's both run with access to the full resources of the system. The need for not having to reboot is an advantage of the virtual route but the fact that the virtual OS will run with limited resources is a disadvantage

I think the choice is down to what resources you have available when the have loaded the host If you have enough to run the Virtual OS than the option is valid if not you're probably better off sticking to a dual boot

 

[whs]

For your requirememts I would prefer the virtual setup. Rebooting the system each time you want to acces the internet would be the dual boot scenario. That does not sound very user friendly to me.

 

[michael diemer]

Both have advantages and disadvantages you have pointed out the disadvantage of a dual boot but the advantage is the two OS's both run with access to the full resources of the system. The need for not having to reboot is an advantage of the virtual route but the fact that the virtual OS will run with limited resources is a disadvantage

I think the choice is down to what resources you have available when the have loaded the host If you have enough to run the Virtual OS than the option is valid if not you're probably better off sticking to a dual boot

My internet rig is an AMD quad core, 3 GHz CPU, 6 GB Ram, 2-3 HDD, 500 GB, 7200. I keep only 2 drives connected most of the time as there are only 2 slots available.

My music rig is newer and much more powerful.

 

[michael diemer]

For your requirememts I would prefer the virtual setup. Rebooting the system each time you want to acces the internet would be the dual boot scenario. That does not sound very user friendly to me.

Also, I have the problem of Windows displaying the wrong time. Off by 5 hours. I've fixed it in the past but for some reason I can't fix it now. Would this be a problem in a VM also?

 

[whs]

Nah, the time is irrelevant for a VM setup.

 

[michael diemer]

Nah, the time is irrelevant for a VM setup.

+1 for the VM. I think I'll give it a try on my older rig. If I like it, I may try it on my good one.

 

[whs]

Just make sure you set it up in an optimal fashion. Ideal are SSDs - internel or external. Next best is a fast internal spinner. A 5400RPM spinner in an external enclosure is no fun.

 

[michael diemer]

After trying a VM of Zorin inside W7, I have concluded I am a dual-boot guy. But it's better to have every OS on its own drive. So I have rearranged things. Two W7's, both solo on own drive. (One I don't use except as storage). Then Zorin and Mint on a third. (Two Linux OS's on the same drive play well).

 

[whs]

What is the reason you prefer the dual boot. I find that awkward when I want to switch between the different systems all the time.

My VMware player systems are always on stand-by and can easily start when needed. I run several Linux distros and Windows 10 that way. My base system is Windows 7.

When there is e.g. a Windows 10 question, I need not take my running system down for investigation. I just fire up the VMware Player.

 

[michael diemer]

Well, it took a long time to install. And I could not get that tiny window to enlarge. I can't use the internet with a tiny little window. And I guess I'm just wanting to keep things simple. I don't mind restarting. Now, I have everything streamlined and it all seems to work better. Maybe I'll have another go at it sometime, but for now I'm happy with things.

 

[AddRAM]

Always unplug all other drives when you install the OS. Set your default OS, then just use the 1 time boot menu key to choose the other OS when you want to use it.

This keeps the OS`s totally independent of each other, it`s the best way to do it.

 

[strollin]

Well, it took a long time to install. And I could not get that tiny window to enlarge. I can't use the internet with a tiny little window. And I guess I'm just wanting to keep things simple. I don't mind restarting. Now, I have everything streamlined and it all seems to work better. Maybe I'll have another go at it sometime, but for now I'm happy with things.

Did you install the VMWare Tools for the guest OS? Usually the reason why you can't change the display settings to get a larger window is because you didn't install the Tools which are specific to the type of guest OS you have installed in the VM.

Running VMs isn't for everyone but since I discovered virtualization I gave up dual booting. Haven't dual booted a machine in over a decade!