VMware Player - a Windows 8 Demo

[whs]

You may have considered to run an OS (e.g., Windows 8) in virtual but were not sure how that would really work. I will show you in this video how Windows 8 can be operated in a VMware Player virtual system.

For installation of Windows 8 in VMware Player, refer to this excellent tutorial from Shawn. This will allow you to install Windows 8 virtual within your current system. It creates a VMware folder in Documents (default). You can move or copy this VMware folder to another partition or disk drive any time. You just have to redefine the path to the .vmx file (see tutorial below). You can also copy that folder at any time for backup purposes. That would be equivalent to an image, but is more convenient.

I went one step further and copied the VMware folder (and thereby the virtual system) to an external disk attached via USB and I am running Windows 8 from there. Here is a tutorial I made that shows the steps to do that. The advantage of having your Windows 8 virtual system on an external disk is that you can carry it to any PC and it will run. It is completely isolated from the hardware differences because VMware Player became the host system. That is also why there is no problem with activation. The initial activation was for VMware Player, not for a specific PC.

Now let's have a look at the actual operation. My screen recording program is not perfect, so there may be a few quirks during the recording (e.g., it will not show my Windows 7 Rocket Dock, but it shows the Windows 8 Rocket Dock - go figure). That should not really impact the demo though. The performance would probably be even faster if ran from the internal disk, but given the setup, I think it performs very well.

Note: If you have a problem with the loudness of the sound output of the video, check the "Loudness Equalization" box in your Playback device. It is under the 'Enhancements' tab.

 

[Kari]

Once again very clear and easy to follow video from you, Wolfgang. Only issue for me was the audio level.

Something wrong with your audio settings maybe? The volume level is so low I can not hear you good enough to understand without headphones. Youtube volume full, computer volume full and I still can not understand.

Kari

 

[Anak]

Great video Wolfgang, it is nice to be able to put a voice to your posts.

Kari, as a point of reference.

I didn't have to use headphones but would agree that the volume is low.

YT volume level was set to 100%.
Normally we have the OS volume slider set to 17 to 20% for comfortable listening, but with Wolfgang's video I had to raise it to 50%.
When raised to 100% my estimate would be 60 to 70% under "normal" conditions. There was no distortion.

 

[whs]

I am really sorry for the audio problem. I don't know whether that is my mic or the recording program. Here it plays very well at normal settings.

The recording program is set at maximum input level and I also upped the Dbs by 12 using Format Factory (because I know from the past that there is a problem). I wish I could fix that.

Unfortunately I never found another recording program that would work with mys setup. My DPIs are set to 150% (so that I can see things) and no other recording program can deal with that. I would try anything if I were able to pin the problem down.

 

[whs]

I was wondering whether the problem is with YouTube. I have uploaded the video to Vimeo. Can you please check whether that is better. Both versions are perfect audio here.

https://vimeo.com/59265998

 

[Anak]

Wolfgang, for me it is the same. At my normal listening level I can barely hear it, I have to raise my volume to 50% to compenstate.

 

[whs]

Thanks Steve. So it is a 'local' problem. I'll shop for another mic for starters.

 

[Anak]

Your welcome,

There is a Troubleshooter to test for audio recording if you wanted to try that. might help or reveal something.

Go to Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Troubleshooting its listed under Hardware and Sound.

 

[whs]

Thanks, the funny thing is that it is perfect locally. Maybe it is some codec problem.

 

[Kari]

I'm watching your videos from my laptop. Normally I have the volume level at 35 when watching IP television, Youtube etc., but I can not hear you loud enough to understand when setting volume to max 100. With headset it's OK, I can hear you.

 

[whs]

Thanks Kari. I have ordered a Sennheiser mic. We'll see what that does.

 

[Anak]

Hi Wolfgang good afternoon,

I started thinking about this sound problem, did some searches and came across this thread. It got me thinking about my sound settings and it solved my end of this mystery.

Maybe it will solve Kari's also and you won't have to get that new mic.

• While I played your video.
• I went to the notification area and right licked on my Realtek High Definition Audio icon.
• I clicked on Audio Devices, then Speakers, then Properties, then the Enhancements Tab.
• I tried all the settings in the slider box and when I checked the Loudness Equalization box, BOOM! the sound came right up!
• Your Vimeo is okay now to.

As a matter of fact I had to go to the Main Volume and reduce the sound to 20%

 

[whs]

This is great. Now I know why it plays well here - I have this setting. Must have done it a long time ago and forgot all about it. I think I will add this tip to my tuts. Thank you for digging.

 

[Kari]

Thanks, Anak! Gave you some rep, my laptop has kind of got a new sound card!

Now I can hear Wolfgang without headphones .

 

[Anak]

This is great. Now I know why it plays well here - I have this setting. Must have done it a long time ago and forgot all about it. I think I will add this tip to my tuts. Thank you for digging.

Your welcome, I didn't have to dig this far: , but it was close.

We've had this machine for several years now and this is the first time I've run across this type of sound problem.
The sound is a lot better, I didn't know what we were missing.

Thanks, Anak! Gave you some rep, my laptop has kind of got a new sound card!

Now I can hear Wolfgang without headphones .

Your welcome Kari, I'm glad my find was able to help you to! And, thank you for the rep!

Tip:
If you can not see your browser or Flash in your Volume Mixer it is because you are not using them when you are checking the mix. They will only show if you are checking the sound of a Flash video while online.

 

[whs]

All is good now. Made a note of that in the tutorials. A strange phenomenon. That explains why some people had trouble with the sound of my recordings and others did not have any problems.

 

[derekimo]

Hi Wolfgang good afternoon,

I started thinking about this sound problem, did some searches and came across this thread. It got me thinking about my sound settings and it solved my end of this mystery.

Maybe it will solve Kari's also and you won't have to get that new mic.

• While I played your video.
• I went to the notification area and right licked on my Realtek High Definition Audio icon.
• I clicked on Audio Devices, then Speakers, then Properties, then the Enhancements Tab.
• I tried all the settings in the slider box and when I checked the Loudness Equalization box, BOOM! the sound came right up!
• Your Vimeo is okay now to.

As a matter of fact I had to go to the Main Volume and reduce the sound to 20%


View attachment 254525

Nice fix Steve! I remember a while back having to convert one of Wolfgangs to finally hear it...It was right there in the settings all along.

 

[whs]

Hi Derek, I think Steve is our hero and savior. I owe him a lot.

 

[derekimo]

Hi Derek, I think Steve is our hero and savior. I owe him a lot.

Hi Wolfgang, that is a big save for a lot of people.

 

[Anak]

You guys aren't trying to embarrass me are you?

Very kind words, and I deeply appreciate it.

Steve

p.s. My comfort level is now at 10%, down from 20%.