Create VHD on flash drive?

Hi there
if you need to use Office 2010 then you will need to install a Windows vm on your Linux OS -- I've messed around with WINE -- great idea but not really stable enough for a reliable "daily use" type of system.

If you don't want WINE or to install a Windows VM system you could try a product known as Cross Over Ties -- while this is WINE based it's reasonably stable --but it does cost a SMALL amount.

Note in any case you'll need an ms office 2010 (or 2007 / 2003) license too but I assume you have that anyway.

Here's the link for Cross over ties

Currently Office 2010 doesn't work, Office 2007 works reasonably well and office 2003 is prety well 100% OK.

If you just want MS office I'd install an XP VM -- this will be small portable and is obviously 100% compatable with the latest version of Office - Office 2010.


Compatibility - CodeWeavers


Cheers
jimbo

Obviously Open Office will need compatability work arounds which may prove too much of a nuisance. If you stick with MS products then surely you have licensing issues. eg. forgetting about the OS, to activate Office 2010 you need another license unless you have a multilicense pack.

Ok, so I've been working a bit today on getting this happening. I have ubuntu 11.04 installed (very Windows 7ny than anything) and I believe it's more of a Live USB with a four gig persistence file. I have VirtualBox installed and I'm was getting 7 installed but I chose an 8 gig, dynamically expanding file, so I ran out of space!

But I'm going to attempt this again with a fixed, allocated file. I must say, 7's setup started much faster than I thought it would. When I was trying portable VirtualBox, it took four minutes to startup, in ubuntu, it took almost as long as it would if it were a hard drive. Interesting.

Gah! I'm thinking of going all out with this. I obtained me the very first alpha build of Windows 8, 7850, to use its new feature Portable Workspace which allow me to install Windows 8 onto a 32 gig flash drive. Which reminds me, I need a 32 gig flash drive.

Coke Robot said:

fafhrd said:

Even with a modest 4GB SD card or USB thumbdrive, you can build a Windows Embedded Standard 7 SP1 USB-bootable system, with file-based and enhanced Write filters to prevent undue writes to the Solid state memory.

What's more, when activated with a BA volume key, the WES7 OS on a USB stick retains its Activated Status, even if used on different computers. On the surface it looks and behaves like Windows 7, except with a smaller footprint, and generally with fewer resources required.

Evaluation versions of WES7 IBW 32-bit and 64-bit iso setup files can be found here:

Download Details - Microsoft Download Center - Windows Embedded Standard 7 SP1 Evaluation Edition



and the 180day evaluation product key can be obtained by logging on with your Windows Live ID here:

Download Windows Embedded Standard 7 | Product Information and Trials

365 day product keys are available for student education users.

Resources including video tutorials can be found in the modules here:

Commercial Devices | Windows Embedded Standard 7 for Developers

It runs Office 2010 no problem.

Wow.........

I am shocked and awed.