Posted: 1/11/2010 8:20:36 PM EDT
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I've been running Ubuntu for a long time, but my biz accounting software is Quickbooks, which doesn't work on linux. So, I do a lot of switching back and forth which requires a reboot every dang time. Is it possible to run my existing windows XP installation (on a separate HDD) with virtualbox? If so, how would I go about this? I don't want to have to start over with a fresh install if possible. |
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Fist things first.
Have you tried using wine to run quickbooks? Next: Yes you can install XP under virtubox. Tons of people do it. Then it is like a full version of XP so you should be able to run any program you need. I don't think you can run an exisiting version of XP. Meaning that if you have a dual boot machine I don't think virtubox will acess the other boot. You have to install a copy of XP on the virtual machine in Ubuntu. |
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Quoted: Fist things first. Have you tried using wine to run quickbooks? Next: Yes you can install XP under virtubox. Tons of people do it. Then it is like a full version of XP so you should be able to run any program you need. I get some crazy error every time. I know I can install XP under VB, but I don't want to do that if I don't have to. I already have a full install on a separate HD. I just want to be able to open that HD with VB. |
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I use VMWare for work, and dabble in virtualbox at home.
I don't know if vb will allow you to build a image of your current OS, but the good news is that VMWare will. You can download a utility from VMware's website and when you run it on your current OS partition, it will build a duplicate image file of your current partition. Then you should just be able to import your duplicate image over to the VMWare software (where ever it may be installed). Viola, you are now running your exact OS image as a VM. Mine works great, i was surprised at how easy it was the first time I went through the process. Hope this helps! |
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Quoted: I use VMWare for work, and dabble in virtualbox at home. I don't know if vb will allow you to build a image of your current OS, but the good news is that VMWare will. You can download a utility from VMware's website and when you run it on your current OS partition, it will build a duplicate image file of your current partition. Then you should just be able to import your duplicate image over to the VMWare software (where ever it may be installed). Viola, you are now running your exact OS image as a VM. Mine works great, i was surprised at how easy it was the first time I went through the process. Hope this helps! Tell me more. Where do you get VMWare? Can you get it through synaptic? What's this utility called? |
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Quoted: I know I can install XP under VB, but I don't want to do that if I don't have to. I already have a full install on a separate HD. I just want to be able to open that HD with VB. You need two things to accomplish this. You need VMWare converter to create a virtual machine from your physical machine. Then you need VMWare Server or VMware player to run the VM. All of these tools are free. You need to create an account at the VMWare website to get this stuff. Player is simpler to use, I use Server on my laptop. |
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Quoted: Allright. Converter is running! Looks like it might not be done til tomorrow. Quoted: I know I can install XP under VB, but I don't want to do that if I don't have to. I already have a full install on a separate HD. I just want to be able to open that HD with VB. You need two things to accomplish this. You need VMWare converter to create a virtual machine from your physical machine. Then you need VMWare Server or VMware player to run the VM. All of these tools are free. You need to create an account at the VMWare website to get this stuff. Player is simpler to use, I use Server on my laptop.  |
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Quoted: Quoted: I know I can install XP under VB, but I don't want to do that if I don't have to. I already have a full install on a separate HD. I just want to be able to open that HD with VB. You need two things to accomplish this. You need VMWare converter to create a virtual machine from your physical machine. Then you need VMWare Server or VMware player to run the VM. All of these tools are free. You need to create an account at the VMWare website to get this stuff. Player is simpler to use, I use Server on my laptop. I tried this multiple times. Finally just gave up. I could never get the vmdk file to load. Windows would boot then hang. I tried it with VMware Player and virtualbox. Same result. So, I said screw it, and re-installed XP in a new partition. I'm actually posting from the new install in VB. It's pretty neat. Now I just have to figure out how the heck to get stuff to print from here...
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Quoted: network or directly attached printer?Quoted: Quoted: I know I can install XP under VB, but I don't want to do that if I don't have to. I already have a full install on a separate HD. I just want to be able to open that HD with VB. You need two things to accomplish this. You need VMWare converter to create a virtual machine from your physical machine. Then you need VMWare Server or VMware player to run the VM. All of these tools are free. You need to create an account at the VMWare website to get this stuff. Player is simpler to use, I use Server on my laptop. I tried this multiple times. Finally just gave up. I could never get the vmdk file to load. Windows would boot then hang. I tried it with VMware Player and virtualbox. Same result. So, I said screw it, and re-installed XP in a new partition. I'm actually posting from the new install in VB. It's pretty neat. Now I just have to figure out how the heck to get stuff to print from here... |
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Installing VirtualBox-ose: http://www.ubuntugeek.com/how-to-install-virtualbox-220-in-ubuntu-904-jaunty.html
I hope it's a USB printer, or you might be SOL as VirtualBox does not support the parallel port. If you do all is not lost, You can setup CUPS and host a print server on the host OS(ubuntu) then network the printer in the guest OS(xp). |
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Quoted: Installing VirtualBox-ose: http://www.ubuntugeek.com/how-to-install-virtualbox-220-in-ubuntu-904-jaunty.html I hope it's a USB printer, or you might be SOL as VirtualBox does not support the parallel port. That step is already completed. I have installed that, and set up a virtual machine. It's getting the virtual machine to see my printer that's the problem. The host (Ubuntu) sees it just fine. And yes, it is USB. |