[Discuss] Re: Discuss Digest, Vol 44, Issue 6

[Joan McIlmoyl Cleghorn]

John:

Thanks for doing some research on this......I thought that the program
recommended was VMWare *Player *not Server......

Windows XP update can be installed without Win98.....you simply have to
input the key from W98 (I think, or possibly put in the CD for
verification). I don't think any phone call is necessary for activation,
simply an online action. I know I've never called them.......

8-)
Joan

On Sun, Apr 6, 2008 at 12:00 PM,  wrote:

>
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Sun, 06 Apr 2008 11:25:04 -0700
> From: John Blomfield <jabfield at shaw.ca>
> Subject: [Discuss] Virtual Worlds
> To: Discuss at vlug.org
> Message-ID: <47F91580.9070909 at shaw.ca>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> I am not new to virtual operating systems as I once had a passing
> interest in QNX http://www.qnx.com/ a real time operating system
> designed for the real time control of process hardware (chemical and
> nuclear plants, military hardware) where OS induced delays between
> hardware events and software action are unacceptable.  Many OS's
> schedule responses to hardware demands depending how they feel at the
> time which does not work too well during a chemical or military
> emergency!  However, that aside QNX is a Unix like system with tools
> like gcc compiler etc and can be installed on a Windows box as a virtual
> OS and can be accessed like any other Windows application.
>
> The Linux SIG on Saturday was a far ranging introduction to Linux for
> newbies and mention was made of using a virtual OS as a means of
> retaining access to a Windows OS without the inherent delays of having
> to shutdown Linux and boot Windows as you would it you installed a dual
> boot system using Grub or Lilo.  I have always personally used the dual
> boot approach for the 5% of the time I need to run Legacy Windows
> programs.  Hence, I thought I would check out the use of virtual OS's as
> an alternative to dual booting.
>
> The other use, mentioned at the SIG, for virtual OS's was as an easy way
> to check out a different Linux OS's, as an alternative to using Live
> CD's and installing on a partition and again dual booting.  This may be
> attractive to all types of Linux users.
>
> Having Windows on a "virtual window" on the Linux desktop was for me the
> most attractive benefit of this technology so I decided I had better
> check it out since the Linux SIG newbies were likely to have lots of
> questions about it at the next meeting.  The application VMware Server
> http://www.vmware.com/products/server/ was the "free" software mentioned
> to I downloaded it and attempted to install on my main Linux box a
> AMDx64 running Fedora 8.  Several attempts failed to build the necessary
> kernel module due to numerous compile errors in the C files
> (redefinitions of variables and the like).  VMware site provides a
> package for checking that your CPU is one that is compatible and that
> checked out fine.  However, research yielded the fact that VMware
> reports many unsupported distributions and kernels.  I tried it on my
> laptop, same problems.
>
> Undaunted I googled and came up with VirtualBox http://virtualbox.org/ a
> product with similar claims to VMware.  This download and install went
> perfectly!  It automatically built the required kernel module without
> the string of questions that VMware had about where on my file system I
> kept everything.  So I fired it up and installed Windows 2000 into the
> virtual window and it ran just as it normally would but with one
> annoying and decisive exception.  The built-in video driver was limited
> to 800 x 600 and 16 colors which makes it practically useless.  I tried
> installing the video driver for my video card but I guess that's not how
> virtual OS's handle drives, it needs a special driver designed for the
> virtual OS.  VirtualBox state that their main focus of support is for
> Windows XP and not Windows 2000 or 98 and state that the 16 colors and
> 800 x 600 is all you get for the latter!
>
> So the bottom line for me is that I am no further forward in my quest
> for an easy switch between Linux and Windows (2000 that is).  So what
> about Windows XP?  This got me thinking about what this may lead to.
> Unlike 2k every time you re-install XP you have to phone MicroSoft and
> get an installation code, a pain in itself, but also my XP is an upgrade
> that installed over 98, which means I have to first install 98 and then
> XP, another pain in the butt!  My next question was, what happens when I
> upgrade my kernel which happens quite often, at least once a month
> automatically with package updates.  Does this mean that I now have to
> re-install VirtualBox and have it build a new compatible module?  Ok you
> say no big deal but re-installing XP again is a big deal, not only do
> you have to phone MS again but you have to download all the service
> packs, security patches etc etc which takes hours!!!  Any Windows
> applications would also have to be re-installed.
>
> For now I'm sticking to my trusty dual-boot system!!!!!!!!!!  Unless
> someone can offer a simple solution to this, other than junking Windows
> all together that is, which I am working toward?
>
> John Blomfield
>
>
>
> -



-- 
Joan McIlmoyl Cleghorn, U.E.
in Beautiful Saseenos near Sooke & Victoria British Columbia
joansjoy at gmail.com or joanmc at joansjoy.ca
www.joansjoy.ca