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

[John Blomfield]

Joan McIlmoyl Cleghorn wrote:
> 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.......
>
>   
I've only had to do this once on my daughter's laptop running a full XP 
and the online thing didn't work and I had to phone.  The local computer 
shop tech tells me he has to phone every time?  But thanks for reminding 
me about the W98 key procedure.

John


> 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
>>
>>
>>
>> -
>>     
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