Turning over a new leaf

Ladikn · 01-03-2008, 12:06 PM

I know, these forums are probably saturated with people turning from Windows to Linux. I can do that though, so thats not my question.

My thing is, I have Windows atm (I went to Linux, but formated to my system restore partition), and want to put Linux (mandrake specifically) back on while keeping windows (XP) and running it in a virtual machine. Stupid weird stuff not working with wine -_-

Now, here's the catch. Not only do I not have an XP CD, but I dont have a CD drive (I technically do, but its broken). So I need to set this up without taking windows off. I am not good with virtual machines at all, I've never worked with them and know almost nothing about them except basically what they do.

Can anyone help me out setting this up?

Skie · 01-04-2008, 11:00 AM

I'd suggest downloading VMWare Player (it's free) and then locating a few Linux VM's for VMWare. VMWare Player won't allow you to create any VM's, so you'll need to find them. An alternative would be to see if VMWare Workstation still comes with a free 30 day trial license. You could create the VM's using Workstation, then after the 30 days, use Player to use them.

**Bartender** · 01-07-2008, 07:33 AM

How old is the PC? You're not going to be happy with virtualization on an older machine.

I'm a little confused by this sentence.
"I have Windows atm (I went to Linux, but formated to my system restore partition)"
Do you mean you restored the Windows OS from the restore partition? Is the Windows restore partition still there?

Also, this sentence
"Not only do I not have an XP CD"
I think what you're saying is your restore partition is good but you don't have restore CD's, right?

I don't know what your situation is, but clearly the best thing to do is buy or borrow a CD or DVD burner and burn your recovery partition to discs. I could have you burning in about 10 minutes if we were neighbors. Replacing optical drives is one of the easiest things you can do inside your PC. And DVD burners are ridiculously cheap.

Well, if it's a desktop that we're talking about.

If a laptop, then I'd borrow or buy an external DVD burner.

I'd say your first priority is to get that recovery partition copied off to some discs.

Ladikn · 01-07-2008, 08:56 AM

It is a laptop, fairly new (modified Dell Inspiron 9400), and the optical drive is dead beyond belief...although I may be buying a new Tabletop soon.

As to your confusions, you are correct on both accounts, I apologize for my odd wording.

sbobillierc · 01-10-2008, 08:38 AM

XD ... first of all I must say that my Inspiron 9400's optical drive also died... I think it has to do with that specific model... damn DELL.

Well if you want to virtualize Windows in your Linux machine I recomend VirtualBox which works pretty well even with low resources, I currently run a Windows 2003 Server in my Kubuntu machine and it runs pretty well I must say.

VirtualBox has a lot of nice features, for example it can use an ISO as the CD-DRIVE which may help you solve the stupid optical drive problem.... -_-! Also it can share the host PC's network through a NAT or even the physical adapter (never tried this), clipboard sharing, among others...

Give it a try: http://www.virtualbox.org/

01-03-2008, 12:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
Ladikn Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 4 OS: windows XP	Turning over a new leaf I know, these forums are probably saturated with people turning from Windows to Linux. I can do that though, so thats not my question. My thing is, I have Windows atm (I went to Linux, but formated to my system restore partition), and want to put Linux (mandrake specifically) back on while keeping windows (XP) and running it in a virtual machine. Stupid weird stuff not working with wine -_- Now, here's the catch. Not only do I not have an XP CD, but I dont have a CD drive (I technically do, but its broken). So I need to set this up without taking windows off. I am not good with virtual machines at all, I've never worked with them and know almost nothing about them except basically what they do. Can anyone help me out setting this up?

01-04-2008, 11:00 AM	#2 (permalink)
Skie Manager, Alternative Comp Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Chicago burbs Posts: 2,194 OS: Gentoo Linux, CentOS, OS X My System	Re: Turning over a new leaf I'd suggest downloading VMWare Player (it's free) and then locating a few Linux VM's for VMWare. VMWare Player won't allow you to create any VM's, so you'll need to find them. An alternative would be to see if VMWare Workstation still comes with a free 30 day trial license. You could create the VM's using Workstation, then after the 30 days, use Player to use them. __________________

01-07-2008, 07:33 AM	#3 (permalink)
Bartender Mentally divergent Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Chehalis, WA, USA Posts: 1,285 OS: W2K, Ubuntu 8.04	Re: Turning over a new leaf How old is the PC? You're not going to be happy with virtualization on an older machine. I'm a little confused by this sentence. "I have Windows atm (I went to Linux, but formated to my system restore partition)" Do you mean you restored the Windows OS from the restore partition? Is the Windows restore partition still there? Also, this sentence "Not only do I not have an XP CD" I think what you're saying is your restore partition is good but you don't have restore CD's, right? I don't know what your situation is, but clearly the best thing to do is buy or borrow a CD or DVD burner and burn your recovery partition to discs. I could have you burning in about 10 minutes if we were neighbors. Replacing optical drives is one of the easiest things you can do inside your PC. And DVD burners are ridiculously cheap. Well, if it's a desktop that we're talking about. If a laptop, then I'd borrow or buy an external DVD burner. I'd say your first priority is to get that recovery partition copied off to some discs.

01-07-2008, 08:56 AM	#4 (permalink)
Ladikn Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 4 OS: windows XP	Re: Turning over a new leaf It is a laptop, fairly new (modified Dell Inspiron 9400), and the optical drive is dead beyond belief...although I may be buying a new Tabletop soon. As to your confusions, you are correct on both accounts, I apologize for my odd wording.

01-10-2008, 08:38 AM	#5 (permalink)
sbobillierc Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Colombia Posts: 9 OS: Windows XP SP 2 / Kubuntu 7.10 Gusty	Re: Turning over a new leaf XD ... first of all I must say that my Inspiron 9400's optical drive also died... I think it has to do with that specific model... damn DELL. Well if you want to virtualize Windows in your Linux machine I recomend VirtualBox which works pretty well even with low resources, I currently run a Windows 2003 Server in my Kubuntu machine and it runs pretty well I must say. VirtualBox has a lot of nice features, for example it can use an ISO as the CD-DRIVE which may help you solve the stupid optical drive problem.... -_-! Also it can share the host PC's network through a NAT or even the physical adapter (never tried this), clipboard sharing, among others... Give it a try: http://www.virtualbox.org/