Windows XP- Vitual Machine

E

erufle

Educator
I had no longer gotten my new copy of Windows7 Ultimate 32 up and running when I learned that you can install Windows XP as an operating system within an operating system via the virtual machine. This is done by downloading two small and one very large file from Microsoft. I am getting ready to make clones of one of my CFS2 installs, along with clones of my aircraft sounds and scenery files so I can compare running CFS2 on Windows7 versus the "Virtual" Windows XP. Did any of you know about this? Has anybody already tried it? What are your reactions? Am I going to be the Guinea Pig here?
 
I know most of the good old boys here swear by their XP. I am happy with my Vista 64. It does all I want as far as CFS2 goes. I am hoping to learn other stuff, like painting skins and whatnot. I have a feeling the good old boys prefer older tried and true programs for theses activities too. I am hoping Vista will work just as well in these areas.

Your a brave man, erufle, volunteering to be our guinea pig! :salute::salute::salute::ernae:
 
I have since upgraded to FSX, but when I played CFS2 a few months ago on my Win7 64 it worked like a charm. But I would think that the virtual machine would slow it down, big-time. It will have to go through Win 7, THEN go through XP. just my opinion.
 
James said:
I have since upgraded to FSX, but when I played CFS2 a few months ago on my Win7 64 it worked like a charm. But I would think that the virtual machine would slow it down, big-time. It will have to go through Win 7, THEN go through XP. just my opinion.
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That's what I'm worried about. But if the sim works fine in Windows7, I might at least use XP to run the mission builder and a few other utilities that I struggled to use while running Vista. I also want to find a good Gaming utility like the one I had in Vista (it said it was for Vista only but I bet it will work on 7) that would shut down all the programs not needed to run CFS2. That might compensate for the power drain the virtual machine causes. I am also wondering if there is a way to shut down Windows7 after XP starts. I'll just have to play around with it and find out.
 
erufle, yes I've played around with a few Virtual Machines, I even tried CFS2 on windows XP running a virtual box hosted under ubuntu, It worked, but was dire, that is because the my computer is not fast enough and does not have enough RAM.
I expect you'd have to pay for a good VM that runs under Win7. For this to work you'd need a super fast computer and a very slim base OS. There are virtual machines that need no host OS , I'd like to have a play with one of those.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_platform_virtual_machines
 
Well, there's no need to argue the point.

I think this computer might be powerful enough to pull it off but the results are unmistakable. When I tried to run it on the virtual machine and XP it just crashed, and I kept getting an error code that made no sense. Windows 7, however, ran a carbon copy of the same install and mission flawlessly. In fact, the sim ran with more confidence than I have ever seen before. I'll have to wait and see how it handles the limits on files and such before I proclaim it to be the best system I have ever used. And, I really did not have time to fly another mission. I can, however, say with confidence that I do not plan on messing around with XP and the virtual machine again any time soon. :salute:
 
Hi all,
I don't wish to rain on anybodies parade, But and it is a Big but. The virtual machine was made for business software and i believe it does not access DX. Therefore it is redundant for gaming.

Buddha13
 
This is probably a "sucking eggs" thing, but when I was using Vista, you could right-click on the desktop icon and opt to start a program using an earlier O/S. It was under properties/compatibility. The check box was for "run this program in compatibility mode for", and underneath was a drop-down menu with all the older O/S's. I didn't bother 'cos Vista worked well once I'd got to grips with the permissions, but it's an option.

PomBee. :ernae:
 
This is probably a "sucking eggs" thing, but when I was using Vista, you could right-click on the desktop icon and opt to start a program using an earlier O/S. It was under properties/compatibility. The check box was for "run this program in compatibility mode for", and underneath was a drop-down menu with all the older O/S's.
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Windows 7 has compatibility mode back to Windows 95, but I would guess that is mostly to run older programs in a basic mode to retrieve settings and to migrate data and documents. It's not made to run games. Most of the older operating systems would not have the drivers to run today's hardware anyway. SLI or Crossfire on Windows 98? Probably start a fire.
 
So Bearcat, lay it to me straight. Should I hold on to the virtual XP to run, lets say, some of the old Martin Wright programs or do you think Window7's ability to run a program in "XP Mode" is good enough and I should get rid of the Virtual XP?
 
erufle said:
So Bearcat, lay it to me straight. Should I hold on to the virtual XP to run, lets say, some of the old Martin Wright programs or do you think Window7's ability to run a program in "XP Mode" is good enough and I should get rid of the Virtual XP?
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Just my$.02: Do the programs you want to use run under Windows 7? If so, just use that OS. If not, try them in "XP mode" (compatability mode), and see if they perform to your satisfaction. If they don't, run them on the virtual OS. It sounds like the programs you're talking about are not going to be using 3-D graphichs, hardware acceleration, etc, so they may run just fine in "XP mode". Do you have to re-boot to use the virtual XP OS? Can you have, say a partition that is truly XP from which you can boot and run these progs? (A multiple boot configuration)
 
Can you have, say a partition that is truly XP from which you can boot and run these progs? (A multiple boot configuration)
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I have built computers with two hard drives; one drive is Windows 7, one drive is XP. It's the same principle has a dual boot on the same drive with two partitions, having two separate drives allows you to keep all the programs and filed related to that OS on the same drive. Select the boot drive with the OS you want to use in the BIOS(a simple thing to do) and boot into that OS. You can transfer files from the drive with the other OS on it as well.
Hard drives are cheap, it's like having two computers in the same case.
 
Erufle, in your case i would agree with Ghostrider, but personally speaking, all of my eggs remain entirely in the XP basket at this time. I use an XP/Win7 multi-boot setup closer to Nomad13's posting. My Win7 install is just like that flashy, low-mileage Lamborghini in the garage that i seldom drive. The old Ford Mustang in XP does all of my work and play.
 
Yes, I'm actually on a Mac Pro, but I have a HD that is Win XP format and OS. I boot from whichever HD depending on what I'm doing.
 
bearcat241 said:
Erufle, in your case i would agree with Ghostrider, but personally speaking, all of my eggs remain entirely in the XP basket at this time. I use an XP/Win7 multi-boot setup closer to Nomad13's posting. My Win7 install is just like that flashy, low-mileage Lamborghini in the garage that i seldom drive. The old Ford Mustang in XP does all of my work and play.
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I've been meaning to try making a multiboot setup but am a little gun shy. I accidentily made one while upgrading from windows2000 to XP on a computer several years ago so I think I could do it. My biggest problem is that the only copy of XP I have to build the new operating system with is on a CD that came with a Dell computer several years ago. Do you suppose it would work on a HP computer?
 
I am flying CFS2 in XP, VistaX32 and Windows 7X64 without any problems at all.

I only do MB in XP, but that has more to do with me not wanting to mess with the permissions issues.

Windows 7 is very friendly to partitioning HDs. If you have a fairly large HD, I would use Win7 partition tool and install XP on a separate partition and dual boot.

My penny's worth of thought.
 
erufle said:
I've been meaning to try making a multiboot setup but am a little gun shy. I accidentily made one while upgrading from windows2000 to XP on a computer several years ago so I think I could do it. My biggest problem is that the only copy of XP I have to build the new operating system with is on a CD that came with a Dell computer several years ago. Do you suppose it would work on a HP computer?
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Yes it might, depending on how Dell set it up, or no it won't. It is an either or situation. Some of the Dell OS CDs had a program that looked at the hardware to see if it was Dell. In that case, it will not work. If it is one of the older CDs before Dell put the checks and balances in, it will work.
 
Catch-22:

erufle said:
IMy biggest problem is that the only copy of XP I have to build the new operating system with is on a CD that came with a Dell computer several years ago. Do you suppose it would work on a HP computer?
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NO ... sorry Ed. That is a Dell specific o/s that looks for a Dell entry in the bios.

HOWEVER there are other options ... call me on Skype & I will explain.

I can fix you up no problem .... BUT ... then you'd have to be nice to me ....

So is it really worth THAT PRICE ???

......... View attachment 23460
 
It's worth it Ed! I have recieved glowing reports from Upper Canada about Dirty. He is once again the Headman of Hogtown, King, no, Emperor of the East (except quebec), badest of the bad! :salute:

After he helps you with your problem, PLEASE don't tell us what a wonderful person he is. He has a reputation up here, we need our Dirtman, and we need him to be nasty! :ernae:
 
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