Use a virtual machine -- it's free!

Well thats makes sense. Virtual all the way!

Cheers. I will use it for my home use. As i find myself reformatting more and more as i seem to test software and it makes my OS 'messy'.

But the server use was what interested the most and the points you put accross were very good. Thanks.
 
Usually you do the totally radical and unthinkable thing: go to add-remove programs and choose to uninstall.
 
OEM OS Can't be virtualized?

My XP came pre-installed on my PC, as do so many. In order to have a vurtualized XP machine, must I go out and buy a full new-install version of Windows?

Short of doing that, do I have any other options besides maybe a virtualized Linux installaton under Windows?

Very interesting stuff. Thanks, guys.
 
Yes, you are allowed to have only one installed copy of your XP.

I suppose you could do what I did - install Linux as the main OS and put the XP in the virtual machine.
 
sorry if this was answered already, but how much will this slow your computer down by? is there a certain minimum requirements or something?
 
kitty500cat said:
How safe is malware testing on VMs? Check out this post on the Google Online Security Blog.
Good information there!

Treat virtual machines as services that can be compromised.
Most administrators will take steps to limit the impact of a compromise of a network facing daemon,
such as using chroot() or running the daemon as a low privileged user.
These same tactics can be applied to your virtual machine. As always, try to
minimise what has to run as root or administrator.

For windows, this means running your VM as a GUEST user.
Create a "RunAs" short-cut in Windows XP that saves the User password

* Create a normal Short-Cut to openvpn-gui.exe (c:\program files\openvpn\bin\openvpn-gui.exe) on the desktop.
(or whichever VM product you've installed)
* Right-click the short-cut and select Properties.
* In the Target box, insert the following before the path to openvpn-gui.exe: "runas /savecred /user:guest ".
* Double-click the new short-cut, and enter the guest password.

Next time you run this short-cut, it will start OpenVPN GUI as guest automatically without prompting you for any credentials.
If you want OpenVPN-GUI to auto-start when you logon, move this short-cut to your "Startup" folder
on the Start->Programs menu.​

edit: ( using WinXP Home? you can't use the /savecred switch with runas.exe as it is ignored )
 
Minimum Spec for Virtual Machine

Nodsu said:
Yes, you are allowed to have only one installed copy of your XP.

I suppose you could do what I did - install Linux as the main OS and put the XP in the virtual machine.

Just wondering what sort of minimum spec is required to run a VM ?

This is just wishful thinking on my five year old PC but traffic permitting I might be on the road to self employment so I am dreaming of dual core with sufficient RAM

Not very enthusiastic at the thought of having to have a linux as the primary OS. I make a big enough mess with XP home.
 
It depends on what virtualisation software you are going to use. All of them have their hardware requirements listed on the homepages.

And of course, you have to consider the amount of resources your guest OS needs. If you are going to put Vista inside a VM, then the host machine has to be top of the line while you can run virtual DOS with any old junk as long as the virtualisation program itself can run.
 
Is there any way possible to install Ubuntu on the VM in windows xp? Because I don't have any more licences. Do you know any other VM program that can do that if I cant?
 
I Bees Confoozed....

Obi-Wan buddy, you lost me with that one. Why would you need a virtual machine or another license to run Ubuntu?
 
You would only use the virtual machine to test suspect files, or newly downloaded files for viruses, you wouldn't run all your daily chores through the virtual machine.
cheers
Hynesy
 
VMWARE Questions...

Are you getting viruses, spyware or other problems? Could it not be that this is happening because you are visiting dodgy websites, opening files from unknown sources, downloading "freeware" of questionable origin and suchlike? If the answer is yes, then there's no need to stop, just start being a bit more careful, that's all!

Visiting dodgy sites, downloading "freeware", or anything like that? If so, you might want to consider doing these riskfull things inside a sandbox, such as a VMware virtual machine.

You can download VMware server for free at

Surf for your pr0n inside a virtual machine instead, and then your main installation - which you trust for things such as online banking and so forth - never visits a dodgy internet site.

Install an XP virtual machine, patch it up by visiting windows update, and then start doing all that naughty stuff inside a VM instead!


If that XP installation gets infected, just delete it and start again! Or restore from a back easily, just by copying some files.

Wow this is an old post...hopefully someone can still help...

Ok, I have a PC which is strictly for music use. The question is: Can I use this software to create a Virtual Machine using my music computer?

Can I unplug the VM when I am not using it?

From the posts it is clear that this would help greatly, but what potential risks (i.e. viruses, registry changes, malware, spy ware, etc...) would I still face with regards to infecting my tangible unit?

Lastly, Would the BIOS of my VM reflect everything my tangible unit includes?

If so, Could programs on my tangible unit, be hidden/ deleted from the VM BIOS?

Thank-you in advance-GO RANGERS!
 
Musicians PC & Virtual Machine

Just a thought. If you have not yet resolved your query, gordonheavyfoot , perhaps you might have more response if you started a new thread?
 
Once this is downloaded and installed, how do you run the virtual machine? Do you need to install windows and everything you want to run on the machine after its installed, etc?

EDIT: I click on the vmware shortcut on my desktop and it opens my web browser with the port in the address bar but it says "Unable to connect".

I honestly have no idea what to do lol
 
hi all

I use virtual machines for OS deployment, update testing, software testing, OS trials and testing etc etc

a Windows Server 2003 VM with Windows Deployment Services configured is an excellent way to reinstall operating systems over a LAN cable without user input

so if anyone needs helps on setting up a VM give me a shout
 
As an aside, you guys might want to look into sandboxing within your primary OS. You don't need a VM to sandbox a web browser, or any other application. Sandboxie is a neat little app that can do this.
 
VMWare can be used to install any OS used it in one of my classes in college to teach us how to install/use older OS's
 
I've always just used VirtualPC, but I'm just too cool sometimes.

VMWare is pretty high level stuff compared to VPC, imo... too many buttons O_O
 
will vmware install on a 1gb flash drive and if i put it on the flash drive will it be portable? would it run slow if i put it on a 1gb flash drive?
 
One good use of virtualization is trying out a slipstreamed CD before burning to see if it works or trying out a linux distro on top of windows. DSL works well on a VM.
 
Back