Dell XPS M1530 - VMware / Virtual PC!!

Hi People,

I am thinking about getting VMware or Virtual PC onto my laptop (which I will be receiving in a couple of days, with Vista Ultimate 32bit) and install Windows XP Pro with SP3 there!

I have browsed through this site but I could not get to a place where discussions are going on related to my query.

Now my question is, once I install VMware or Virtual PC, when I install Windows XP Pro, would I still need all the XP drivers and stuff? I am asking this because I saw many threads (and read them as well) for people who want to ditch Vista and switch to XP, explaining how to switch and the need for many drivers and stuff. I have a legit Windows XP Pro (own copy) and SP3 as well.

I am not an expert in computers, so I have no idea about how exactly this virtual stuff works.

Can someone please link to me some place where this is being discussed or better still, post here in this thread the answer to my question? Many thanks in advance.

Cheers!

 

Virtual PC is pretty cool (plus it's free-can't beat that ), you'll create a virtual machine so you'll wont have to worry about finding drivers for the 1530.

Here's an article from lifehacker that will walk you through everything: http://lifehacker.com/software/wind...ws-xp-inside-vista-with-virtual-pc-238071.php

 

Thank you very much for the reply I am reading through the link you gave now!! Thanks again..

 

so you do not want to use vista?

 

Your Welcome

 

Haven't personally tried Virtual PC, but I've used VMware (the Server version is also free) for a few years and it worked quite well for me. Plus there's an extensive community if you run into any problems.

I didn't quite understand your question about the drivers. You will need them for the host system, but the guest OS will use special drivers (at least in VMware) and that's all taken care of behind the scenes.

 

No, I didn't mean that. I *want* to use Vista Ultimate on my laptop. But I wanted to have a virtual machine on which I can run XP Pro.

PS., sorry if my first post was misleading.

So there!! Any suggestions mate?

 

No device drivers necessary. Install VMtools if you are using VMServer (my personal preference)

 

Ah ok, seems like my post was a bit confusing. Ok here goes, I'll try to keep it simple - My host system, my laptop is on Vista Ultimate and it would be fine as such. I want to have a virtual guest machine on which I can run XP. This was my question.

As for your and the other replies that the drivers are all taken care off behing the scenes, I guess that was the answer I was looking for mate

And I have been using VMware as well (Host:Linux, Guest:XP Pro) and it worked just fine. I was just not sure with the (Host:Vista, Guest:XP Pro thing, and to be honest, I got a bit freaked out when I saw the posts/threads with "how to switch from Vista to XP?" theme!!!!

 

Yeah, I will install the VMtools as well.

By the way, I have got both VMserver as well as Virtual PC downloaded. As a final call, which one would be better to use?

Thanks again for all the replies

 

Try both, see which one like better.

 

Thanks again for the link! I read it completely, and I must say its just great

A few small issues: as mentioned in some of the comments to that article, how do you get stuff like USB, ethernet, installing programs on XP (which is on the virtual machine) to work? Also, I completely understood the folder sharing options. Am I right to think that it means I can drag/drop between the host and the guest? or will I see the shared folders in some place on both the host and guest?

Thanks!

 

Hmmmm, okie That sounds reasonable as well!

Thank you.

 

Try VMware Workstation for 30 days and you might buy it.

 

Ok people Thanks a lot for your replies.

I am going to start with Virtual PC (inspired, encouraged from the link provided in the second post) and also I am gonna try VMserver! I will let you know soon about how it all went! Thanks again.

STILL, if anyone got any linkouts / websites for help with hooking up guest OS with the USB ports, internet access etc., please do drop in a line. Thanks for your time.

 

For internet, make sure that "shared networking" is enabled for the Virtual Machine. Open the virtual PC console and click "settings" you may have to stop the VM first though. Make sure that Windows XP is set to get an IP address using DHCP.

You'll have to use the "Shared Folders" to use USB drives. I thought that the VM Additions for windows took care of this but I guess I was wrong.

Installing software in XP: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/833136/en-us

Good Luck

 

Here you go mate

 

there are settings in Vmware that allow for shared folders, sound, CD/DVD Drives, or even usb connection for any devices that u plug in when the VMware window is in focus(meaning that your original OS[Vista] would ignore the device(albeit some VMWare drivers being loaded to 'emulate' the USB connection), while the VMware running OS would get control of the device)

 

I beleive the shared folders only works in Workstation.

The VMServer edition, you gotta share folders through the network.

 

Thank you very much for the replies I will follow it through.. will be back with feedback at the earliest! Thanks again.