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Thread ID: 112755	2010-09-21 05:45:00	VMware or other option??	berryb (99)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1138705	2010-09-21 23:36:00	Last time I tried VMWare only the player was free, and it didn't include any guest additions for stuff like seamless mouse integration and better graphics resolution support. It was also a massive download. And the most annoying thing was you had to register before you could download. Just looking at the VMware site, not a lot has changed. Personally, I tend to use VirtualBox (http://www.virtualbox.org/). It has USB support, (experimental) 3D acceleration support, and guest additions are available for the major OS's. I would back VirtualBox. Have found it very good and have tried numerous OS's on it. VirtualBox Open Source Edition (OSE) doesn't have USB support but the full version does which is free for private use.	mikebartnz (21)
1138706	2010-09-22 01:04:00	Indeed . . . . plenty of 'unofficial' mirrors around that have the free VMplayer though (certainly not suggesting you download ESXi from a torrent or anything) Have also found out that despite shelling our $$$k for their vSphere product, I also have to pay to lodge a support ticket request . . . . . :xmouth: ??, really, we pay $1700 annual for maintenance including support tickets and all upgrades As I already register with full details, Im not that worried, but dont see the issue with them getting your details! . . . some people are just hard to please I guess!	SolMiester (139)
1138707	2010-09-22 03:09:00	Thanks for all the posts. All very interesting. I have downloaded VMware products as suggested and will do a test using the converter program to convert a XP Pro box over. One question, I assume I have to create a blank Virtual Machine and then use converter to put the OS into the virtual machine? I have read the help file but this part is not clear. I will find out one way or the other once I try it. :)	berryb (99)
1138708	2010-09-22 03:20:00	There is a hack (I'm not 100% sure, you might not even need to hack, just install) to get the MS virtualisation working on any version of Windows 7, once you have it setup its fairly easy to install a version of Windows on to it, XP is probably the best way to go as it supports some funky way to launch a program outside the VM.	Deimos (5715)
1138709	2010-09-22 03:23:00	Wait, I just realised why only pro supports "XP mode", its because MS gives you a licence for XP as well, whereas the lesser version do not give you the XP licence, it doesn't prevent you from using the virtual machine software, or from using your own XP licence that you may already have.	Deimos (5715)
1138710	2010-09-22 06:43:00	One question, I assume I have to create a blank Virtual Machine and then use converter to put the OS into the virtual machine? I have read the help file but this part is not clear. I will find out one way or the other once I try it. :) Is the PC that you will virtualise still running?, if so, its better to generalise the device settings before you convert, ie: generic IDE controller, etc etc, that way it will boot as a VM, you will probably have to re-activate. You dont need to create blank drive the converter does it all!	SolMiester (139)
1138711	2010-09-22 12:40:00	Hi Sol I have VMware Player and converter on Win 7 64bit and testing the converter with a going XP Pro box. I have created a virtual machine OK but it only gives a blue screen on booting. I hadn't generalised it beforehand so this is why. But I thought I would try and do a repair install and got it to boot from the CD but gets part way through the repair install and I get the error "This operation has been cancelled due to restrictions on this computer. Contact your admin etc etc" This is an Enterprise licensed version of XP Pro that was on a Domain but has been removed. Not sure why I would get that error when booting from the CD but it's not going to work. I will generalise the XP Pro box and try another convert. As per what started this post my client wants his old programs to work so hopefully I can get his Win 2000 box to virtualise without impact on the software. At least using this method I will not corrupt any files on the exisitng 2000 box. Even if it doesn't work I'm learning something!	berryb (99)
1138712	2010-09-28 02:22:00	Well after a few attemps the XP Pro I have converted blue screen on boot everytime even after generalising as much as I could before the convert. Both the XP and Win 7 (with VM Player installed) are AMD so I thought this would work. My next move is to clean install XP into a virtual machine and see if it will run. Not looking good for my clients Win 2000 box booting after a convert. Not that I have tried and may not be worth the time involved. I would have to do onsite.	berryb (99)
1138713	2010-09-28 02:38:00	Well after a few attemps the XP Pro I have converted blue screen on boot everytime even after generalising as much as I could before the convert. Both the XP and Win 7 (with VM Player installed) are AMD so I thought this would work. My next move is to clean install XP into a virtual machine and see if it will run. Not looking good for my clients Win 2000 box booting after a convert. Not that I have tried and may not be worth the time involved. I would have to do onsite. Relax......do a repair install on XP, that will keep installed programs working. As for Win2000, it doesnt have sata or AHCI to worry about......	SolMiester (139)
1138714	2010-09-28 05:42:00	When I try and do a repair by booting from CD I get "This operation has been cancelled due to restrictions on this computer. Contact your admin etc etc" part way through the repair. Just had a thought, that CD is XP SP1 where as the virtual machine would be XP SP3. Not that this has every been an issue for me in the past but ........	berryb (99)
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