Re: Virtual Machine to run 32-bit software?
Re: Virtual Machine to run 32-bit software?
We're getting pretty far off the topic for this newsgroup here (there is a
microsoft.public.virtualpc NG), but:
512 Mb would be more than enough for most XP 32-bit machines, depending on
what you're doing. Remember, there's no magic here. Give the VM the exact
same RAM you'd give a physical machine doing that same level of work. The
RAM is only used by the VM when it's running, IF you shut it down when
you're not using it. If you "save state" it will still hold on to its RAM.
On the question of connecting to your printer - actually the best solution
here is to connect via ethernet. A cheap wired or wireless Print Server is
the best solution to providing full connectivity to your printer from any
machine on your network. And it's platform independant - If you change OS's
you don't care, it's still reachable. For "all in one" things, however,
you're likely to have problems with the non-printing functions, since
network scanning is less well handled.
If you really need USB and nothing else will solve it, VMWare Workstation is
a better solution than VirtualPC. It supports USB connectivity. It's not
free (though they do have a free product, VMWare Server, but I don't think
it's as good a fit for you from a usability standpoint.)
When you create the Virtual Machine, you create a hard disk. If you want a
second partition, create a second hard disk. Don't partition the first. That
virtual hard disk is a .VHD file on the host's file system.
--
Charlie.
http://msmvps.com/blogs/xperts64
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/charlie.russel
"piccolo" <piccolo@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:0F789C02-97E1-4448-B7DD-815CF5EC5F80@microsoft.com...
> Jeff,
>
> Refining a bit:
>
> I take the point about OSs made by all. Never having thought about virtual
> machines before, the Virtual PC struck me as a way to market Vista rather
> than something in its own right.
>
> 1. Would 1.024gb of RAM be enough to run WinXP 32 reasonably? And is this
> RAM lost at all times, or just when the Virtual PC is up and running?
>
> 2. thanks
>
> 3. Since I have never partitioned a hard drive before, these alternatives
> are Greek to me. Guessing based on your answer I would select "Format the
> partition using the NTFS file system (Quick)" and then specify a size, say
> 50GB, as the answer to the next question. Am I on the right track?
>
> 4-7 Thanks.
> --
> Regards,
>
> Piccolo
>
>
> "Jeff Gaines" wrote:
>
>> On 09/07/2008 in message
>> <AC8C4A10-14E9-4FDD-9E2A-BF1DF156F704@microsoft.com> piccolo wrote:
>>
>> >Thanks for your responses. So, arguably, Virtual PC is not a free
>> >program
>> >but an excuse to sell another OS license? What did I expect?
>>
>> Virtual PC is free. There are free OSs you can install (Linux being an
>> obvious example) and many people will have unencumbered licences, for
>> example a retail version of Windows where the original PC has been
>> scrapped.
>>
>> >1. NVWM memory: how much RAM should I specify is available to WinXP32?
>> >3GB?
>> >(I have 8). I presume this memory is not subtracted from real memory but
>> >is
>> >just a limitaton on the VPC.
>>
>> Memory used by the VPC is subtracted from the host PC's memory, it has to
>> come from somewhere.
>>
>> >2. I am going to want to enable at least one USB port on the virtual
>> >machine
>> >so I can use my existing HP printer/scanner/fax. This article seems to
>> >talk
>> >only of the physical parallel and serial ports. Are USB ports not
>> >functional?
>> >And/or am I better off finding a parallel printer cable and hooking the
>> >HP
>> >up
>> >that way?
>>
>> USB ports are not available to a Virtual PC, I don't know about legacy
>> ports but somebody will.
>>
>> >3. Partitioning: And I quote:
>> [snipped]
>> >What do I do? (Thanks) FWIW, I have three separate external hard drives
>> >(mostly used for backup) I could use if that made life easier.
>>
>> Just partition as if you were using a physical machine. Bear in mind you
>> are actually partitioning a file, not a physical hard drive.
>>
>> >4. If I do not plan to use the Windows 32-bit OS to go on the Internet,
>> >am
>> >I
>> >correct that I need not enable Internet connectivity on the VPC?
>>
>> If you enable networking on a VPC it is able to connect to the Internet
>> in
>> the same way as any physical machine on the same network.
>>
>> >5. As a related question, am I correct in assuming that there would then
>> >be
>> >no need to worry about firewalls, anti-virus, automatic updates, etc.,
>> >etc.?
>> >In fact, is there any reason to worry about upgrading whatever specific
>> >version of Windows XP 32 I buy to include the various service packs?
>>
>> See Internet access in (4) above.
>>
>> >6. The above questions assume that a virtual machine is a DIFFERENT
>> >machine
>> >for internet purposes than the host machine and that all of the
>> >firewalls,
>> >etc. on the host machine would not protect the virtual machine. Is this
>> >correct?
>>
>> Yes.
>>
>> >7. Once I have the OS up and running, do I then have to install all the
>> >programs I want to run on it? Or can the VPC actually launch programs
>> >that
>> >sit on the hard drive of the host machine?
>>
>> You need to treat it like a new physical machine, any apps you want to
>> use
>> need installing, and are subject to the same licence conditions as if you
>> were installing on a physical machine.
>>
>> --
>> Jeff Gaines Damerham Hampshire UK
>> If it's not broken, mess around with it until it is
>>