XP in a virtualbox on linux mint (OUTDATED)
Posted: Wed May 07, 2008 1:42 am
Out of date info, please look elsewhere.
You will need a copy of windows XP. You will need plenty of ram and at least 6Gb spare harddrive. (i'm on an oldish laptop but with 2gb ram and it's fine)
Nothing here will get you in trouble but I do need to improve the tutorial in places, so good luck, i hope you don't get stuck -- you will be fine, honest
NOTE: May 2008 version 1.5 supplied in Package Manager has a know bug (can't share drives between computers) This Version (1.6) is much nicer. It has various improvements making some of the following tutorial easier.
Note: virtualbox probably isn't for you if you want full on power and 3D funky stuff. I use this only for FlashCS3 which for now does not work in Wine - anyway it will do you no harm to try as it can all be removed if you don't like it.
1) Daryna menu (or Elyssa soon:)) > Package Manager > Password "billgatessucks" > Search > "virtualbox"
(i get 4 options here - virtualbox-ose, virtualbox-ose modules (generic), virtualbox-ose modules (server), virtualbox-ose source)
i clicked to install the top two virtualbox-ose and virtualbox-ose modules (generic)
apply.
2) Daryan menu > System Tools (maybe different in Elyssa) > Innotec Virtualbox
You will become familiar with this window so don't hate it
click "new" > next > now add a name "bloodywindows" or "myXP" > choose OS type XP > next
choose the amount of ram for the machine, leave a lot for linux and take enough for XP i find 600mb (out of my 2gb) is good - you can edit this later as many times as you like.
the new hardisk screen > click new > next > dynamically expanding is best for me (fixed run quicker they say) > next
choose a size, 6GB is about minimum for XP and a couple of apps - so upwards of that is better eg 10GB, 20.... > next > finish
now you are back at the virtualbox OSE window but it has a new machine in there
3) daryna menu > administration > users and groups > your name > properties > advanced > change main group
add yourself there to vboxusers, failing to do this will give you the error; "The VirtualBox kernel driver is not accessible to the current user. Make sure that the user has write permissions for /dev/vboxdrv by adding them to the vboxusers groups. You will need to logout for the change to take effect.."
or in terminal;
Now log out and back into Mint (3 finger salute CTRL+ALT+BACKSPACE)
don't expect to be up and running yet with out a few restarts of the virtual machine and a few more settings...
4) In the VirtualBox OSE window, select your machine > settings > share the CD drive...
put an XP disc in your disc drive > click you new machine in the virtualbox OSE window > start > next (double check these options, they should be fine) > next
machine boots > install windows XP > be very very bored for some time (if you get your mouse 'stuck' in the virtual machine - press the RIGHT CNTRL key to release it)
5) when it's done installing XP > go to the menus up top of the window containing XP > Devices > install guest options (this does loads of cool funky stuff like letting you run in seamless mode)
- if this wont work > shut down windows and try again (you may also need to 'run' the guest additions somehow (improvement needed here by me)
6) anyway once the guest additions bit is done you will be able to get sound and run the machine full screen - even seamlessly - but...
Sound - with the machine shut down and guest additions installed > click the machine in the virtualbox OSE window > click settings > audio > ALSA
Seamless window thang - you can possibly skip this in the latest release of virtualbox
i) with windows running make a short cut to my documents or calculator or something else that runs "not maximised or minimised"
ii) put that shortcut in "startup items" (that folder in your start menu) - this is weird but seamless mode wont work if something is maximised or minimised and you HAVE to have this thing open all the time you are in seamless mode - hence you make it run at startup and get used to not closing it. - weird i know
iii) open that 'thing' eg "my documents" and make sure it is not maximised or minimised
iv) now RIGHT CNTRL + L puts you in seamless mode. you may have to adjust the size and position of the windows start menu to make sure its visible)
the main point here is if you get weird graphical problems with the desktop going black - then re-read the above confusing bit
(something like AWN windows manager lets you navigate between your Linux programs and Windows Box)
7) sharing drives - you will want to share a drive or folder between linux and windows so ...
problems in virtualbox 1.5 - don't use it, use 1.4 or 1.6
with the widows beast shut down go to the virtualbox OSE window > your machine > settings > shared folders > add something like home/yourname - this is all done by click, click, click - you should manage it alone. (i must improve this bit)
now boot up XP again > start > run > type "cmd" > in there type "net use x: \\vboxsvr\sharename"
"x:" just becomes the drive windows uses for this folder "sharename" is the name (not location) of the folder you chose above.
this can also be done using the Network Places or Mount.
besides personal tweaking you are done
sorry if you got stuck anywhere - i will improve this with your comments and help.
You will need a copy of windows XP. You will need plenty of ram and at least 6Gb spare harddrive. (i'm on an oldish laptop but with 2gb ram and it's fine)
Nothing here will get you in trouble but I do need to improve the tutorial in places, so good luck, i hope you don't get stuck -- you will be fine, honest
NOTE: May 2008 version 1.5 supplied in Package Manager has a know bug (can't share drives between computers) This Version (1.6) is much nicer. It has various improvements making some of the following tutorial easier.
Note: virtualbox probably isn't for you if you want full on power and 3D funky stuff. I use this only for FlashCS3 which for now does not work in Wine - anyway it will do you no harm to try as it can all be removed if you don't like it.
1) Daryna menu (or Elyssa soon:)) > Package Manager > Password "billgatessucks" > Search > "virtualbox"
(i get 4 options here - virtualbox-ose, virtualbox-ose modules (generic), virtualbox-ose modules (server), virtualbox-ose source)
i clicked to install the top two virtualbox-ose and virtualbox-ose modules (generic)
apply.
2) Daryan menu > System Tools (maybe different in Elyssa) > Innotec Virtualbox
You will become familiar with this window so don't hate it
click "new" > next > now add a name "bloodywindows" or "myXP" > choose OS type XP > next
choose the amount of ram for the machine, leave a lot for linux and take enough for XP i find 600mb (out of my 2gb) is good - you can edit this later as many times as you like.
the new hardisk screen > click new > next > dynamically expanding is best for me (fixed run quicker they say) > next
choose a size, 6GB is about minimum for XP and a couple of apps - so upwards of that is better eg 10GB, 20.... > next > finish
now you are back at the virtualbox OSE window but it has a new machine in there
3) daryna menu > administration > users and groups > your name > properties > advanced > change main group
add yourself there to vboxusers, failing to do this will give you the error; "The VirtualBox kernel driver is not accessible to the current user. Make sure that the user has write permissions for /dev/vboxdrv by adding them to the vboxusers groups. You will need to logout for the change to take effect.."
or in terminal;
Code: Select all
sudo adduser yourusername vboxusers
don't expect to be up and running yet with out a few restarts of the virtual machine and a few more settings...
4) In the VirtualBox OSE window, select your machine > settings > share the CD drive...
put an XP disc in your disc drive > click you new machine in the virtualbox OSE window > start > next (double check these options, they should be fine) > next
machine boots > install windows XP > be very very bored for some time (if you get your mouse 'stuck' in the virtual machine - press the RIGHT CNTRL key to release it)
5) when it's done installing XP > go to the menus up top of the window containing XP > Devices > install guest options (this does loads of cool funky stuff like letting you run in seamless mode)
- if this wont work > shut down windows and try again (you may also need to 'run' the guest additions somehow (improvement needed here by me)
6) anyway once the guest additions bit is done you will be able to get sound and run the machine full screen - even seamlessly - but...
Sound - with the machine shut down and guest additions installed > click the machine in the virtualbox OSE window > click settings > audio > ALSA
Seamless window thang - you can possibly skip this in the latest release of virtualbox
i) with windows running make a short cut to my documents or calculator or something else that runs "not maximised or minimised"
ii) put that shortcut in "startup items" (that folder in your start menu) - this is weird but seamless mode wont work if something is maximised or minimised and you HAVE to have this thing open all the time you are in seamless mode - hence you make it run at startup and get used to not closing it. - weird i know
iii) open that 'thing' eg "my documents" and make sure it is not maximised or minimised
iv) now RIGHT CNTRL + L puts you in seamless mode. you may have to adjust the size and position of the windows start menu to make sure its visible)
the main point here is if you get weird graphical problems with the desktop going black - then re-read the above confusing bit
(something like AWN windows manager lets you navigate between your Linux programs and Windows Box)
7) sharing drives - you will want to share a drive or folder between linux and windows so ...
problems in virtualbox 1.5 - don't use it, use 1.4 or 1.6
with the widows beast shut down go to the virtualbox OSE window > your machine > settings > shared folders > add something like home/yourname - this is all done by click, click, click - you should manage it alone. (i must improve this bit)
now boot up XP again > start > run > type "cmd" > in there type "net use x: \\vboxsvr\sharename"
"x:" just becomes the drive windows uses for this folder "sharename" is the name (not location) of the folder you chose above.
this can also be done using the Network Places or Mount.
besides personal tweaking you are done
sorry if you got stuck anywhere - i will improve this with your comments and help.