WinApps VM setup won't let me select VirtIo drive :(

[SaraCrewe]

Hi Linux community!

I am new to linux, so please bear with me.

Short summary: I am running Linux Mint 20.1 Cinnamon 64 -bit.
What I want to do, is set up a virtual machine in virtual machine manager, so that I can run microsoft apps ‘natively’ using WinApps.
Each step of the process has completed successfully, until I am in the windows VM, and need to select a drive for the installation process. As soon as I select the correct one, and the bar starts loading, the loading bar never fully reaches the end and seems studk in a loop where it begins and ends a few times before an error message appears. I’ve tried increasing my allocated memory, to no avail.

I am indeed selecting the correct drive as per the tutorial I have linked below, but as soon as I proceed, the machine starts hating and loops the loading bar.


What should I do?

The steps I used so far to set everything up are found here:
https://artofcode.wordpress.com/2021/02 ... mint-20-1/

Setting up the VM: https://github.com/Fmstrat/winapps/blob ... ocs/KVM.md
I allocated less esources since my machine isn’t that high-end.

https://github.com/Fmstrat/winapps


I am using the iso I downloaded officially from microsoft (windows 10), as well as the VirtIo sio from here: https://fedorapeople.org/groups/virt/vi ... .1.208.iso

Here is my system information:

System:
Kernel: 5.4.0-91-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 9.3.0
Desktop: Cinnamon 5.0.7 wm: muffin 5.0.2 dm: LightDM 1.30.0
Distro: Linux Mint 20.2 Uma base: Ubuntu 20.04 focal
Machine:
Type: Laptop System: LENOVO product: 6885DVG v: ThinkPad Edge E531
serial: <filter> Chassis: type: 10 serial: <filter>
Mobo: LENOVO model: 6885DVG v: 0B98401 PRO serial: <filter>
UEFI [Legacy]: LENOVO v: HEET42WW (1.23 ) date: 01/27/2014
Battery:
ID-1: BAT0 charge: 32.2 Wh condition: 32.2/38.9 Wh (83%) volts: 12.2/10.8
model: SANYO 45N1043 type: Li-ion serial: <filter> status: Full
CPU:
Topology: Dual Core model: Intel Core i3-3110M bits: 64 type: MT MCP
arch: Ivy Bridge rev: 9 L2 cache: 3072 KiB
flags: avx lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx bogomips: 19156
Speed: 1197 MHz min/max: 1200/2400 MHz Core speeds (MHz): 1: 1197 2: 1197
3: 1197 4: 1197
Graphics:
Device-1: Intel 3rd Gen Core processor Graphics vendor: Lenovo
driver: i915 v: kernel bus ID: 00:02.0 chip ID: 8086:0166
Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.11 driver: modesetting
unloaded: fbdev,vesa resolution: 1366x768~60Hz
OpenGL: renderer: Mesa DRI Intel HD Graphics 4000 (IVB GT2)
v: 4.2 Mesa 21.0.3 compat-v: 3.0 direct render: Yes
Audio:
Device-1: Intel 7 Series/C216 Family High Definition Audio vendor: Lenovo
driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus ID: 00:1b.0 chip ID: 8086:1e20
Sound Server: ALSA v: k5.4.0-91-generic
Network:
Device-1: Broadcom and subsidiaries BCM43142 802.11b/g/n vendor: Lenovo
driver: wl v: kernel port: efa0 bus ID: 04:00.0 chip ID: 14e4:4365
IF: wlp4s0 state: up mac: <filter>
Device-2: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet
vendor: Lenovo driver: r8169 v: kernel port: 2000 bus ID: 05:00.0
chip ID: 10ec:8168
IF: enp5s0 state: down mac: <filter>
IF-ID-1: virbr0 state: down mac: <filter>
IF-ID-2: virbr0-nic state: down mac: <filter>
Drives:
Local Storage: total: 465.76 GiB used: 43.67 GiB (9.4%)
ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: HGST (Hitachi) model: HTS725050A7E630
size: 465.76 GiB speed: 6.0 Gb/s rotation: 7200 rpm serial: <filter>
rev: B550 scheme: MBR
Partition:
ID-1: / size: 456.95 GiB used: 43.67 GiB (9.6%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda5
Sensors:
System Temperatures: cpu: 29.8 C mobo: N/A
Fan Speeds (RPM): cpu: 0
Repos:
No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list
Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-chrome.list
1: deb [arch=amd64] https://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb/ stable main
Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list
1: deb http://packages.linuxmint.com uma main upstream import backport #id:linuxmint_main
2: deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal main restricted universe multiverse
3: deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-updates main restricted universe multiverse
4: deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-backports main restricted universe multiverse
5: deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ focal-security main restricted universe multiverse
6: deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu/ focal partner
Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/spotify.list
1: deb http://repository.spotify.com stable non-free
Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/teamviewer.list
1: deb https://linux.teamviewer.com/deb stable main
Info:
Processes: 275 Uptime: 1h 08m Memory: 3.42 GiB used: 1.08 GiB (31.4%)
Init: systemd v: 245 runlevel: 5 Compilers: gcc: 9.3.0 alt: 9 Shell: bash
v: 5.0.17 running in: gnome-terminal inxi: 3.0.38

Please help me, as I’ve become quite frustrated with my noob capabilities

Thanks so much in advance!

[MikeNovember]

Hi,

I really don't understand what WinApps brings; it is presented as "Developed by a Twitter user that goes by the name Fmstrat, who also developed Windows Subsystem for Linux, WinApps lets you do the same with the help of a kernel virtual machine. Think of this as Windows Subsystem on Linux."

However you need to install a kvm virtual machine, Windows from an ISO, and WinApps. This seems very complicated simply to have Windows application running integrated to your system, instead of running in a Windows 10 desktop.

There is a much simpler way to run Windows applications, without any compatibility problem; install VMware Workstation Player (free for personal use) or Virtual Box (partially OpenSource), install Windows as a virtual machine (guest), then install your apps within Windows and run them. For the ease of installation, ease of use and performance, I would recommend VMware instead of Virtual Box. But, if you want to see Windows apps running each in their own window on your system, use Virtual Box and its seamless mode.

Note that you have Cinnamon desktop environment, while WinApps is said to work with Gnome or KDE: "Run Windows apps such as Microsoft Office/Adobe in Linux (Ubuntu/Fedora) and GNOME/KDE". This may be the origin of your problems. https://github.com/Fmstrat/winapps


Regards,

MN

[SaraCrewe]

Thank you for the tips!

I installed both virtualbox and the extension pack. I set up a VM to run windows 10, but as soon as I click 'start', the VM window remains black.
I wondered if perhaps my allocated CPUs or RAM was the problem. I have little over 3Gb for my ancient pc, so I allocated 1024Mb. I have 4 CPUs so I allocated 2.
Maybe I'm asking to much of my pc to run a 64-bit VM? Would it perhaps work better if I install a 32-bit Windows 10 iso instead?

Or perhaps Windows 7 would work better? If it does, where could I download the correct ISO legally? I currently have an Office 365 subscription, if that helps.

Kind and thankful regards

[MikeNovember]

Thank you for the tips!

I installed both virtualbox and the extension pack. I set up a VM to run windows 10, but as soon as I click 'start', the VM window remains black.
I wondered if perhaps my allocated CPUs or RAM was the problem. I have little over 3Gb for my ancient pc, so I allocated 1024Mb. I have 4 CPUs so I allocated 2.
Maybe I'm asking to much of my pc to run a 64-bit VM? Would it perhaps work better if I install a 32-bit Windows 10 iso instead?

Or perhaps Windows 7 would work better? If it does, where could I download the correct ISO legally? I currently have an Office 365 subscription, if that helps.

Kind and thankful regards

Hi,

RAM:

1 GB for Windows 10 64 bits is below the minimal memory requirements: 2GB for Windows 10 64 bits, 1GB for Windows 10 32 bits.

However, in all cases 1 GB is very few... I run a Windows 10 64 bits VM with 8 GB RAM, and a Windows 7 32 bits VM with 3 GB RAM.

AFAIK, 2 GB RAM is "minimum correct" for a 32 bits Windows 7 system or VM and 4GB for a 64 bits Windows 10 one

So, for me, you don't have enough RAM on your system to correctly run a Windows VM. You need 1st to add RAM to your system.

Choice of VM:

Virtual Box, compared to VMware Workstation player, is slow and less performing; Windows installation is much easier in VMware than in VB.

And VB is not stable, full of bugs. Current bug is a white screen when you activate 3D acceleration graphics.

Having compared the two, I recommend to use VMware workstation player (freeware for personal use). You have an installation tutorial here:
viewtopic.php?f=42&t=361789

Windows 7 ISO:

You can download Windows 7 ISO from archive.org, https://archive.org/details/win-7-pro-32-64-iso

Since Windows 7 is no longer supported and updated, don't connect it to internet. With VMware, in the VM settings / network, select "host only", and your VM will not see internet, while copy / paste and file sharing will work with the host (your physical computer).

You need a valid license number. Maybe you have one attached below your computer.

Regards,

MN