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    Virtualization Software

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by i.like.pie, May 4, 2009.

  1. i.like.pie

    i.like.pie Notebook Consultant

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    Anyone know of any FREE virtualization software that I could use to boot another partition?
     
    i.like.pie, May 4, 2009
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  2. zakaluka

    zakaluka Notebook Consultant

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    VirtualBox ( http://www.virtualbox.org/ ) is a very good one and can be used on all the major operating systems.

    EDIT: I just realized you said you wanted to boot another partition. Xen ( http://www.xen.org/ ) might be a better alternative for you (also free - but requires a lot more work).

    Regards,

    z.
     
    zakaluka, May 4, 2009
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  3. ahl395

    ahl395 Ahlball

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    Multibooting is different than virtulization...

    Virtulization is running a whole OS inside a window. Virtualbox or Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 are your best bets. ;)
    if you want to have multiple OS's on seperate partitions, Windows has its own boot manager, that lets you select which OS to start from when you power up your PC. ;)
     
    ahl395, May 4, 2009
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  4. i.like.pie

    i.like.pie Notebook Consultant

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    I know. I have other OS's in other partitions, and I want to open them while still staying in Windows (i.e. Booting the Vista partition while still in windows 7)
     
    i.like.pie, May 4, 2009
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  5. jackluo923

    jackluo923 Notebook Virtuoso

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    What OS is on the other partition? Most likely, you won't be able to boot the OS because Virtual machine uses virtualized hardware. XP/Vista "locks you out" if it detects major hardware changes. There are ways to get around it, but it would be illegal thus not allowed on this forum. Google will reaveal everythiong.
    If you know how to "bypass" the hardware detection, simply set the "virtual drive" to the specific partition and you can run use your other partition as a virtual machine disk.

    Free virtualizing software.
    1) Virtualbox
    2) VirtualPC
    3) Qemu (can be made 100% portable)
    4) Xen
     
    jackluo923, May 4, 2009
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  6. zakaluka

    zakaluka Notebook Consultant

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    Xen is your best bet. It is a whole system virtualization software. It is designed to let you boot multiple operating systems on different partitions and have them running simultaneously.

    If you use Xen, the easiest option is to probably have a minimal linux operating system as the "host". After that, Windows XP onwards can be used as "guest" operating systems as long as your CPU is VT-enabled. I quoted those words since you're not making disk images, but running the full operating system off its own partition.

    Regards,

    z.
     
    zakaluka, May 4, 2009
    #6