Running Windows Xp on Ubuntu Linux
Mar 16 2008 - By George Webster
After installing linux successfully I now have just one problem, how on earth am I going to to test my work on internet exloper?
It looks like the linux commuunity has given us two options, virtualization or using wine to run IE on linux natively. It seems the latter has patchy support at best, while the former seems to have a broad support base and even commercal backing in some instances. I have decided on running vmware. Basically without dual booting my machine I can simply install vmware and create a virtual machine that runs inside a window in linux. Essentially every time good'ol windows chooses to crap out and blue screen I can simply close the window and restart! Its that simple.
If you are running Ubuntu linux fortune has smiled upon you, because vmware is now in the repositories so getting windows xp up and running have never been easier.
All you need is the following:
- Ubuntu Edgy, Dapper or Breezy or later.
- A Windows (XP) Installation CD & Key
- Internet Connection (+- 100 Megabyte file download)
I am running Ubuntu Gutsy 7.10 on my machine so I will walk through those painless few steps. If you are running another version you will find an amazing guid here.
First you need to have the "partner" repositories enabled. To do this simple run the following in your terminal of choice:
sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list
Scroll down about three quarters of the page and make sure the following two lines are uncommented:
deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu gutsy partner deb-src http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu gutsy partner
After saving and closing gedit you will need to install the vmware server. You can easliy do this by running the following in the termial:
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install vmware-server
While this is getting the packages and installing them you will need a serial number which can be obtained free for charge buy registering here. At some point the vmware install will ask you for confirm a few things, just answer yes and proceed.
Don't be confused when it loads an installer screen in your teminal and asked you to click ok. You will need to click the right arrow key once or twice and the curser should move over the ok link, and simply click and you will be on your way. Should this screen ever give you problems simply click right arrow a few times and your curser should find its way down to the ok options. (this one was a little confusing at first.)
Once the vmware is installed it is time to install windows xp!
- Insert your Windows (XP) CD into your CDROM drive
- Open the VMware Server Console (should be under applications => system tools)
- select 'Create a new virtual machine'
- => Next => Next => Select Windows Xp (or whatever Windows versions you want to install )
- Next => Enter a name and select a location for the Virtual Machine File (It contains the virtual harddisk, so it needs quite some space, min 2 GB, but I would recommend 8+ GB )
- Next => Select Network type. I am using NAT it seems the simplist to set up.
- Next => Choose the size for the Virtual Disk and set other preferences
- Next => Finish
Now we can start the newly made virtual machine and the install of Windows!
- Start the virtual machine
- It should auto-detect your Windows install CD and will start the installation! If it won't boot from the CD, stop the virtual machine and check/change the preferences for the virtual machine regarding the CD drive
- Enjoy the installation and the freedom to use Ubuntu while installing
You will need to click inside the window to enteract with the windows installer. This will lock your mouse inside of the virtual windows, to free your mouse and contiune using ubuntu while it is installing simply click ctr + alt and your free!
Once you have booted safely into windows for the first time, I highly suggest installing the vmware tools, located in the vmware server. simply click and it should open a installer screen in the virtual windows enviornment.
Enjoy your virtual windows!