| Author | Message | ||
     Jaimec |
Since Microsoft is going to force me to learn a whole new interface (with Windows 8) anyway, I decided the time was ripe to part ways with the "Evil Empire" and move to Linux. I've been playing with Ubuntu 12.04 the past couple of months and find myself booting back to Windows less and less. However, I do still have SOME things I for which I need Windows, not the least of which are those stupid sites that REQUIRE Internet Explorer in order to work properly. I've had no luck getting it to run under WINE, so I'm thinking of installing QEMU and running Windows in a virtual machine. Here's my question: My hard drive currently dual boots into Ubuntu or Windows. Since I already have a bootable Windows partition, is there any way to bring that up under QEMU? All the documentation I've found online talk about reinstalling Windows under QEMU, but I have a LOT of old programs for which I can no longer find the installation disks. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks! | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
What websites require you to use IE? I've been using ubuntu now for several years. I'm no professional but I'm slowly getting there. I recently started fooling around with Xubuntu. Much more simplistic desktop and it gets rid of that cursed sidebar crap. Have you experimented with chrome? | ||
| Glitch |
The easiest and simplest thing to do is just keep it dual boot. You'll not be able to QEMU into the other partition as far as I know. I'm kinda in the same boat as you, although I have Windows installed on another machine, and only really use it when I have to run some old legacy Windows program for a customer. Ubuntu is awesome for transitioning from Windows. I'm using Debian (Ubuntu is derived from Debian) Sorry I wasn't more help. | ||
| Glitch |
Much more simplistic desktop and it gets rid of that cursed sidebar crap. I hate Unity as well. | ||
| Hootowl |
VMWare has software that will do physical to virtual conversion, VMWare Converter. You can save the VM in an open format, and potentially import that into whatever hypervisor you are using. QEMU may have a similar feature, if you don't have any luck with VMWare Converter. Converter is free, you just have to register. | ||
| Jaimec |
My company's VPN requires IE, so if I want to be able to work from home I need to use it. Up until recently the payroll site required IE, but I was happy to see it's been updated and works perfectly fine with Seamonkey (Firefox derivative that works like the old Netscape Communicator suite). I have no problem with Unity... since I've no experience with any other Linux desktop, Unity is working just fine for me. Thanks for the "Head's Up" with VMWare Converter. I'll go check it out. | ||
| Cataract2 |
Linux Mint user here. Been running Mint 13 with MAYA and recently added in XFCE to fool around with. I like how Linux uses waaaaaaaay less resources than windows. (Just the normal boot done into W7 uses 1.2gb of ram compared to 300-400 mb for linux.) I haven't played with the virtual machine yet. Have you checked on the Ubuntu forums to see if anyone might have asked or could help you in this? | ||
| Jaimec |
Cataract2: Not yet. A LOT of what I've been reading in those forums are still a bit over my head (though no longer WAY over my head). Thought I'd ask here first... some apolitical for us to chat about for a bit.  | ||
| Reepicheep |
My work machine is Windows, my server is Ubuntu, so I just log into whatever best scratches whatever itch I have at the moment. So I don't have the dual boot problem. But if I did, I would probably go with an approach like Hoot suggests. Build the system up with Ubuntu, and put a windows virtual machine on it. Less hassle than dual booting, though you loose a little potential performance. I should try it, I got a work cast off that is a pretty stout little server. It would be fun to see what a Windows VM could do on it running under Linux. | ||
| 86129squids |
Glad to see this thread pop up- since throwing away an ANCIENT Mac desktop, I immediately decided to get a laptop set up with Ubuntu, also now running 12.04. I've NEVER wanted to have to use any Microsoft product, never have trusted them. Plus, I just really like the philosophy behind Linux/Unix/Ubuntu and the idea of "open-source" coding- AFAIK it's pretty virus & malware-proof... I'll never have the need to geek-out anywhere as much as youn's, but I always appreciate the BW peeps opinions on most any topic. I like my Ubuntu OS, and also have the tablet set up with a dual boot for my GF- she now has W7 Ultimate. Of course she only uses her "side" to check email and go to fake gambling sites... Carry on, friends! | ||
| 86129squids |
Oh, and I've been wondering, especially given THIS thread topic... WHERE'S FROGGY?  | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
I'm feeling very pleased with myself I've just upgraded this computer from 1 to 3 gb of ram. How cool am I? Alright I know I know, maybe I'll go back to school next year & learn how to come out of the stone age. | ||
| Jaimec |
I know, right? He's disappeared off the planet. He's closed his Facebook account as well.  ComputerGeeks had a sale (ended today) on a refurbished HP Quadcore AMD64 machine with 8GB installed memory and a 1Tb hard drive for $369.00. Yeah... I snatched that bad boy up and I'm going to play with Ubuntu server on that... I can remember paying $100 per megabyte for SIPP memory back in the day. Also over $500 for a 300Mb hard drive... | ||
| Jaimec |
Hmmmm, that computer is still available, but now at $399, not the $369 I paid: http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=H2M55AAR&c at=SYS | ||
| 86129squids |
Actually, I KNOW where Frogs is... he was at Vern's gathering last nite, prolly convoying down to BTF as I type this. (I read about it on the other thread...) Majorly jealous of the BTF folks this year- although radar shows it may be a little moist down there today. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Is he on his "Little Pony" ? | ||
| 86129squids |
Ummm, prolly the little Bionic pony...  | ||
| Hootowl |
You can download VMWare Workstation for Linux from VMWare.com. (I forgot there was a Linux version.) It is free with registration. This, combined with VMWare Converter will allow you to migrate your physical Windows partition to a virtual machine and run it inside a Linux OS. | ||
| J2blue |
It's been a while since I've used Linux frequently but the latest installations I've done were with Ubuntu. The nicest thing for me with Ubuntu is the hardware support. Other flavors I've favored or CentOS, Suse, and the early Redhat. I still use the "System Rescue CD" which is based on one of the distro's but I forgot which one. It is a life saver when working with Windows desktops. On a side note, I find myself in the strange position of moving away from the Mac for my personal stuff and moving to the Windows platform. Apple has just abandoned the personal computing world completely and become Evil Inc. I don't necessarily like what I see in Windows 8, but as long as Windows 7 is supported I think it may outlive the Mac OS X for mainstream computing. That and the cost of Apple hardware. The globe is changing computing paradigms again, rapidly. It got here quicker than I realized it would. If you want to know how to build and run a computer then using Linux is fundamental to that. Most commercial offerings will not be personal computers, but computerized information appliances that do not require a geek to operate. I think that is good for the most part, but I'm still a geek and don't want to be denied the personal computing hardware and software I really want. Both Apple and Microsoft would rather my kind quietly disappear so they can force the great masses to use only what appliances they produce. That is the downside to what is changing now. (Message edited by j2blue on October 12, 2012) | ||
| 86129squids |
 What J2 said... the beauty of open source is that it isn't bound and tied to corporate plans and marketing like Apple and Microsoft. I just appreciate the mindset and philosophy of it all, and sit in awe of the geeks/nerds/brainiacs who collectively evolve Linux and the like. I'll never be that smart- thanks to these folks, I won't have to be... | ||
| Cataract2 |
J2, what you said at the end there is very true. Problem being is most people out there just want the computer to be sealed and unopenable. They don't care about the inside or the nuts and bolts. Just if it works and what flashy lights there are. | ||
| Jaimec |
My favorite Windows application is "Take Command" from JP Software. I still do a LOT of stuff from the command line. That's what a dinosaur I am... | ||
| Reepicheep |
I like both actually. If my IPhone was like Linux, I'd chuck it in the nearest river. If my server was like an IPhone, I'd chuck that in after it. Windows 7 works pretty well for day to day corporate work. Its a decent OS. | ||
| Jaimec |
I don't see a free download for VMWare Workstation... I only see a link where I can pay $249 for it... I'd rather struggle through QEMU I think... | ||
| Hootowl |
Sorry about that. Workstation used to be free. Their ESXi hypervisor is still free, but that doesn't solve your issue. I still think Converter is part of the solution though. https://my.vmware.com/group/vmware/info?slug=infra structure_operations_management/vmware_vcenter_con verter_standalone/5_0 | ||
| J2blue |
Try this vm host software for free: http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/server-storage/v irtualbox/overview/index.html (Message edited by j2blue on October 13, 2012) | ||
| Jaimec |
Interesting... but will it allow me to boot up an EXISTING Windows partition, or do I have to start from scratch? That's my quandary. | ||
| D_adams |
Not that this helps, but I gave up on windows for anything other than gaming years ago. Been using Gentoo linux since 2002-2003. Tried various distros initially, but learned more from Gentoo since it's a CLI installer only, or was back then. I've been on a rolling update since maybe 2005, never a clean install since. If Steam ever gets their testing opened up, I may ditch windows completely. | ||
| Glitch |
but will it allow me to boot up an EXISTING Windows partition Short answer, No. The Windows partition can be accessed as you've already probably found. Or maybe Ubuntu won't let you unless you Sudo... Anyhow, Windows relies on the boot, your computer is already booted, so asking it again, would only lead you to a re-boot with Windows. | ||
| Roderick |
...will it allow me to boot up an EXISTING Windows partition... VMware seems to be the best, if not the only, option for what you want. http://pubs.vmware.com/fusion-4/index.jsp?topic=/c om.vmware.fusion.help.doc/GUID-51A50557-6473-4053- 81EC-9ACB40300FBD.html That source mentions Mac but I have seen other sources using Linux and even Windows boxes running an existing Windows installation inside a virtual machine. |
