Which virtualisation software for PC (FREE)

[Over Clocker]

Hi guys,

Which free virtualisation software is best for a laptop. I have Vista on it and want to try out Windows 7 on a virtual machine. It's a Core 2 Duo T7500, 4GB Ram, 320GB hdd.

It supports hardware virtualisation with a bios hack also.

Cheers,

Mal

 

[JC]

I use virtualbox which is free and suits my needs fine, very easy to use with no previous experience. I've used both linux and windows versions as hosts.

 

[MikeHunt79]

I use virtualbox which is free and suits my needs fine, very easy to use with no previous experience. I've used both linux and windows versions as hosts.

+1 VB is nice

 

[Moredhel]

Microsoft Virtual PC is Free and easy, and has better networking options than VirtualBox.

And VMs created with it are compatible with MS Virtual Server and Hyper-V if you ever want to expand your virtualisation in the future.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/virtualpc/default.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...02-3199-48A3-AFA2-2DC0B40A73B6&displaylang=en

 

[swinnie]

Virtualbox is the best in my opinion. VMware Server has slightly better networking facilities.

Where can I get Windows 7 to try?

Thanks

 

[ChrissyT88]

I like virtual box more, but currently it cannot make use of two processor cores, so im using VMware server 2 (the free one). Its not so bad - its a bit rubbish to set up, but once thats done its not so bad. Still, if you do not need multicore support in the VM, virtualbox is the best imo.

 

[nightmare99]

I'm using VB on my home PC Vista 64 bit host, I have XP Pro running as a guest never seen it run so fast

 

[fail at the internets]

I use virtualbox which is free and suits my needs fine, very easy to use with no previous experience. I've used both linux and windows versions as hosts.

 

[Nanobot]

I've just read the info on VirtualBox and it appears to say it supports USB devices, which VirtualPC doesnt do.
Can anyone confirm this for me? I have an old but good scanner that is not supported in Vista so wouldnt mind running XP within Virtualbox (on a Vista host) and use my scanner via it if it will work.

 

[swinnie]

Virtualbox does indeed support USB Devices.

 

[Burnsy2023]

Microsoft Virtual PC is Free and easy, and has better networking options than VirtualBox.

How has VMware not been mentioned? It's the daddy when it comes to networking and is my preferred choice

 

[Stu]

I am totally new to virtual machines, but started googling 30 minutes ago with the aim of finding a safe way to test Windows 7. As I have 6GB of RAM, I want to install Windows 7 x64... the site I was reading suggested Hyper-V, as MS Virtual PC cannot handle 64-bit. Am I biting off more than I can chew???

 

[Stu]

Sorry, just realised that I need to be running MS Server to use Hyper-V.

What solution do you all recommend?

 

[Craig321]

VMWare

I've used VirtualBox and VirtualPC and neither come close to VMWare IMO.

 

[Uhtred]

How has VMware not been mentioned? It's the daddy when it comes to networking and is my preferred choice

v2 isn't...it is pants

 

[Daegan]

As I have 6GB of RAM, I want to install Windows 7 x64...

You choose how much RAM to allocate to the virtual machine, it doesn't use all your physical RAM and you won't be assigning anything like 6GB to it. Stick with x86.

 

[thepeganator]

Windows 7 sucks on VPC, shrink your partition and install it on its' own.

Much better.

 

[Kennysevenfold]

MS virtual pc ***.!

 

[bledd]

MS virtual pc ***.!

for the lose

 

[DreXeL]

I have an old but good scanner that is not supported in Vista so wouldnt mind running XP within Virtualbox (on a Vista host) and use my scanner via it if it will work.

Bit off topic, but try VueScan, it works with pretty much every scanner made without requiring drivers. It's a great piece of software, it allowed me to use my trusty old Canon N650U in Vista x64 dispite there being no drivers available