Bamboozled - using open source as a virtual os

TheBigCheese

TheBigCheese

TheBigCheese

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6 Sep 2005
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Hi guys

I am trying to run two Epson scanners at the same time on Windows XP Pro (bear with me - it's Linux related!) but I can't do it as though the drivers are different they use the same front end to run and I can't use both at once.

So...

I wondered if I could install and use Linux as a virtual machine inside XP Pro and have one machine scanning in that and one in XP.

I have never used Linux before and am completely bamboozled by what I need to be doing...so far I have found this:

Installing Ubuntu inside Windows XP using VirtualBox
http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/virtualbox

That looks longwinded but it does seem to go through it step by step what I need to do, I have also found the drivers for my scanners:
http://www.avasys.jp/english/linux_e/dl_scan.html

What I'm asking is what Linux 'distro' (I believe it's called) I need to use. It will be literally for just using one scanner to scan images onto a hard drive that has been formatted in NTFS and is recognised by Windows (don't know if that is a problem).
What I should also say is it has to be easy to install...when I've looked at some of these different types there are hundreds of files to download...I just want something simple to install and easy to use with not much of a learning curve.

Any pointers anyone can give will be greatly appreciated!

Many thanks in advance :)
 
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Ubuntu and VMWare is what you'll need. You won't save directly to the NTFS disk, as when you create a virtual machine, it creates its own "hard drive". This appears just as a single file on the host machine. However, if you share one of your Windows folders with write access, you'll be able to copy the files across over the "network".

http://homepage.sunrise.ch/mysunrise/ekeller00/ubuntu/2a_UbuntuInWindows_VMware_e.html

There's a full list of instructions there, let us know how you get on with it. Ubuntu is currently on 7.10, not 6.xx as it mentions there.
 
Thanks very much for your reply :)

I'm following your directions and currently downloading VMWare and Ubuntu 7.10-desktop-i386.iso which is around 700MB, hopefully it's the right one...there was a heck of a lot of options to choose from!

I'll post again with my progress.
 
Hmmmm...I seem to be having a problem getting VMPlayer to find the operating system.

On the instructions that you have liked to it says...
"Install Ubuntu

* Remove whatever CDs you may have in your CD player.
* Launch VMware Player. You have to browse to your VMware folder to find Ubuntu.vmx.
* As soon as you see the Player interface, click on the CD-ROM 2 button. This will let VMware player start from the ISO file."

I have found Ubunti.vmx fine but when it tries to load it up it says 'No bootname file received' and also 'Operating system not found'.

I have tried selecting both CD-ROM (IDE1:0) and CD-ROM (IDE1:1) and neither seem to work.

It says on the walkthrough if I have trouble to:
"If necessary, stop VMware Player with the command "Player | Troubleshoot | Reset" and press the CD-ROM 2 button.
# Ubuntu 6 should now start."

Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be anywhere where I can input commands, I have tried CTRL+G to get into the program but it's not working.

I have to admit that I am fumbling in the dark and haven't the faintest clue what I'm doing without that walkthrough so any pointers would be much appreciated.

Many thanks. :)

EDIT: I should also mention that after working for a bit it comes up with a Windows bubble that says 'no bootable device was detected' 'To install an OS, insert a bootable cd or floppy and restart the virtual machine by clicking the reset button' (ummm...what reset button?)
 
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Trying to go from memory here, but on one of the menus, you can choose mount CD or such. Then you can press the reset button (red and green arrows) to 'reboot' the computer. Can someone with VMWare installed point out the correct options on the menu? :)
 
Ok...I've got to the stage where I have started the installer and have to partition the disk...

Now that's a bit of a scary part...can that in anyway cause issues with my existing partitions and Windows setup? I have allocated a 50GB partition with 200GB free on the drive I was thinking of using, but it's in a RAID 5 setup with two partitions on it, one for Windows, one for my data.

I take it the partition is a 'virtual' one and won't actually do anything to my hard drive setup for Windows?

May sound daft to long time users I know but I have to check these things, don't want to cause myself more problems!


EDIT....erm...I'm wondering if I'm actually using Ubuntu now...I have an orange background with swirls in it...I seem to have found games etc...there is a button for Firefox but that doesn't seem to load...is that it actually running? If so what does the install button on the desktop do?

Cheers :)
 
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When you create the virtual machine, you give it's location and size. VMWare then creates a .vmx (I think) file of that size. You don't need an actual partition on the disk.

The desktop you saw is the LiveCD, allows you to test Ubuntu before you actually install it. Clicking on the Install button on the desktop then takes you to the installer.

The size of the virtual disk you need is no more than about 5gb! You'll be able to verify that it's writing to the virtual disk when the installer shows the size of it. It'll also appear at location 'sda' (again, I think). I have a separate computer for Linux, not done a VM for quite a while...
 
Ahhhh I see!

That's brilliant, thanks, I'll see what I can do with it tonight when I have another crack at it.

Just another quick question about it...if I'm scanning files with it and they are saved to the virtual disk, how do I actually get those scanned files to my other drives on the computer?

You mentioned that as far as Windows is concerned it's just a big file...would I still be able to extract TIF files from that?

Many thanks for your continued help! :D
I have to say I'm pretty amazed with it so far, even though I've only seen the preview of it before installing...being able to test your keys to make sure you have the right keyboard layout...simple stuff but so much more helpful than M.Softs kackhanded way of doing it!
 
You can set up your virtual machine to be able to access folders on the host. Can't remember how it works on a linux guest, but on windows the host directories then show up under //.host/Shared Folders/. You can then dump your output files directly to the host disk.

If you google for "Vmware shared folders" that should provide a few pointers :)
 
Thanks for the guideance, I shall get googling tonight to see what I can come up with regarding shared folders.

I do have a bit more of an issue at the moment though...how on earth do I install anything with Ubuntu? It doesn't seem anywhere near as easy as it is for Windows...

I am trying to install a driver for my Epson scanner (a perfection 4990), Epson point me towards: http://www.avasys.jp/english/linux_e/dl_scan.html

Unfortunately I have no idea from there what I should be installing...not sure what distribution I have, let alone what version.

If you might be able to walk me through selecting and installing the right driver I should be there with it!

Many thanks in advance! :):):)
 
According to this page your scanner is supported by sane (scanner access now easy :)) so I'd install Xsane using Synaptic rather than using the link that is on the Epson page, and also install the dependent sane packages that Xsane will say it requires (Xsane is really just the GUI to sane).

When it's installed, have a look at the steps explained here, which explains pretty well how this guy got his Epson Perfection 4990 working under Ubuntu.

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=65656
 
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