Best Virtualization Software?

holygamer · 12 May 2015 at 14:32

I've heard of VirtualBox and Shadow Defender and others but I'm not sure which is the best to use.

Basically I create a backup image of Windows once I've installed every program and configured everything how I want. I restore that image when I get problems.

There are programs that cause issues that I don't want to install because once I've installed them I would then have normal programs installed after them then obviously when I create a backup image, the problem programs will be backed up as well.

So I'd like to use a program that allows me to "install" programs without writing anything to the real registry. So if I want to delete the installation I can do so easily without effecting the real registry.

Sandboxie doesn't work with all programs. So will VirtualBox or Shadow Defender do what I want?

Perhaps I could create multiple virtual C drives, one for each program. That would be ideal. Then I could just delete the virtual C drives when I want.

holygamer · 12 May 2015 at 15:01

I'm installing VideoRedo (video editor). New releases are constant so I don't want any of the uninstalled data effecting a new install.

Hotspot Shield (IP address changer). It's know to cause crashes

Will be installing other programs as well.

How easy to use is VirtualBox. Is there a guide anywhere?

holygamer · 13 May 2015 at 09:53

For example I want to create a virtual hard drive within Windows and install whatever I want on that. Then I can just delete the virtual drive if I get problems.

holygamer · 13 May 2015 at 17:19

OK thanks

holygamer · 13 May 2015 at 17:27

So I use my existing Windows 7 installation disc? Where do I get the extra CD key?

holygamer · 14 May 2015 at 13:27

bledd. said:
For each virtual machine, you need a licence key.

This is why I suggested macrium reflect.

You need to know how both options work and what's involved.

I don't think virtual machines is what you're after.

Expand fully on your requirements and usage needs

Basically I want to be able to install certain programs so that nothing is written to the Windows 7 registry and when I want to uninstall them I can just delete the virtual hard drive or whatever that they're stored on so it was like it was never installed. Because as I'm sure you know when you uninstall something and re-install multiple times you can get glitches in that program - like I did in a video editor.

Sandboxie doesn't work for everything such as a Video editor. So I was thinking I could install a Virtual Machine as anything I install on that won't be written to the registry. I tried Cameyo, etc but they don't seem to work.

How would Macrium Relect help? I create a backup image of my C drive. Then I want to install known glitchy programs. Then I install some normal progams after that. I can't create a backup image without also backing up the glitchy programs. So my only choice is to install all the good programs on my PC then create a backup image. Then install all the glitchy programs after that. When I get issues I can restore the backup image I had before I installed the glitchy programs. But then I need to install all the glitchy progams again.

holygamer · 14 May 2015 at 14:06

Sirrel Squirrel said:
You're secretly just trying to repeatedly use free trials aren't you...

No

holygamer · 14 May 2015 at 14:33

VideoRedo for example which is a video editor. I can't remember exactly what happened but I installed uninstalled it multiple times and the next time I installed it there was a glitch. That glitch wouldn't have happened if I did a clean install where the program was never installed before.

Another thing is Virtual Audio Cable. I installed this early on when installing all my programs. I eventually discovered it was causing my PC to crash every several days or so due to a driver glitch it has. I've patched the program and deleted the file which causes the glitch but the problem remains. There's no way to fix it now.

So for programs like that which could potentionally have problems I want to install them so that they don't' write anything to the main registry and when there's problems I can just delete the virtual C drive they're installed on. Can VirtualBox or another program do something like that?

holygamer · 14 May 2015 at 15:12

That doesn't always work. In my experience you get more problems messing with the registry than you solve.

holygamer · 14 May 2015 at 16:38

Don't know what those are. UNIdesk looks really expensive, I'm not a millionaire. You got some more info?

holygamer · 17 May 2015 at 15:27

Uninstallers don't work. They leave stuff behind.

holygamer · 17 May 2015 at 16:35

I've been perfectly clear.

I'd like to use a program that allows me to "install" programs without writing anything to the real registry. So if I want to delete the installation I can do so easily without effecting the real registry.

holygamer · 17 May 2015 at 18:16

I create a backup image of my C drive. Then I install some unstable programs that are known to cause problems. I can't then create a backup image because then the unstable programs are in the image. Restoring the image and uninstalling the programs is no good because uninstalling still leaves traces behind.

holygamer · 18 May 2015 at 14:39

Yes I have. I said when you uninstall/reinstall the same program multiple times then you get bugs.

holygamer · 18 May 2015 at 15:09

New versions of a program come out so I need to uninstall the old one. However I've found that you get bugs in the new version due to the old installation.

holygamer · 15 Jun 2015 at 08:58

How does Virtualbox work? Do I just open the program within Windows and I'm immediately in a 2nd installation of Windows or does the 2nd Windows need to boot from within Windows?