Creating a virtual machine

Goose

Goose

Goose

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I was wondering if anyone knows of a good noob friendly guide on creating a virtual machine? I've done some googling but come up short.

The reason i want to do it is twofold - I'd like a have a look at Windows 7 and i want to be able to run suspicious files in a safe environment as Sandboxie doesn't work on 64bit OS's.

Which leaves me with two final questions. Am i actually able to download and install Windows 7? I've never actually used a pre-release version of Windows before.

Finally, is a virtual machine a safe environment for running iffy files given that its still on the same physical hard drive?

Cheers.
 
Give Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 SP1 a go... it's probably the simplest and most lightweight VM software.

VM is good for testing iffy files... just make sure the VM does not have network access.
 
NathanE said:
Gi
VM is good for testing iffy files... just make sure the VM does not have network access.
Click to expand...

I've installed Virtualbox and i'm now installing Windows 7. By network access do you mean having a network adapter activated or do you mean accessing my host machine?

I hope that makes sense, i've no idea what i'm doing really. :)

[Edit] During the Windows 7 setup it asks for my location (Home Network, Public Network etc.) and i chose home network. Is that going to connect to my host PC?
 
Last edited:
probably to your router

when the VM is off, go into the settings, then network, and untick 'enable network adaptor'
 
Could a virus escape the hard disk file?

e.g. I have a 30Gb virtual hard disk file for a virtual install, if the virtual OS got infected with something.. could that spill over onto the host machine?
 
my understanding is its technically possable or was for something to escape from a VMware, by using an exploit but i don't think it was a huge issue and should be fixed now int he later versions.

i prefer VMware server 1.0.8 my self, i've had a quick look at VMware server version 2 and didn't like the look or "feel" of it to much..
I found MS Virtual PC Lacking in what features i was looking for and feel it was a little to simple for my liking, but its personal preferences.
I care a copy of Virtualbox and that seems quite nice, and not to bad..

actually setting up a VM is fairly easy its just like installing a normal copy of windows so all the principles are the same, expect your installing it with in a windows environment. point the virtual CD drive to with an ISO image or to a physical CD/DVD drive and wallah install time. if you dont get it first time round you might need to go into the Virtual Machines BIO and set it to boot from CD/DVD
 
Goose said:
I've installed Virtualbox and i'm now installing Windows 7. By network access do you mean having a network adapter activated or do you mean accessing my host machine?

I hope that makes sense, i've no idea what i'm doing really. :)

[Edit] During the Windows 7 setup it asks for my location (Home Network, Public Network etc.) and i chose home network. Is that going to connect to my host PC?
Click to expand...
Never used Virtualbox. They're all much of a muchness really.

VMware and Virtual PC let you "physically" disable the virtual network adapter of the VM. So it won't even show up on the VM's device manager list... Obviously then the only way to get files onto the VM is through the shared folder facility between the host and VM.

When Vista/W7 ask about the network location (Home, Work or Public etc etc) that's really just asking which firewall profile it should configure. I don't use Windows Firewall so I always just press X on that screen. Although the fact the screen is coming up at all suggests your VM does have a network adapter working.

gord said:
Could a virus escape the hard disk file?

e.g. I have a 30Gb virtual hard disk file for a virtual install, if the virtual OS got infected with something.. could that spill over onto the host machine?
Click to expand...
No known virus can and I've not really heard much on the experimental/proof-of-concept front either. Computer viruses are not as sneaky as people think. They rely on a very very large amount of either user stupidity or a security exploit that they have been specifically programmed to take advantage of.
 
Emo_hug said:
my understanding is its technically possable or was for something to escape from a VMware, by using an exploit but i don't think it was a huge issue and should be fixed now int he later versions.
Click to expand...

Was refering to VMWare to clarify

NathanE said:
Obviously then the only way to get files onto the VM is through the shared folder facility between the host and VM.
Click to expand...

I thought this feature was disabled in VMware products (not checked the latest version of the Free Server edition). i've also not played enough with Virtual Box so no comment on that.

But Files transfer would be possibility by using usb devices, as an intermediary.
 
NathanE said:
No known virus can and I've not really heard much on the experimental/proof-of-concept front either. Computer viruses are not as sneaky as people think. They rely on a very very large amount of either user stupidity or a security exploit that they have been specifically programmed to take advantage of.
Click to expand...

Its an interesting concept. I downloaded a 'bad' RC with some lovely malware on by accident and when I went to install on my virtual machine my hosts AV popped up (Avast) and informed me of the issues. So there must be some crossover. Infact my VM was using a temp folder on the host machine for some files because thats where Avast told me the issues were..
 
gord. i'm assuming you mounted the ISO or burnt to disc, in this case the local machine would see the files

may have been triggered by the autorun on the disc.
 
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