Virtual Machine running under Windows - which version?

[stockhausen]

I know absolutely nothing about Virtual Machines running under Windows. I have traditionally used separate HDDs running different versions of Windows (XP, 7 and now 10). I have always "refreshed" any used system from a system image backup created with Acronis.

For a variety of reasons I have now found this tiresome - specifically I am getting more support requests for Windows 10 (which I loathe). I have a real concern about whether a VM running say Windows 10 can in any way access data or files (including system files) on the same HDD but belonging to some other OS - is this possible or can files / data be isolated?

As an additional / aside, can anyone point me to a concise, useful tutorial on running a Virtual Machine under Windows - ideally Windows 7?

 

[El Pew]

I have a real concern about whether a VM running say Windows 10 can in any way access data or files (including system files) on the same HDD but belonging to some other OS - is this possible or can files / data be isolated?

As an additional / aside, can anyone point me to a concise, useful tutorial on running a Virtual Machine under Windows - ideally Windows 7?

Usually the VM doesn't have access to the host OS unless you give it access for file-sharing and the like. Most hypervisors will let you drag/drop files into the VM window but this typically needs an agent installing in the guest VM to work, or you can mount a folder from the host into the guest as a network drive. Other than that it's not possible outside of some bug or vulnerability giving the access like Spectre or Meltdown which shouldn't be an issue for you.

Download Virtual Box and give it a try, it's free. All you need is the media to install the guest OS - an ISO or something that you can mount. It's very similar to working with an actual physical machine, from that point on.

For Dummies-level guide on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sB_5fqiysi4

 

[Django x2]

Make sure all the virtualization stuff is on hardware wise on the host machine. Yes, it's fully possible for a VM to see, act, and connect to it's host.

If you don't want that, you want to dual boot, or use containerisation such as docker, or spin up vdi Windows 10 VMs in azure or aws

 

[theforce]

Won't the built-in Hyper-V do the same job?

 

[Django x2]

Yes, but op doesn't say what os he's using and his concern is the os hyper visor interacting with the host os, which they will all be able to do. If you want to avoid that, you soon up the VM in azure and simply RDP to it instead.