Virtual OS, aiming to run 32bit XP within 64bit W7

Muel

Muel

Muel

Soldato
Joined
26 Jun 2009
Posts
3,023
Location
Sheffield
Hey, I don't know anything about virtual OSs, I only heard about them recently and I think it could be the answer for me.

I like my old games, San Andreas particularly. (Shush, it's fun). The problem with it is that a few of the little programs I run behind it, (camerahack for example, gives you loads of camera options and a speedo), won't run on 64bit.

If I were to get a 32bit version of XP to run within my 64bit version of 7, how does it work? Is it like a window within 7 that behaves like any other program? Can I still get full screen stuff to work?

Just thought I'd ask before trying it, I have just done a fresh install of 7 and I'm being really careful with looking after it this time. Not found an awful lot on Google that I can understand either. :/
 
Muel said:
If I were to get a 32bit version of XP to run within my 64bit version of 7, how does it work? Is it like a window within 7 that behaves like any other program? Can I still get full screen stuff to work?
Click to expand...

Yes to both, however, performance could be an issue as I'm not sure on the current DirectX support of the hypervisors. There has been a historic lacking of graphics support for VMs within Windows.
 
Hmmm I think I need to do a bit more research then, I'll only be wanting to run older games like that through it though.

It's not that important, I just fancy playing about. If it's going to be a load of hassle I won't bother.
 
I run 32 bit XP from within Win 7 64 bit using Virtual Box. I'm sure there was a check box on the latest version that said something about graphics support, not at home at the moment so can't look. Have at look here.
 
Virtual Box 3 supports DX8 and 9 at a fairly decent rate - probably enough to run GTA: SA passably aslong as its supported on decent hardware - i.e. fast CPU and an newish GPU.
 
Virtualbox also supports OpenGL 2.0 (not that many games use that of course, but it could be relevant to some people).
 
I doubt you'll get it running at any decent framerate. VMWare has only just started supporting Windows Aero, and I think it's the only virtualisation software to do so. Games are probably going to be a crawl.
 
Can you dual boot XP 32bit and 7 64 bit?

I knew about it, just didn't really considor it. :P
 
Does the inbuilt XP in Win 7 Pro work for something like this?!? And would it be the 64bit version if the Win 7 install is 64bit?

ps3ud0 :cool:
 
iirc, 'XP Mode' is just virtualpc

shame they couldn't develop something like ntvdm to handle older things
 
I tried XP mode for a similar reason, though mine was trying to get games with no option for windowed mode to exist in a window. I installed the 'XP mode' but as mentioned above, it doesn't even emulate a graphics card, the one game I tried to launch (Gunbound, from 2005, only needs DX8 graphics, hardly demanding) said it couldn't find a graphics card, and dxdiag reported nothing present (IIRC).

VMware Player is the only one I've found that would work with that game, though IIRC it only emulates a basic 32Mb graphics card, so San Andreas will most likely be out of the question.

Dual booting is the best way forward.
 
I have a Samsung NC10 Netbook which is running Win 7 RC and has been upgraded to 2Gb RAM, do you think Virtualbox would run on it OK as i'm wanting to install XP 32bit? Or is there a better way to get the XP OS on there?

(dont ask but this is so i can install the drivers for a Speedtouch ADSL USB modem to test my internet connection with the house electric turned off (eliminate my house from causing some noise spikes i'm experiencing), they wont install in W7 you see).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom