Vmware Workstation

makku

makku

makku

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Joined
27 Nov 2002
Posts
48
Hi,

I have a dual boot setup on 2 partitions. One partition is for Win XP and the other with Windows 7.

Is it possible with Vmware workstation to install this software on the Win 7 partition and then be able to access my Win XP environment whilst still using Win 7?


regards,
 
makku said:
Hi,

I have a dual boot setup on 2 partitions. One partition is for Win XP and the other with Windows 7.

Is it possible with Vmware workstation to install this software on the Win 7 partition and then be able to access my Win XP environment whilst still using Win 7?


regards,
Click to expand...

it's likely that it'll work fine, but windows XP might complain about different hardware every now and again.

Also, remember that a virtualised OS will never be anywhere near as fast as it would if it were running natively.
 
If i understand correctly the software XP mode on Windows 7, will install Windows XP once again, right?

As mentioned in my original post I already have win xp installed (i have 2 partitions, 1 for win 7 and one for win xp however these are on the same hard disk drive).

Is it possible to access my currently installed win xp parition and also access the various progrmas installed, from my wip 7 partition? How can this be done?


regards,
 
makku said:
If i understand correctly the software XP mode on Windows 7, will install Windows XP once again, right?
Click to expand...
XP mode won't install Windows XP again. It just involves using Microsoft Virtual PC and a ready-made XP virtual machine.

As mentioned in my original post I already have win xp installed (i have 2 partitions, 1 for win 7 and one for win xp however these are on the same hard disk drive).

Is it possible to access my currently installed win xp parition and also access the various progrmas installed, from my wip 7 partition? How can this be done?
Click to expand...
If you're talking about virtualisation, which your OP hinted at by referring to VMWare, then you've already got a good guide.

If you're not talking about virtualisation, you can access the XP partition if it's visible in Windows. Some programs will work, some won't without a reinstall.
 
So do you mean that XP mode in Win 7 uses the Win XP with all the software i have installed in the Win XP partition?
 
makku said:
So do you mean that XP mode in Win 7 uses the Win XP with all the software i have installed in the Win XP partition?
Click to expand...

Ignore Daegan and That_Guy - they've not read/understood your OP properly.

VMware should allow you to do what you need.
 
Aod,

I tried having a look at vmware workstation 7 but couldn't figure out how to access my Win XP partition while i am logged in Win7. Can you please guide me how to do this?
 
Aod said:
Ignore Daegan and That_Guy - they've not read/understood your OP properly.

VMware should allow you to do what you need.
Click to expand...
I was thinking about converting the XP partition to a vmdk and running it in VMWare. What were you referring to?
 
Daegan said:
I was thinking about converting the XP partition to a vmdk and running it in VMWare. What were you referring to?
Click to expand...

he wants to run the partition in VMware without doing anything to it. he wants to leave it as a physical partition.

makku said:
Aod,

I tried having a look at vmware workstation 7 but couldn't figure out how to access my Win XP partition while i am logged in Win7. Can you please guide me how to do this?
Click to expand...

Okay, follow these steps:
New virtual machine --> choose "custom (advanced)" --> "Compatability 6.5-7.0" --> select "I will install the operating system later" --> select "Microsoft Windows" and then choose Windows XP from the dropdown box (Home/pro depending on what version you have) --> Name it what you want. make sure you don't store it on the XP partition --> 1processor, 1 core --> however much memory you want to give it (i recommend at least 512MB) --> use NAT --> BusLogic SCSI adapter -->

now, this is the important bit, select "use a Physical disk" --> from the dropdown box, you need to select the drive/partition that XP is installed to. if XP's on a drive with more than one partition, then you must select "Use individual partitions". After selecting a Physical drive, the next screen will show you the details of the partitions on that drive, allowing you to work out which is which. make sure you get the right one.

--> name your .vmdk - leaving it as default is fine. --> finish. if all goes to plan when you try and boot the VM it should boot straight into your copy of XP. bare in mind that XP MIGHT refuse to boot due to hardware differences.

<edit>
these guides ought to help too (thanks paulM):
http://www.vmware.com/support/ws5/doc/ws_disk_dualboot.html
http://www.vmware.com/support/ws5/doc/disks_dualmult_ws.html
 
Last edited:
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