houghi wrote:

> Darrell Stec wrote:
>> But that is the whole point. They already purchased Windows once with
>> the machine, just like I did with mine.
>
> That is not always the case. Also that is a Windows problem, so they
> should solve that in a Windows group.
>

I am specifically talking about situations where that is the case. Where
the machine comes with Windows preloaded on a recovery partition that is
often invoked by the BIOS. On these types of machines (and more and more
of them are being sold that way), you already paid for Windows because you
cannot get that machine for less without an operating system namely
Windows. What would any of those Windows groups know about Linux virtual
machines?

>> So yes Windows can be purchased but with a VM it gets bought twice.
>
> No. I got Windows (Vista, I think) with my latetst portable and 3.1 with
> my 386. I bought Win95 (first edition) and except these two systems,
> none of them included any Windows.
>

But did it come preinstalled on your system with a recovery system that
totally wipes out C drive and all data? Many if not most retail stores
sell their computers that way now days.


>> But doesn't Windows have to be installed on the Linux partition or are
>> you saying that with a dual boot setup, a virtual machine talks to the
>> Windows partition from the Linux partition?
>
> No. A virtual machine talks to nothing. There are some exceptions, like
> the disc player if you so desire. What it does is it makes a file. This
> file can be seen on your instalation as someting that is e.g. 8GB large.
> You can not do anything with it.
>

And how does this file address Windows? Don't you have to install Windows
AFTER you set up the virtual machine? If it runs Windows then it "talks"
to Windows or interacts with Windows. Or does it run the original Windows
(drive C) that is already set up on your dual booting drive?

> When you start the virtal manager it emulates to be a computer that
> starts up with its own bios and it own empty HD. This won't boot, just
> as it won't boot when you have an empty PC.
>
> You can then let it boot from floppy or cd/dvd (real or image) and
> install the OS of your choice.
>
> houghi

I have a strong feeling than neither you nor Vahis has used a computer like
Acer, HP or Compaq where the operating system, WinXP or Vista, is on a
separate partition sometimes hidden on some models. If Windows screws up,
there is no repair facility. There is a BIOS option to run the recovery
proceedure with will delete everything on C drive, reformat it, and
reinstall your operating system and all divers and applications that came
with your computer. You don't get to pick and choose, and you don't get to
expand any files as you could on normal Windows OS CD.

Perhaps I am misunderstanding how to use vm, but from what I read, you
install vm (Virtual Box for instance) on your Linux partition. Then you
install the operating system of your choice such as WinXP. But on my
system and most of the new systems in retail stores the computer now comes
with recovery program that wipes your drive clean. How can you get the
WinXP installed to the Linux virtual machine in this instance?

Or does it just address the original C drive on the original partition?

--
Later,
Darrell Stec darstec@neo.rr.com

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