logging into windows in linux

resego · 03-30-2005, 12:34 PM

hey guys...
is it possible to logging onto windows xp while in linux. without logging out of linux....just as i can change sessions in linux like go from kde to gnome....
is it possible to do the samething for windows????
i hope my question is clear???
alas another try......
i have windows and linux on my laptop, i want to use both of the sometimes but if i want to switch to windows that means i have to log out of linux and logging to windows but i dont want to do that i just want to use windows without logging out of linux (mandrake 10.1)....hence my question anybody!!!!!
any suggestion??????

johnny_frog · 03-30-2005, 12:44 PM

You can access files on your windows partition from within linux by using the mount command (mnt) but as far as I know you can't run two operating systems (windows and linux) at the same time.

jonaskoelker · 03-30-2005, 01:49 PM

depending on your needs and the horsepowers of your machine, you can `fake it' by emulating either windows or a generic copy of your machine. Names to google for are wine and vmware, for a start.

hth --Jonas Kölker

Orkie · 03-30-2005, 01:53 PM

Although vmware can boot off of a local partition, Windows will have to reconfigure every time it boots up - that is, if it boots up. Windows doesn't like motherboard changes very much.

naimslim89 · 03-30-2005, 04:42 PM

You can access your Windows *files* by doing the following:

Code:

$ su
Password:
# mount /dev/hda1 /mnt/windows
# exit
$

Your windows files can now be found in /mnt/windows.

You can attempt to run your Windows *programs* by installing WINE (or CEDEGA if it's a game requiring DirectX):

Code:

$ cd /mnt/windows/where_ever_your_program_is
$ wine program_name.exe

If, however, you need to run Windows (the actual OS) from inside Linux, consider using VMWare, as has just been said.

Hope this helps

cs-cam · 03-30-2005, 06:12 PM

A free alternative to VMware is Qemu.

resego · 03-30-2005, 06:13 PM

thanks guys .... but i dnt want to mount my windows files and the rest cuz i am very adventerous guy i dnt want to mess up my computer its not that powerful though ...but thanks again i just thought that there was a way of doing what i asked ealier on easily......