OS installation through virtual box
 

I have installed virtualbox on windows seven. I have three partitions C D & E.
I have .iso file of ubuntu 12.10
When I try to open UBUNTU through virtual box, it gives me two options.
Try ubuntu & Install ubuntu.
Suppose I select option "install ubuntu", will my windows seven be installed too.
I don't want to remove my windows seven at all.
I didn't want dual boot and other stuff that's why I am trying to use ubuntu with virtual box.
Whenever I try to install ubuntu, it gives me these options.
Attachment 12601
if I select fourth option. it gives me direct install option.
Attachment 12602
I don't want to install ubuntu over windows seven. There is lots of data and softwares in my windows seven and I don't want to lose them.
All four options look very dangerous. Which option should I select to use ubuntu with windows seven?

Dont worry. Go ahead and install ubuntu. what is considered as hard disk for ubuntu is actually a file in windows system. if you are new to partitions just choose the first option instead of fourth option.

Thanks for your reply. I will try to install. I hope every thing will be fine.
One more question.
I have XP .iso, if I will install it using virtual box, will it not harm my windows seven too?

You must want to ask, if I have windows seven why do I want to use windows xp using virtual box.
I have my conditions.
Whenever I want to install it, it says unpartitioned space 10237 MB
Attachment 12603
if I go ahead from here, will my windows seven be safe?

Can I use windows xp using virtual box without harming my windows seven?

Thanks

Nothing you install in VirtualBox will affect your real system. When you created the XP virtual machine it would have asked you to create a virtual hard disk drive and that is what you will install XP to. The same goes for anything else you install in VirtualBox -- it is as if they are installed on separate computers.

Remember, the installation routine "thinks" that the virtual HDD you created in VirtualBox is a real HDD, so it asks you the same questions as if you were installing to bare metal. But you can be certain that it's safe in its own sandbox.

I've got five or six virtual machines (virtual distro-hopping) on the machine I use for VirtualBox. They exist happily in complete ignorance of each other--each one thinks it's the only dog in the yard, none of them know that they are in separate cages in the same kennel.

Thanks Frankbell, I will remember this.
Thanks you all for the prompt reply.

Can I have a way to access other partitions using virtualbox-ubuntu?
If I run fdisk -l, it shows only root filesystem(/dev/sda).

Logically, it doesn't look possible because I have created new virtual hard disk and it has been created inside C drive of windows seven so technically, it doesn't look possible to see other drives and it's data.

Since it is Linux so somehow is it possible?

Because I have to go to the windows seven everytime to see my other drive's documents and I am practicing Linux on command line so it would be good if they all would available here in ubuntu. In-short,I can't access my other drive data in ubuntu.

and if I use windows XP inside windows seven using virtual box, Is it possible if I want to access data of other drives inside virtualbox OS?

Thanks again

See this section of the VirtualBox docs, about shared folders:

https://www.virtualbox.org/manual/ch...#sharedfolders

Running many OS's within a VM is a very good way to use your computer. Safe and easy.

To access physical partitions would be a more advanced topic and you should not attempt it.

VM's offer a few ways to access data across real and virtual machines.

Things like ftp/samba/nfs still work.

VM's also offer unique tools like noted above, shared folders.

They also offer guest additions that allow you to cut and paste and drag and drop across vm's and hosts.

Take a look at this.
https://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?t=15868