Hi.

I am trying to set up virtual box so I can run windows 8 and hopefully, that will allow me to use sonar 7. I followed some instructions from youtube to install virtual box but I don't think it is working right. I have a system recovery download from dell and burnt it to cd but virtual box can't see it. Also I can't change any setting in virtual box. I don't know how to find my version of vb or how to uninstall it. In short I'm stuck.

Hi...

According to Sasquatch here, installing an OEM version of Windows on a VM is illegal. You would need to purchase a full retail version of Windows 8. One way you can find VB version information is through the CLI using the commands here.

Regards...

Installing an OEM Windows on a second machine, whether VM or computer, is indeed illegal, and a system recovery disk is not likely to install anyway. But if you can find an unused retail version of Windows XP, Vista or 7, it should work. There may be other opinions, but in my experience VMware Player is much user-friendlier than VirtualBox.

Double Secret Probation!

ok I had no idea that was a no no. So is there a way to reinstall windows then reinstall ubuntu and save my files and drivers already on ubuntu? This reinstall download from dell is for this computer. Also, right now ubuntu has 30gigs on it.

how would you recommend installing vmware? I have seen xp for sale but was wary of buying for fear of running into prob. with ms however, will I be o.k.if I buy an unopened cd with code? This whole thing is to get my home recording studio working. I am wondering if it would even run in vb or vmware.

Take a look at the answer by Pat Roberts here to get a better idea of the pros and cons of both.

Yes, as long as it is a full retail version of Windows, not OEM.

Regards...

how about this. What if I buy a copy of xp and install it on an external hard drive? If so how do I get it working with ubuntu?

If you buy a retail copy of any Windows OS it will work fine in virtualization, you don't need to install it on an external hard drive unless you want to (and if you do, it won't work "with" Ubuntu, it will run "instead of" Ubuntu).

I have Windows 7 VMs installed in VirtualBox on most of my computers for those odds and ends that require it. It works just fine until you get to graphics-heavy applications (games, etc.).

As for your original question, I'll try to address some issues here:

1) There's no need to burn a CD, you can just pass the ISO file directly into the VM through VirtualBox. If you buy a retail copy of Windows, you can rip the CD/DVD into an ISO and then use that directly with the VM. You could use the CD/DVD itself, but CD/DVD drives are going by the wayside, so it's best to learn how to operate without them IMO.

2) You probably weren't able to edit any settings because you had the VM open. VirtualBox will let you open the settings dialog when the VM is running, but most options will be greyed out because they can't be changed on a live system. You need to shut down the VM before you can change most of those settings.

3) You can check the version by going to Help > About in VirtualBox.

4) How you uninstall VirtualBox depends on how you installed it. On most systems the installer adds the Oracle repo to your package management system, so you can use your standard package manager (apt-get, etc) to upgrade/uninstall/reinstall from then on.

thank you all for the good advice. I will buy a copy of xp and try to install it in vm. I'll probably be back for help with my xp install but that's for another day. Thanks for your patients, it must be hard dealing with us newbies.

Hi...

Your're welcome and not a problem. Patience is an attribute of God and He's been certainly been patient with me! I hope you didn't feel impatience from me or the members, if you did, I apologize.

Regards...

Randy, you can download the windows iso and then make bootable through rufus. Then you can mount then windows ISO and it will work just fine.

Yes...and this thread had been closed for TWO YEARS before you reopened it.

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@muhammednavas,


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