How to run Windows 7 as a virtual machine in Linux Mint?
 

Hello, guys! I have Windows 7 and Linux Mint 17.1 in dual-boot, but the most of time I use Linux Mint. I just use Windows for gaming, but it's annoying to reset my laptop each time I want to play something. So I want to know if there's a way to run Windows 7 as a virtual machine in Linux Mint.

Thanks :)

Of course, but if you're going to be running Windows for heavy gaming, then I think you're going to be disappointed. Even with the Additions, the video driver likely isn't cut out for the heavy load required for games.

As to how, just like you would on any normal PC. Start VirtualBox and install Windows 7 from the install media. After install is complete, start Windows in Safe Mode, select Install Guest Additions. Click the Additions "CD" in File Explorer, and run the installer.

Thanks for the help! Unfortunately I don't have the install CD. I bought an used PC that already had Windows 7. Isn't there a way to make start my Windows 7 partition from a virtual machine?

Unfortunately not. Windows (since XP) tends to tie itself to the hardware. When you make a major hardware change like this, it will refuse to boot.

Does the computer have a recovery partition?

Does the PC have a Certificate of Authenticity, with the activation code? If so, you can use any Windows 7 installation CD.

No, and no. Well thanks, anyway :)

It is true that Microsoft uses the hardware footprint of a machine as identifying information for licensing purposes. It's not quite accurate that, if there is a significant hardware change, the machine will become unbootable.

If you make a significant hardware change to a Windows machine, including installing WIndows in a VM, it is possible to reactivate Windows. However, you may have to call Microsoft and explain that the old machine is defunct and you had to put your legal copy of Windows on a new machine.

Just don't try to put it on two machines (a VM counts as a machine). That violates the license.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/950929

If the OP could install to a VM, then yes, it's a non issue. Install and activate the VM. As long as it's not an OEM license, either. Been there, done that.

Last I tried this, it would boot to a blue screen, as a motherboard change always did, and required a reinstall. A motherboard change (which copying an existing install to a VM would count - likely a different chipset) required a reinstall. It had nothing to do actually with activation, but the drivers that were installed, and it was a dog to get around.

To the OP, give a look here, may be worth a shot: http://www.ampercent.com/copy-existi...-machine/7164/

To add to the above, boot to Windows and get your key - there's a variety of tools for this. Save it. While in there find and make the recovery disk. Don't make any other changes yet. I believe Nirsoft makes a key recovery tool but I've not used Windows much as of late and those memories are fading away.

Boot back into Mint, I use VMWare Workstation but there are many choices, and install Win7 in a VM and use they key you found earlier with something like MagicJellyBean or any one of them. You may have some issues activation but PROBABLY only if you've installed recently. If you do then just use the phone activation - you don't even normally talk to a person. Follow the prompts on screen to get the special number needed for the phone activation, then call and enter the prompts as requested. Keep a pen and paper handy or, if you're like me, have a laptop handy and just type in what they tell you into a text document and save it.

I just recently went through something akin to this for a friend of mine who has now been converted to Linux Mint Cinnamon and still needed to run some of his business software in Windows that would not run properly in Wine. I didn't have any major issues and it was an OEM system so I'm *assuming* that the license was OEM as well.