Running a windows xp virtual machine on a old Dell Dimension 4600(running ubuntu)
 

Working on converting my dad to ubuntu, since the 4 year old windows xpinstall is terribly slow (task manager takes literally 10 minutes to launch) but he is still un willing to convert (seems to be opposed to the fact that I have much better knowledge than him when it comes to computers/ "windows has been 'working' for me this long" after i've re installed it on the machine no less than 7 times, its crashed, its gotten virus, or just slowed down...) one of the things anchoring him the the turdware is TurboTax so I proposed a compromise of running a VM to do all that. How pheasible is this? using virtual box ose
Specs:
Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.66GHz
Total Memory 2059228 kB ~2GB

Then let him stay in windows, it's not a good idea to force linux upon people.
Why not run linux in a vm in XP or use a live CD to let him decide for himself?

To answer your question, yes you can run XP in a VM on that machine

Kind regards

Well its more that he agreed (when it was presented to him, is now installed through wubi), and is now resisting my help when he doesn't understand something ( Not wanting to be dependant on me for use of the computer, even though this is true for windows...) It pains me to see him spending hours and hundreds of dollars dealing with Dell/ Norton services whenever something on his PC stop working. I finally got him to stop using IE( during the summer where some of the more massive flaws ran unfixed for a few weeks, so it couldn't be too hard for him to switch, since he already uses thunderbird, and M$ Office works well in wine. Everything else is absolutely un-known to him.


Thanks for the advice anyway

If XP runs slow on this computer, it is unlikely that installing it in a virtual machine will make it faster.

That being said, your CPU and RAM should be adequate for the task.

Get the old dell disks and do a clean install of xp and all the updates and get a good security suite. Free is Microsoft's security essentials.

I totally agree that you can't speed up a borked install with a vm unless the system is way, way faster.

the VM is just for the purpose of running turbo tax. thanks for the input

I use Parallels VM ($49.00) to run an XP install under KUbuntu for the same purpose as your dad, unfortunately the Intuit stuff does not get along with WINE too well as it seems to want to use a bunch of .NET stuff that WINE can't install.

I have Mac OSX Server running in VirtualBox OSE and it works great although a little pokey on the speed side. I have yet to install XP under VirtualBox OSE so can't comment on speed, although many I have talked to say it runs as good or better than on bare iron.

Good Luck

Moved: This thread is more suitable in <Linux - Virtualization> and has been moved accordingly to help your thread/question get the exposure it deserves.

Thanks for moving the thread I was unaware of such a section. Once again I ask. How well will the Virtualbox (in ubuntu) run win XP on those specs, will in super slow, or semi normal speed?

Windows is usable but slow on my 3.0ghz hyperthreaded Pentium 4 with 1.5gb RAM. The difference in speed between dual boot windows xp vs. windows xp in virtualbox is tangible on this hardware. I believe this is because most Pentium 4's do not have VT-x virtualization assist capability.

Have you considered the alternative solution of: a fresh reinstall of Windows XP (something is obviously wrong with your Dad's current install) along with educating him about good Windows hygiene (separate administrator account, antivirus, bloatware, defrag, etc)?

It might be worth a try.
I run XP or 7 in Virtualbox on similar specs, and it is ok.
But i disabled the update-service completely and set it to "best performance" (i guess i did other things too, but those are the main ones). That sure is not of everyones taste. In case it should get a virus, i would simply re-install.

I've run Turbotax under Win XP under a VM on 2 ghz nearly 10 yr old pentium 4. So, definitely feasible, but I agree with the suggestions above regarding reinstall etc.