run existing windows partition while in feisty
 

I have been looking into VMWare and similar virtualization programs. I was unsure if it would be possible to run an existing version of XP (the one I dual boot to) with one of the applications. It seems like all the information I have seen requires installing a virtual Windows. Maybe someone can shed some light on this situation.

Thanks

You don't "run a virtual Windows"---you run Windows on a virtual machine.

The whole idea of virtualization is to create an environment in SW that---to the guest operating system---LOOKS LIKE any other computer.

You cannot simply run an existing Windows setup on a virtual machine--you must install Windows to the virtual machine--just as if it were a separate physical computer.

In principle, it should be possible to clone the Windows install to the virtual machine, but I have not tried it.

VMware has a converter that will virtualize an existing Windows installation, that is then installed into VMServer. AFAIK, that is the only way to utilize an existing Win install. Both programs are free. Don't expect it to work well for games. AFAIK, it doesn't have any 3D support. It's primarily aimed at business users.

Interesting--I wonder if it clones the installation or perhaps turns that partition into something the VM can recognize??

Read up on it at their site. It makes a virtual copy which is then installed. After making the copy it leaves the original windows installation untouched. I looked into it a while back. The virtual copy may work in VMplayer, which is in the repositories, however I don't know that this is so.

The converter works for most Windows versions. W98 is not supported but, according to their site, may/might/should work. They are unclear on this.

So what is the difference between VMWare Player and VMWare Server? Is it a requirement to have both to run virtual machines?

Have you visited the VMware site? They can explain the difference much better than I can. In short, Player is more restricted in what can be installed; it uses some kind of "pre-build" system. Server lets you install just about any OS. Player is in the repositories (there is a bit of info in Synaptic, search vmware).

I saw instructions for this on ubuntuforums.org:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.p...dows+partition

I haven't tried them yet, but it's supposed to let you use your current windows partition.