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The ULTIMATE guide to virtualization: XP, Vista, Linux, Mac OS X -- step-by-step

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James Bannan02 March 2009516 days ago.

Related how-tos:

Our step-by-step tutorials make it easy to run XP, Vista and Ubuntu on the same PC without dualbooting ... all using Sun VirtualBox which means it's 100% free!

So you want to try out a different operating system, but you don't want the hassle of installing it onto your system directly, and risk screwing up your current OS?

Virtualization is what you need. It's a way to run an operating system within a window of your current operating system. For example, you can run Vista in a window of XP. Or, if you want to try out Linux, you could run Linux within Vista.

Some of the most popular names in virtualization include VMWare, Xensource and Parallels. But we've put together a series of tutorials using Sun VirtualBox -- a great, new platform for virtualizing a wide array of operating systems. It's powerful, flexible and completely free, and because it's fully cross-platform, you can easily apply your skills across many different systems.

We've done all the hard yards to bring you detailed step-by-step tutorials with screenshots so that you can get up and running with OS virtualization in no time.

Intro
PAGE 1How to virtualize Ubuntu on Vista
PAGE 2How to virtualize Vista on XP
PAGE 3How to virtualize Vista on Ubuntu
PAGE 4How to virtualize Ubuntu on Mac OS X
PAGE 5How to virtualize Vista on Mac OS X
PAGE 6How to virtualize XP on Vista
PAGE 7How to virtualize Ubuntu on XP
PAGE 8How to virtualize XP on Ubuntu
PAGE 9How to virtualize XP on Mac OS X

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WEC777 (New user):

What about "How to virtualize Mac OS X on Vista"? Then we could write documentation for Macs! :)

13 January 2009, 3:21 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend

Dan Warne (Administrator):

That article (kinda) got Wired sued by Apple, unfortunately...

22 January 2009, 5:03 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend

Adam M-W (New user):

Quoting Dan Warne:
That article (kinda) got Wired sued by Apple, unfortunately...

Unless they try using a disclaimer like http://wiki.osx86project.org/wiki/index.php/OSx86:General_disclaimer to stop them getting sued. Anyway, there's already some virtualisation guides at http://wiki.osx86project.org/wiki/index.php/Installation_Guides#VMware_Install_Guides

20 April 2009, 7:18 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend

JEMVet70 (New user):

I have successfully virtualized my current license of Window XP on my new Vista 64 machine. I am trying to virtualize Ubuntu via the guide "How to virtualize Ubuntu on Vista" guide. Ubuntu give me a kernel error during the install initialization. Any suggestions on how to get around this error?

18 February 2009, 4:42 AM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend

JEMVet70 (New user):

I have solved my own issue. My resolution included enabling the I/O APIC on the advanced setting tab. This stopped the kernel panic when trying to install. This worked when running the install for MEPIS 7.0 (32 bit) and I am confident that it will also work for most Linux distros. I hope this helps someone else.

20 February 2009, 4:28 AM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend

djmalc (New user):

hello I thought this was Australia and an aussie mag? Virtualization is American spelling. Virtualisation is how it's spelt here!

19 February 2009, 1:17 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend

Bill-C (New user):

Just checked out your 'virtualization' HOWTO's. Fabuluos guys. Just what we need to get the out the Ms clutches...
KeepUp the GOODWORK DUDES...

22 April 2009, 9:42 AM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend

Bill-C (New user):

Hi' Guys,
The HowTo's on Vm's are great; just what we need to escape from the 'Ms' Machine.
KeepUp the GoodWork DUDES, AND THANK-U

22 April 2009, 9:49 AM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend

meee-eee (New user):

ok guys great tutorials and thanks by the way but i need to know if i am already running vista inside mac using parallels wuch i am doing can i then use this to run xp inside vista any help would be greatly apreaciated thanks

14 May 2009, 11:46 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend

gravesgrg (New user):

This capability sounds great but what speed penalties are you guys seeing? I already don't have the fastest computer (Core Duo 4400, I believe) so I don't want to impose another speed penalty when using the other OS. Starting out with Vista Home Premium BTW

28 May 2009, 9:56 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend

PaulKruger (New user):

What about virtualize Vista on Windows 2000?

25 June 2009, 5:17 AM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend

Srinivasan (New user):

How to virtualise Windows Xp in a PC loaded with Windows 7 Home Premium ?

25 January 2010, 3:44 PM (6 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

Srinivasan (New user):

I am having Windows 7 Home edition as Op System in my PC. Can I have Windows Xp bootable from a CD without interference from the Windows 7 installed ? Is virtualization possible ? This is because I am not able to download pictures taken in my Kodak DC280 Digital Camerainto my PC.

14 February 2010, 8:54 PM (5 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend