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I have Linux installed on my harddrive, sometimes I run it as the host operating system and sometimes run it as a guest in Windows using VirtualBox. It's a nice ability, I think.

I don't think it's possible with Windows though. Is it because your average distribution includes drivers for everything known to man? Are devices/drivers configured statically in Windows so when somethings changed it breaks?

  • So you're saying you can dual-boot your machine and while in Windows you can run a VM using your Linux install as the guest? – squillman Jul 05 '11 at 22:24
  • @squillman Yup, that's exactly what I mean. –  Jul 05 '11 at 22:31
  • I have seen something similar be successful. With OSX booted, you can load the Bootcamp Windows install in Parallels. So it is possible at least with some VM products on some hardware. I have no idea about virtual box, on your hardware though. – Zoredache Jul 05 '11 at 23:50
  • It's all about the HAL. – EEAA Jul 06 '11 at 01:51

2 Answers2

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Yes, Windows ties itself to a particular hardware configuration. It's mostly an anti-piracy thing, though -- you could always install the necessary drivers for Windows to run in VirtualBox, but Windows will scream about needing to reactivate itself every time you switch between the two.

womble
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You can run Windows as a guest on Virtual Box in Linux but you will need to do a clean reinstallation of Windows on the new virtual machine you create.

Yitzchak
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