Latest version of virtio drivers for Windows XP SP3

Discussions about using Windows guests in VirtualBox.
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Notorand.IT
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Latest version of virtio drivers for Windows XP SP3

Post by Notorand.IT »

Hi all.
I need to install virtio drivers to a Windows XP SP3 guest.
Unfortunately the ones I can find here seem to support nothing older than Windows 8.
Which is the lates ISO version supporting Windows XP?
Where can I find it?

Thanks.

P.S.
I think this very one could be an FAQ.
# rm -fr /
mpack
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Re: Latest version of virtio drivers for Windows XP SP3

Post by mpack »

VirtualBox doesn't provide virtio drivers. XP drivers definitely exist, in fact those are the only ones I've ever downloaded - but too long ago to help you now.
Notorand.IT
Posts: 77
Joined: 14. Nov 2013, 12:47
Primary OS: Other
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Guest OSses: ArchLinux x86_64
Location: Regnum Utriusque Siciliae

Re: Latest version of virtio drivers for Windows XP SP3

Post by Notorand.IT »

I need to know which version, maybe the wayback machine can be of some help! ;-)
# rm -fr /
mpack
Site Moderator
Posts: 39156
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Re: Latest version of virtio drivers for Windows XP SP3

Post by mpack »

I remember they were on the KVM project pages of the day (virtio was a KVM initiative). The drivers were intended for KVM XP guests, all VirtualBox did was provide a compatible host API for those drivers to talk to.
Notorand.IT
Posts: 77
Joined: 14. Nov 2013, 12:47
Primary OS: Other
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Guest OSses: ArchLinux x86_64
Location: Regnum Utriusque Siciliae

Re: Latest version of virtio drivers for Windows XP SP3

Post by Notorand.IT »

I found out a number of sources in various forums and I ended up by testing with several different "virtio drivers ISOs": Thanks to the last one I have been able to install a working virtio-net driver.
But none of them allowed me to have a working virtio-scsi driver. I always get a "code 10" failing driver.
In the same fedorapeople.org directory I can also find for example the v0.1.65 ISO which seems to contain XP drivers in two directories: WXP and XP. Useless to say they don't work.

So the question is: is it really really possible to use a working virtio-scsi drvier under Windows XP SP3?
If so, which ISO should I use?
# rm -fr /
mpack
Site Moderator
Posts: 39156
Joined: 4. Sep 2008, 17:09
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Re: Latest version of virtio drivers for Windows XP SP3

Post by mpack »

I don't know if virtio-scsi works. I've never seen the point since hard disk performance has never been significantly affected by the emulation overhead, unlike the register based API of some network cards. I find virtual IDE fast enough, I'm told SATA is much faster but never felt a need to measure it.
Notorand.IT
Posts: 77
Joined: 14. Nov 2013, 12:47
Primary OS: Other
VBox Version: OSE other
Guest OSses: ArchLinux x86_64
Location: Regnum Utriusque Siciliae

Re: Latest version of virtio drivers for Windows XP SP3

Post by Notorand.IT »

mpack wrote:I don't know if virtio-scsi works. I've never seen the point since hard disk performance has never been significantly affected by the emulation overhead, unlike the register based API of some network cards. I find virtual IDE fast enough, I'm told SATA is much faster but never felt a need to measure it.
Virtio has an impact on the host too. This is why I am interested into it. I don't mind measuring performances. I want to keep the impact of guest VMs on the host as low as possible.
# rm -fr /
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