OpenGL H: Linux G: Windows 7 x86 Intel Graphic

[Terrance]

Hi,

HW: i7-3615QM, Intel HD4500
Vbox: 5.2.0
host: Xubuntu 17.10 x64 with intel driver
Guest: Windows ThinPC (7 x86) with addon and 3D drivers installed.

When trying rendering test with "OpenGL Extensions Viewer"
OpenGL 1.1 works fine. but all tests above OpenGL 1.2 got black screens.

Any ideas?

[erdeslawe]

From Microsoft's Advisory Note (WinTPC FAQ v2 0.pdf)

"Can I run applications on WinTPC?
Yes, you can run applications that fall into one of the following categories:
• Security
• Management
• Terminal emulation
• Remote Desktop and similar technologies
• Web browser
• Media player
• Instant messaging client
• Document viewers
• .NET Framework and Java Virtual Machine
However, you cannot run any productivity applications, such as Microsoft Office or similar applications."

"Can I run WinTPC in a virtual machine?
WinTPC has been designed to help customers repurpose existing PCs as thin clients. Since thin client OS’s are not designed for or supported in a virtual machine (VM), WinTPC is not supported in a VM."

[Terrance]

It's just a light weight windoze 7 with less useless bloating "features", instead of a fat pig, nothing less.

[mpack]

You need to install the GAs in safe mode if you want VirtualBox hardware accelerated OpenGL support (the OpenGL 1.2 you see is not VirtualBox, that's the software renderer built into Windows).

How well this will work in a WinTPC guest I have no idea.

[mpack]

Well that was interesting. I downloaded the 90 day trial version of Windows 7 Thin PC, and had no problems installing it. I was expecting something very spartan, but the only thing that stands out is a very depopulated start menu, not many root folders, not much in "Program Files". But under the hood most of the stuff I might look for is still there: IE8, Windows Media player, themes, desktop gadgets etc. I wonder what exactly is missing from this "non bloat" release, compared to say an Win7 Pro OEM release?

Guest Additions installed fine: as mentioned you have to install in safe mode and accept the non WDDM Direct3D driver. That gives you OpenGL 2.1 support, which is the most that VirtualBox offers.

[socratis]

I was expecting something very spartan

You got my curiosity up and running, and I tried to download it...

• It's 1.5 GB for Pete's sake!!!

That's MS's idea of "thin"? Oy vey...

[mpack]

Well, 1.5GB is half the size of the Win7 Pro 64bit installer ISO I have here.

Happily I'm coming to the end of my 4G monthly billing period, and I still have 13GB unused. My home landline is 1.5mbps, so yes a 1.5GB download would be terrible on that. However on 4G it only took 7 minutes or so (4G in my rural location gives me about 24mbps).

[Terrance]

Yes, I always install latest GAs in safe mode.

BTW what GPU and driver are you using?

You need to install the GAs in safe mode if you want VirtualBox hardware accelerated OpenGL support (the OpenGL 1.2 you see is not VirtualBox, that's the software renderer built into Windows).

How well this will work in a WinTPC guest I have no idea.

[mpack]

On my host? It's an "NVidia GeForce GTX 970", OpenGL 4.5.0. However the capabilities of the host should have little bearing since the guest doesn't see the host GPU, it just sees OpenGL 2.1 with "VirtualBox" as the vendor.

Incidentally, my own OpenGL apps ran fine in the WinTPC guest, which answers the question about how well the GAs would work. By the way, installing in safe mode is not enough - you have to select the Direct3D driver, not the WDDM one, as the latter doesn't include an OpenGL API.

As to WinTPC - I was impressed by the boot speed etc, I can't quite put my finger on what's been discarded, but it certainly does seem faster. Unfortunately I couldn't find a way to end the trial and convert it to a full license, which means I probably won't invest any more time in it.