Newbie here: Running Windows on Linux (Mint/Ubuntu) as host

[currter]

Hello all I am new here though I did try out Virtual Box on
my Macbook running Windows 7 and 8 which I thought had some
lag as the machine only has 8 GB of memory and it seems to slow
the Mac down. I have since gone to Parallels and about the same though
that runs better on an iMac I upgraded to 16GB.

Anyway my main question is ... I have a Dell laptop that is now running Windows 7
and I just wondered if things would run better if I installed Linux (Mint or something)
as Linux runs a bit better on the Dell, and then run Windows via Virutal Box
where Linux is the main host ( and not the other way around)?

Before I invest time to reinstall things, I just wonder if I would see any benefit or improvement
in running Windows if it is not the main host as usually or just my bad luck Windows has
some issues at times. However on the Mac when I ran Windows using Bootcamp and
now Parallels, Windows runs I think better than if it is on its own.

So I may explore erasing Windows 7, start over but put Linux as my main operating system
on the Dell, then run Windows via Virtual Box and hope to see improvement. That will be
a lot of work if it does not work out as I think and then I would have to reinstall Windows again as host
and run Linux via Virtual Box.

Well that is all, I just want to know if it is worth the time and effort to reverse things as this 2009 laptop
is still useful and to get the best use out of it.

Or maybe it could be a situation where I can install Linux on the second hard drive this XPS M1730 has
and attach the Windows already on the main hard drive as a virutal machine like I was able to do
on the iMac and running Parallels. Then I don't have to reinstall anything but may have to re-validate
WIndows with the Product Key or call that toll free number to activate Windows again.

I might add, when I ran the free Virtual Box on the Macbook and running Windows 7 or 8 , I had a
few issues with some devices (USB) not connecting or working properly like Elgato EyeTV and the
web cameras did not work properly, never showed images when using Yahoo messenger,just
a black screen...but for
what I want to do for the Dell machine, that would not be an issue as this computer may be used by
an older relative and would only need to be able to connect a printer via USB or perhaps a
wireless hotspot device using a secure, directly wired USB cable and not necessarily using wi-fi connection to the
hotspot. Wired would be less effort for the relative whereas turning on or activating wireless is a bit more
complicated
Thank you.

[loukingjr]

The short answer is, running on any PC, an OS will have it's best performance running natively. Virtual machines will always be slower. Part of the answer depends on what you want to do. If you play games in Windows, you're better off not trying to run them in a VM. If you want the best performance you should dual boot Linux and Windows. That way each will reach their maximum performance. What you lose is the ability to run both OS's at the same time.

[currter]

Yes, point well taken... Okay I think I may have to think this over...
actually the Dell was having some video card issues and may be
unstable for relative...so I was thinking since I had issues with
Windows anyway, to try running Linux and Windows as virtual machine
but you're right I probably won't see any improvement... Linux may run
fine but Windows may not. And I do not think I can get the elderly
relative who wants to use the computer to get used to another operating
system such as Linux even though has issues with Windows running slowly
in the current configuration native to the Dell or has to wait to something
not responding... and telling the relative, "please be patient... it's windows".

Well getting another iMac and will install Windows as Bootcamp on that
and this should do it.

Thank you for helping me decide what to do... maybe I will play around with
Virtual box on my first iMac as it may run better since upgrading to 16GB.
And I can use that for free and play around with Virtual Box to see if I can
solve those issues of certain USB devices not connecting properly or being
able to use them e.g. Elgato EyeTV device... also webcams did not work
properly (neither Apple's native webcam nor Logitec'h's external webcam(s)
I tried). However , Parallels the webcams work fine when connecting.
It may be a challenge to figure out why I could not get them to work when
running Virtual Box unless some functionality I have to pay for and you don't
get with the free version?

I am sorry for wasting your time with this. It was just something on my mind
(spur of the moment) and I did not think this out clearly and should have known better.


Thank you so much.