Host with 512 RAM

[vb101]

Is it possible to run VB 2.2.2 on Win XP host with 512 RAM?

[Perryg]

You can install the program but you don't have enough memory to run any guests besides DOS.

[vb101]

The reason for the question is the fact that earlier this year I was using VB v.2.1.0 on the very same host (with the limit of 512 RAM) and did not have any memory problem with running Win XP, Win Server 2003 guests on it.

Why it's not possible now?
.

[Perryg]

Yeah I had a look at your post and you had a lot of problems then as well.
All I can tell you is give it a shot but don't expect too much.

[vb101]

Yes, I had problems (mostly related to moving VMs from one computer to another). But I had success as well. And that success created a hope that VB is a good product that has potentials to become better and better over the time.

I was wrong. Memory management in VB was changed since v.2.1.0 and, unfortunately, not in a right direction. Folks here start to report memory related crashes. Bug #3657 was opened and fixed (but crash of "virtualbox.exe" AppVer.2.2.2.0 still happen at this time, nevertheless). New versions of VB broke all my virtual machines (all are in aborted state now). I've reinstalled VB 2.2.2 several times, I've tried to create completely new VMs from the scratch - the last one was able to install VB additions, but after that it just crashes all the time I boot it.

That's pity. I have to remove VB from this computer and return back to VMware v.6.0 that works very well (BTW, it takes physical memory from the system only when guest OS needs it - it's certainly superior comparing to VB, and I never had memory related problems running VMware).

VB should clearly state system requirements for host computer and support it after that. Method - try it if you're lucky, it will work for you - creates uncertainty and frustration only. I was able to run it earlier and have started to invest my time into it and recommend it to others. But now when VB developers made those recent changes that made it impossible to run on my computer - I have to rethink my opinion about VB...

Guys developing VB, please make it clear that in order to run Windows XP guest OS on Windows XP host computer - the computer should have at least ... MiB (or GiB?). It will show your respect and save time of others.

[stefan.becker]

I think such things are clear. If you are running 2 OS, you need the power and capacity to run 2 OS.

[vb101]

I think such things are clear. If you are running 2 OS, you need the power and capacity to run 2 OS.

Windows XP computer with 512 MiB of RAM is capable of running well another Windows XP or Windows Server 2003 virtual machine as its guest if I run it:
1) within VMware (the same perhaps is true with regards to Virtual PC);
2) within VirtualBox v2.1.0.

Is here a new requirement for "power and capacity to run 2 OS" now?

[vbox4me2]

You've been to school and learned math? 512 is by far not enough for what you want, vmware might be able to do this by using the harddisk as additional memory, but that is not the way VBox works. VBox 2.1.0 might be able to do this as each new version has a larger footprint where 2.2 might not have enough left. There are alot more resources besides the OS itself that uses ram including dynamic caching.

[Perryg]

Ok it has been explained and this is not going to get anywhere.

Locking topic.