OS Version detection

Discussions related to using VirtualBox on Windows hosts.
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aseries
Posts: 3
Joined: 21. Jul 2009, 16:12
Primary OS: MS Windows 7
VBox Version: OSE other
Guest OSses: Ubuntu 8.04 WinXP Android Win98SE

OS Version detection

Post by aseries »

I have an application that refuses to install under Windows 7 because it detects the OS Version. I have installed WinXP and Win98SE with Virtual Box. The application still does not find an OS Version it likes.
Perryg
Site Moderator
Posts: 34369
Joined: 6. Sep 2008, 22:55
Primary OS: Linux other
VBox Version: OSE self-compiled
Guest OSses: *NIX

Re: OS Version detection

Post by Perryg »

Moving to Windows 7RC host

What is the application and why do you think it will not work on Win XP? Any specific error massages?
aseries
Posts: 3
Joined: 21. Jul 2009, 16:12
Primary OS: MS Windows 7
VBox Version: OSE other
Guest OSses: Ubuntu 8.04 WinXP Android Win98SE

Re: OS Version detection

Post by aseries »

Thanks for your interest.
LG driver CD for a DVD burner that includes a video capture interface. The device is obselete now with no support. App apparently looks for the OS Version somewhere and expects to find Windows 98, ME, 2000, or XP. My guess is that Virtual Box does not deliver a coherent OS Version to such requests. This can be important for many applications.
MKhaos7
Posts: 81
Joined: 6. Apr 2009, 16:19
Primary OS: Ubuntu other
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: Windows, Linux, BSD
Location: Brazil - Aracaju/SE

Re: OS Version detection

Post by MKhaos7 »

VirtualBox has nothing to do with "OS Version", VirtualBox is just a "virtual hardware", the OS is "real" and will report whatever it wants.
Are you sure the application isn't looking from a CD drive for a specific vendor?
aseries
Posts: 3
Joined: 21. Jul 2009, 16:12
Primary OS: MS Windows 7
VBox Version: OSE other
Guest OSses: Ubuntu 8.04 WinXP Android Win98SE

Re: OS Version detection

Post by aseries »

When software displays a dialogue box that states "This application installs on Windows 98, ME, 2000, or XP" I tend to believe it.
Perryg
Site Moderator
Posts: 34369
Joined: 6. Sep 2008, 22:55
Primary OS: Linux other
VBox Version: OSE self-compiled
Guest OSses: *NIX

Re: OS Version detection

Post by Perryg »

Virtualzation does come into play here. VirtualBox is a type (2) hypervisor and some things are reported direct from the PC.
But if you install a program (most) of them will get the information from the OS that is installed.
Virtual box also makes the CD/DVD available and could be coming into play in this instance.
The DVD burner may be picking up an issue to the fact that it is virtualized, (not sure).

The only way to resolve this is to login to bugtracker and ask the DEVs to look into it.
You will need to create an account there because it is on a different system. Link is below my post.
Be sure to follow all of the requirements on the site so you will be able to get an answer.
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