Newbie alert: WinXP VM on Win7 host

[lekkerkerk]

Folks,

Newby alert here. I need to run some pre-historic programs from Brazilian insurers and decided to create a VM to do that.

Host environment
- Win 7 64 bit home premium (dutch)
- 6 GB RAM
- 600 GB hard disk

Target VM (i'm using VB 4.0.0)
- Win XP 32 bit professional (portuguese-brazil)
- 1.5 GB RAM
- 60 GB hard disk

I defined the virtual machine as above (albeit with a 20GB, expandable hard disk)
I seem to have terminated the setup of the VM from CD/DVD successfully, but now I start to boot the machine I get a series of errors

VB error
"The virtual machine reports that the guest operating system does not support mouse integration in the current mode, you need to capture your mouse by clicking the host key...." (winging it a bit because the message pops up in Dutch)

Windows error
"STOP c000007b {faulty image}
The application or the DLL \??\C:\WINDOWS\system32\winserv.dll is not a valid image for windows, compare with the installation disk

Key questions
- From the basic tutorials I could not quite figure out whether there were any limitations on using a 32 bit guest in a 64 bit host, most comments were about 64 bit guests in 32 bit hosts
- Is the windows error potentially related to the setup in VB, or should I treat it as a standalone problem
- Why doesn't the host key (right ctrl) release my mouse to the host environment?

Many thanks,
Pieter

[Technologov]

Welcome "lekkerkerk".

Be our newest guest in 2011 ! (and beyond)

>1. - From the basic tutorials I could not quite figure out whether there were any limitations on using a 32 bit guest in a 64 bit host, most comments were about 64 bit guests in 32 bit hosts

32-bit guests always supported. On all hosts.

>2. - Is the windows error potentially related to the setup in VB, or should I treat it as a standalone problem

How did you try to install guest OS ? (target)
You need to insert Windows XP CD-ROM (or ISO image), and make VBox use it.

>3. - Why doesn't the host key (right ctrl) release my mouse to the host environment?

It should.
You can change your host key via File->Preferences
Change and try a different key. I use right alt.

>4. VB error
This is VBox warning for newbie users. You can ignore it safely. (but read those)

Happy v4.0 usage !
-Technologov

[lekkerkerk]

Thx Technologov, happy 2011 for you too!

I just put the boot win XP installation disc in the DVD drive of the host and the guest picked it up after playing around with the boot order.

If I read between the lines the WinXP error is most likely a Windows error, nothing to do with VB.
So my next step is to look for the correct version of that DLL and then try to copy it into the right directory of the guest.

But then there's a catch
- If I start up from the DVD it does not want to repair the system (tried that) - actually, it now tells me "FATAL: Could not read from the boot medium
- If I start up from the guest hard disk i don't get the option of DOS or safe mode

So is there any way to drop the file onto the guest's hard disk from the host's hard disk - potentially even bypassing VB?

Thx,
Pieter

[Technologov]

It should boot from WinXP CD.

If it gives error, then your XP CD-ROM disc or disc-reader device are damaged.