Hosting VB on Win7, trying to install WinXp

Discussions related to using VirtualBox on Windows hosts.
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Stasis
Posts: 1
Joined: 24. May 2013, 23:06

Hosting VB on Win7, trying to install WinXp

Post by Stasis »

I would like to install Win XP into VB on a Win7 machine. I am not very familiar with virtual machines, so I need to know what software I need to install XP from an installation disc. I am not sure what 3rd party software I will need. Thank you in advance
BillG
Volunteer
Posts: 5106
Joined: 19. Sep 2009, 04:44
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: Windows 10,7 and earlier
Location: Sydney, Australia

Re: Hosting VB on Win7, trying to install WinXp

Post by BillG »

You will only need third party software if you want to install third party software in XP.

If you have an XP installation disc, put it in the DC drive of your host machine. (If Windows 7 tries to open it, cancel the operation). In the Settings of your virtual machine (seen from the VirtualBox Manager window), go to the Storage section and select the secondary controller (not the .vdi file). Click on the disk icon on the right and select "Host Drive". Now when you start your vm it will boot from the CD and install XP.
Bill
mpack
Site Moderator
Posts: 39134
Joined: 4. Sep 2008, 17:09
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: Mostly XP

Re: Hosting VB on Win7, trying to install WinXp

Post by mpack »

Just to head off possible confusion: you need to create your VM recipe first. Then it will be listed in the manager. I suggest you go with defaults for everything, except give the VM 512MB RAM.

Also, VirtualBox has something called a first start wizard which I've never used - you only see it if you don't touch any of the VM settings before starting the VM for the first time. This first start wizard prompts for the guest OS's setup cd and hence cuts out some of the steps BillG describes. See sections 1.7 and 1.8 of the user manual for details.
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