virtualbox.org

Hello,
I am installing a windows XP machine. I am new to Linux and to virtual box.
I have first installed the machine with a windows XP 32 bits CD. No problem. The installation worked OK including the network. But I found I have a software which runs only on a 64 bits windows.
I then installed the machine with a windows XP 64 bit CD which does not include any driver (it is the windows CD of a Dell computer which I want to replace by the virtual machin. The installation worked OK .I noted thaht the display is much better than with the 32 bits version. After installing the system, It indicates that the processor is a Intel core duo which is the processor of my dell machine. But there is no driver for the Ethernet card. I tried to download the drivers from the Intel website but never succedded to install them. I get error messages that this is not compatible with a windows 32 bits.

I then decided to go back to the windows 32 bits version but now I cannot install any of the Windows CD . I get the message "no bootable system found; system halted".
What do I do wrong?
Is there an order ? should I introduce the CD before starting the machine or should I start the machine first?

I am almost driving crazy and hope someone can help me.
One of the questions I have is : does it make any difference to use an windows 32 bits or a Windows 64 bits CD because anyhow, the hardware libraries are provided by Virtual box. I am wrong?

Windows XP 64bit is very rare. Are you certain you have an installer for that? Does it say 64bits on the XP setup CD disk label? If you have an app that requires a 64bit Windows OS, then Win7-64bit is the oldest one I would even try.

Your observation that the display looks better with the 64bits version of the OS is certainly wrong. Display resolution has nothing to do with the CPU register width of the PC. The graphics card (and its drivers) is responsible for graphics quality, not a PC's CPU - at least not in any OS from the last 20 years.

The message "no bootable medium found" means exactly what it says: none of the disks currently attached to the VM contains a bootable system. You should believe what it is telling you. Usually this means you have some kind of demo or upgrade CD, not a setup CD.

Be aware that OEM CDs, particularly from Dell, are notorious for only working on Dell hardware - which would not include the simulated hardware of a VM.

Hello
Thanks for your reply. Yes my CD's are 32 bits windows XP CD's.
The CD is now installed on a 32 bits virtual machine and I see the network.
The message about the non bootable CD was a wrong messge which disappeared after restarting the host machine.

Thanks. I have another problem about USB but I will do another Post.