virtualbox.org

Hi,

I asked almost the same question on the Windows Host forum, but now I am wondering about the other way around, because my original idea seems to be more difficult than I thought.

I want to set up a dual boot machine with Windows and Linux like this:

* 3 partitions: one for windows (NTFS), one for Linux (ext4), and one partition holding the Windows C:\Users folders (NTFS)
* On Linux, I want to run VirtualBox with a second(!) Windows installation. This VM Windows should also use the above third partition for its \Users folders

My idea is that even though I have technically two separate Windows installations--one to boot into, one to run inside VirtualBox on Linux--it "almost" feels, on a normal day, as if there is only one Windows. Then for quick uses of Windows I can simply use the VM but if I need for example full access to the GPU I can boot into Windows.

I am fairly new with setting up dual boot systems and partitions, so please excuse me if my questions are stupid or have been answered before (I swear I searched before):
1. Is this possible at all?
2. How do I get the VirtualBox Windows installation to use the third partition for \Users?

Thanks!

Might be technically possible, but not something I would recommend.

Links to applications (shortcuts), recent documents, etc are all stored under the user's folder in windows but they would point to the wrong applications which would not be available depending on which version you were running.

All sorts of things stored in hidden directories under \user\joeuser\appdata that get manipulated when ever you log in. You would be putting lots of apps that store data there at risk.