Re: Virtual Box & Windows -

2011-03-28 Thread Bob Goodwin
On 28/03/11 10:47, Carroll Grigsby wrote:
>
> Bob:
> Pretty much all about Grub:
> http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/grub.html
>
> A minor point: Fedora's configuration file for grub is grub.conf rather
> that menu.lst, menu.lst is a link to grub.conf.
>
> Also, this document does *not* apply to Grub2, but since Fedora uses the
> old Grub 0.97 so you're good to go. For a while.
>
> -- cmg

Yes, an interesting article, answers a few questions I had.

They suggest "find" to see which drives contain what system. It
doesn't provide anything useful here?

[bobg@box9 ~]$ find /boot/grub/stage1
/boot/grub/stage1

I expected to see some data listed as below? This computer has
both F-14 and Windows.

"Example:

Let's say the computer has the following operating systems
installed on different partitions:

* SUSE on (hd0,1)
* Kubuntu on (hd0,2)
* Mandriva on (hd0,4)

All these will be returned as potential roots for GRUB
device (as each OS has its own files)."

I will save it. The examples are always good. I am forever
looking for examples.

Thank you.

Bob



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Re: Virtual Box & Windows -

2011-03-28 Thread Carroll Grigsby
On Mon, 28 Mar 2011 06:30:13 -0400
Bob Goodwin  wrote:

> On 27/03/11 18:32, Mikkel wrote:
> > On 03/22/2011 04:19 PM, compdoc wrote:
> >>> My problem is
> >>> that the only way I can get Windows to run is to plug it into
> >>> the first slot, then Windows boots but I never see grub.
> >> By first slot I guess you sata port? It's been a while since I've
> >> noticed Windows caring about device order. I have seen windows try
> >> to change its drive letter when it finds itself on a new drive
> >> port, but that was only under certain conditions.
> >>
> >> When you move your windows drive to port 1, you don't see grub
> >> because grub is installed on the other drive. Unfortunately, I
> >> don't know anything about dual booting with grub, so maybe someone
> >> else here can tell you how...
> >>
> >> I think if you were to place your windows drive in port 1, and
> >> then were to set up grub to run from the windows drive, it would
> >> solve the problem?
> >>
> > I am late to this thread, so it may already have been mentioned, but
> > you may want to look at the map option in Grub.
> >
> > rootnoverify (hd0,0)
> > map (hd0) (hd1)
> > map (hd1) (hd0)
> > chainloader +1
> >
> > Mikkel
> 
> I managed to create a grub.conf that works [a minor miracle].
> However I am interested in this.
> 
> I don't see the "map" option in man grub?
> 
> Info grub is hard to deal with, copied it to info.txt which
> produces 73 pages in an openoffice document using a font large
> enough that I can see ...
> 
> How do I use the "map" option?
> 
> Bob
> 

Bob:
Pretty much all about Grub:
http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/grub.html

A minor point: Fedora's configuration file for grub is grub.conf rather
that menu.lst, menu.lst is a link to grub.conf.

Also, this document does *not* apply to Grub2, but since Fedora uses the
old Grub 0.97 so you're good to go. For a while.

-- cmg
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Re: Virtual Box & Windows -

2011-03-28 Thread Bob Goodwin
On 28/03/11 06:41, Andras Simon wrote:
> On 3/28/11, Bob Goodwin  wrote:
>
>>  I managed to create a grub.conf that works [a minor miracle].
>>  However I am interested in this.
>>
>>  I don't see the "map" option in man grub?
>>
>>  Info grub is hard to deal with, copied it to info.txt which
>>  produces 73 pages in an openoffice document using a font large
>>  enough that I can see ...
> Using info from emacs (C-h i) is very convenient (unless, of course,
> that one finds emacs hard to deal with).
>
>>  How do I use the "map" option?
> Copied from the info file:
>
>   -- Command: map to_drive from_drive
>   Map the drive FROM_DRIVE to the drive TO_DRIVE. This is necessary
>   when you chain-load some operating systems, such as DOS, if such
>   an OS resides at a non-first drive. Here is an example:
>
>grub>  map (hd0) (hd1)
>grub>  map (hd1) (hd0)
>
>   The example exchanges the order between the first hard disk and the
>   second hard disk. See also DOS/Windows.
>
> HTH,
> Andras

Thank you, I still hadn't found it. The explanation raises more
questions. I know a few Emacs commands but not enough to use it
effectively.

Tnx.
Bob

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Re: Virtual Box & Windows -

2011-03-28 Thread Andras Simon
On 3/28/11, Bob Goodwin  wrote:

>
> I managed to create a grub.conf that works [a minor miracle].
> However I am interested in this.
>
> I don't see the "map" option in man grub?
>
> Info grub is hard to deal with, copied it to info.txt which
> produces 73 pages in an openoffice document using a font large
> enough that I can see ...

Using info from emacs (C-h i) is very convenient (unless, of course,
that one finds emacs hard to deal with).

> How do I use the "map" option?

Copied from the info file:

 -- Command: map to_drive from_drive
 Map the drive FROM_DRIVE to the drive TO_DRIVE. This is necessary
 when you chain-load some operating systems, such as DOS, if such
 an OS resides at a non-first drive. Here is an example:

  grub> map (hd0) (hd1)
  grub> map (hd1) (hd0)

 The example exchanges the order between the first hard disk and the
 second hard disk. See also DOS/Windows.

HTH,
Andras
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Re: Virtual Box & Windows -

2011-03-28 Thread Bob Goodwin
On 27/03/11 18:32, Mikkel wrote:
> On 03/22/2011 04:19 PM, compdoc wrote:
>>> My problem is
>>> that the only way I can get Windows to run is to plug it into
>>> the first slot, then Windows boots but I never see grub.
>> By first slot I guess you sata port? It's been a while since I've noticed
>> Windows caring about device order. I have seen windows try to change its
>> drive letter when it finds itself on a new drive port, but that was only
>> under certain conditions.
>>
>> When you move your windows drive to port 1, you don't see grub because grub
>> is installed on the other drive. Unfortunately, I don't know anything about
>> dual booting with grub, so maybe someone else here can tell you how...
>>
>> I think if you were to place your windows drive in port 1, and then were to
>> set up grub to run from the windows drive, it would solve the problem?
>>
> I am late to this thread, so it may already have been mentioned, but
> you may want to look at the map option in Grub.
>
>   rootnoverify (hd0,0)
>   map (hd0) (hd1)
>   map (hd1) (hd0)
>   chainloader +1
>
> Mikkel

I managed to create a grub.conf that works [a minor miracle].
However I am interested in this.

I don't see the "map" option in man grub?

Info grub is hard to deal with, copied it to info.txt which
produces 73 pages in an openoffice document using a font large
enough that I can see ...

How do I use the "map" option?

Bob

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Re: Virtual Box & Windows -

2011-03-27 Thread Mikkel
On 03/22/2011 04:19 PM, compdoc wrote:
>> My problem is
>> that the only way I can get Windows to run is to plug it into
>> the first slot, then Windows boots but I never see grub.
> 
> By first slot I guess you sata port? It's been a while since I've noticed
> Windows caring about device order. I have seen windows try to change its
> drive letter when it finds itself on a new drive port, but that was only
> under certain conditions.
> 
> When you move your windows drive to port 1, you don't see grub because grub
> is installed on the other drive. Unfortunately, I don't know anything about
> dual booting with grub, so maybe someone else here can tell you how...
> 
> I think if you were to place your windows drive in port 1, and then were to
> set up grub to run from the windows drive, it would solve the problem?
> 
I am late to this thread, so it may already have been mentioned, but
you may want to look at the map option in Grub.

rootnoverify (hd0,0)
map (hd0) (hd1)
map (hd1) (hd0)
chainloader +1

Mikkel
-- 

  Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons,
for thou art crunchy and taste good with Ketchup!



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Re: [Solved] Virtual Box & Windows -

2011-03-26 Thread Bob Goodwin
On 25/03/11 17:37, Claude Jones wrote:
> On 3/25/2011 11:55 AM, Bob Goodwin wrote:
>>> That's still not what I wanted, I would prefer to use the
>   Windows already on one of my hard drives and dual boot
>   via grub. I will try the procedure you describe, if I can't
>   manage that then the problem will be resolved with an
>   eventual new install of F-15.
>   My problem is
>   that the only way I can get Windows to run is to plug it into
>   the first slot, then Windows boots but I never see grub.
> Bob: Somehow, I missed this part. You have a very simple problem. What
> you need to do is set up the Windows drive as you describe above (you
> can also usually go into BIOS and tell the computer which drive to boot
> off of regardless of which slot a hard drive is in). You then want to
> boot from your Fedora CD and go into "rescue mode"; there, you'll be
> able to use a simple command to rewrite your grub.conf file to the MBR
> on the Windows drive, which will then give you your desired dual-boot
> option...
>
> There are lots of sites out there that discuss how to do the above;
> here's one:
> http://danleff.net/myarticles/fedorainstall/linuxinstallharddrives5.html
>
> when I made that first suggestion, I misunderstood your desired result
> and thought you wanted to run your Old Windows XP as a virtualized
> machine inside Virtual Box - maybe because of the title of this thread ;-)

Claude & Compdoc:

I finally have this working and dual booting from the original
Windows drive.

The original drive is in the first position and as I mentioned
earlier I installed F14 on it from DVD, that created a grub that
booted either WindowsXP or the new F14 which was not updated and
configured to suit me.

With a text editor I copied a kernel line from grub.conf in the
updated F14 install into the new grub on the Windows drive which
is the drive the system boots from now. It works as I want I to.
A major accomplishment for me. Someone more skilled might have
done it differently and faster.

It took some messing with the grub "hdx" designations to get
things working. Curiously I could not make changes using the
grub editor permanent? I finally had to do that from my text
editor "e3em." I hope my changes will survive the next kernel
yum update.

As a byproduct of this effort I also have a working "virtualbox"
which also runs windows but is not as convenient to use although
v'box has other potential uses. I never did get it to use the
Windows already on the hard drive, it ran with one I installed
from an OEM CD and updated with SP3.

A lot of effort to get Windows running for just one application
but I learned a few things that I will use.

Thanks to all.

Bob
.

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Re: Virtual Box & Windows -

2011-03-25 Thread Claude Jones
On 3/25/2011 11:55 AM, Bob Goodwin wrote:
>> That's still not what I wanted, I would prefer to use the
>> >>  Windows already on one of my hard drives and dual boot
>> >>  via grub. I will try the procedure you describe, if I can't
>> >>  manage that then the problem will be resolved with an
>> >>  eventual new install of F-15.
>> >>  My problem is
>> >>  that the only way I can get Windows to run is to plug it into
>> >>  the first slot, then Windows boots but I never see grub.

Bob: Somehow, I missed this part. You have a very simple problem. What 
you need to do is set up the Windows drive as you describe above (you 
can also usually go into BIOS and tell the computer which drive to boot 
off of regardless of which slot a hard drive is in). You then want to 
boot from your Fedora CD and go into "rescue mode"; there, you'll be 
able to use a simple command to rewrite your grub.conf file to the MBR 
on the Windows drive, which will then give you your desired dual-boot 
option...

There are lots of sites out there that discuss how to do the above;
here's one:
http://danleff.net/myarticles/fedorainstall/linuxinstallharddrives5.html

when I made that first suggestion, I misunderstood your desired result 
and thought you wanted to run your Old Windows XP as a virtualized 
machine inside Virtual Box - maybe because of the title of this thread ;-)
-- 
Claude Jones
Brunswick, MD, USA
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Re: Virtual Box & Windows -

2011-03-25 Thread Bob Goodwin
On 25/03/11 11:01, compdoc wrote:
>> That's still not what I wanted, I would prefer to use the
>> Windows already on one of my hard drives and dual boot
>> via grub. I will try the procedure you describe, if I can't
>> manage that then the problem will be resolved with an
>> eventual new install of F-15.
>
> This was something I posted earlier, but I didn't reply to the thread
> properly, so it might have started a new thread:
>
>
>> My problem is
>> that the only way I can get Windows to run is to plug it into
>> the first slot, then Windows boots but I never see grub.
> By first slot I guess you sata port? It's been a while since I've noticed
> Windows caring about device order. I have seen windows try to change its
> drive letter when it finds itself on a new drive port, but that was only
> under certain conditions.
>
> When you move your windows drive to port 1, you don't see grub because grub
> is installed on the other drive. Unfortunately, I don't know anything about
> dual booting with grub, so maybe someone else here can tell you how...
>
> I think if you were to place your windows drive in port 1, and then were to
> set up grub to run from the windows drive, it would solve the problem?
>
>
>

Yes, and it does, selects Windows or Linux, but then I get the
wrong F-14.

I shrunk the Windows partition and installed a new copy of F-14
on the hard drive that came with this box [I bought it with XP
Pro installed].

The working copy of F-14 that I am using now to type this is
updated and very much re-configured with XFCE, etc. and was
transplanted from a failed computer that did dual boot ok. Now
if I could do surgery on this grub with a text editor and
install it's lines booting this drive in place of the lines
booting the un-updated copy ... Can I do that?

A few days ago I was messing with grub and had to "rescue" with
grub-install. I tend to panic when I lose this computer,
although I have a second like it for backup and my nfs server too.

Bob


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RE: Virtual Box & Windows -

2011-03-25 Thread compdoc
>That's still not what I wanted, I would prefer to use the
>Windows already on one of my hard drives and dual boot
>via grub. I will try the procedure you describe, if I can't
>manage that then the problem will be resolved with an
>eventual new install of F-15.


This was something I posted earlier, but I didn't reply to the thread
properly, so it might have started a new thread:


>My problem is
>that the only way I can get Windows to run is to plug it into
>the first slot, then Windows boots but I never see grub.

By first slot I guess you sata port? It's been a while since I've noticed
Windows caring about device order. I have seen windows try to change its
drive letter when it finds itself on a new drive port, but that was only
under certain conditions.

When you move your windows drive to port 1, you don't see grub because grub
is installed on the other drive. Unfortunately, I don't know anything about
dual booting with grub, so maybe someone else here can tell you how...

I think if you were to place your windows drive in port 1, and then were to
set up grub to run from the windows drive, it would solve the problem?



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Re: Virtual Box & Windows -

2011-03-25 Thread Bob Goodwin
On 25/03/11 10:45, compdoc wrote:
>> While rummaging around for a
>> copy of "clonezilla," which I found..
> Don't bother with old versions of clonezilla you might have laying around.
> Like any linux, the project is constantly updated. Download the current
> version.
>
>
>
>

Ok, will do that next.

And the computer did reboot without a glitch so it looks like no
harm done, I worry about what Windows might do!

Bob


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RE: Virtual Box & Windows -

2011-03-25 Thread compdoc
> While rummaging around for a
>copy of "clonezilla," which I found..

Don't bother with old versions of clonezilla you might have laying around.
Like any linux, the project is constantly updated. Download the current
version.




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Re: Virtual Box & Windows -

2011-03-25 Thread Bob Goodwin
On 25/03/11 09:43, compdoc wrote:
>
> > this technique compdoc describes above
>
> >looks like it could be even simpler...
>
> I did forget one thing: if there is no sticker attached to the case, 
> record the Windows serial number before running sysprep. Sysprep will 
> remove the existing serial number, and you'll need to enter it at the 
> next boot.
>
> There's a program named Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder that will show it 
> to you.
>

I have some questions about the procedure you described however
I will put them off 'til later. While rummaging around for a
copy of "clonezilla," which I found, I found an old OEM Windows
XP Home SP1 CD which I installed in virtualbox with more than a
little angst! My concern being where did it install Windows?
Hopefully in a vacant space! I will find out when I reboot in a
few minutes but Windows looks like its working there.

That's still not what I wanted, I would prefer to use the
Windows already on one of my hard drives and dual boot via grub.
I will try the procedure you describe, if I can't manage that
then the problem will be resolved with an eventual new install
of F-15.

Thank you.

Bob



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RE: Virtual Box & Windows -

2011-03-25 Thread compdoc
> this technique compdoc describes above

>looks like it could be even simpler...

 

I did forget one thing: if there is no sticker attached to the case, record
the Windows serial number before running sysprep. Sysprep will remove the
existing serial number, and you'll need to enter it at the next boot.

 

There's a program named Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder that will show it to
you.

 

 

 

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Re: Virtual Box & Windows -

2011-03-25 Thread Claude Jones
On Thursday, March 24, 2011, compdoc wrote:
> If you want to go virtual, it's easy enough to do with the
> imaging programs clonezilla or Acronis.
> 
> First, it's probably a good idea to create a backup image with
> clonezilla or Acronis so you can put it back the way it was if
> it all goes wrong.
> 
> Then, in XP open the Add/Remove Programs control panel and
> remove all your drivers: video card, sound card, chipset, etc.
> If you're familiar with Sysprep, run this next and shut down.
> 
> Now, boot with your image program and create the backup again
> of this stripped down, sysprepped XP.
> 
> Then create your VM and its virtual drive, and restore the
> stripped down image to the virtual drive.
> 
> It might work fine without using Sysprep since XP should have
> drivers for the virtual hardware in the VM.  Just don't try to
> use 'virtio' hardware until the VM is up and running.

I like this! I'm a long time user of Acronis so I'm very familiar 
with its workings. It is something you have to buy, though there's 
a version available on the Seagate website that's a little 
stripped down but available for free download - I have no idea 
whether the feature set remaining in this version is sufficient to 
do the above task, but it would cost you nothing to find out. I 
think they call it Seagate Tools... VMWare has a free tool you can 
download that will create a virtual hard drive of any physical 
drive, and that's the one I've used. The page I linked to is one 
of several I found which describes a way to take a VMWare created 
virtual drive and convert it for use by VirtualBox, but I haven't 
ever done that myself - this technique compdoc describes above 
looks like it could be even simpler...

-- 
Claude Jones
Brunswick, MD, USA
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RE: Virtual Box & Windows -

2011-03-24 Thread compdoc
>> http://www.sysprobs.com/physical-virtual-virtualbox-virtualbox-p2v
>
>
> --
>
> Claude Jones
>
> Brunswick, MD, USA
>
>
>>   Thanks Claude, I spent some time with that yesterday after
>>   reading this but that page is pretty hard to follow. Poor
>>   example images that are different than I see? I will have
>>   another go at it and let you know if it works for me.


If you want to go virtual, it's easy enough to do with the imaging programs
clonezilla or Acronis.

First, it's probably a good idea to create a backup image with clonezilla or
Acronis so you can put it back the way it was if it all goes wrong.

Then, in XP open the Add/Remove Programs control panel and remove all your
drivers: video card, sound card, chipset, etc. If you're familiar with
Sysprep, run this next and shut down.

Now, boot with your image program and create the backup again of this
stripped down, sysprepped XP.

Then create your VM and its virtual drive, and restore the stripped down
image to the virtual drive.

It might work fine without using Sysprep since XP should have drivers for
the virtual hardware in the VM.  Just don't try to use 'virtio' hardware
until the VM is up and running.




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Re: Virtual Box & Windows -

2011-03-24 Thread Bob Goodwin
On 22/03/11 22:22, Claude Jones wrote:
>
> On Tuesday, March 22, 2011, Bob Goodwin wrote:
>
> > I've installed "virtualbox" on this F-14 computer and
>
> > it appears to be working, however now I need a copy of Windows
>
> > to run in it in order to solve my other problem. I have
>
> > several copies of WindowsXP Pro including the one that came
>
> > with this computer but refuses to run unless that drive is
>
> > plugged into the first slot.
>
> >
>
> > That problem occurs because initially I had a computer
>
> > failure and elected to replace the computer and install the
>
> > hard drives from the failed unit into the "new" one. The old
>
> > one had a Windows partition that was selectable from grub and
>
> > would operate normally if needed. Once the drives were swapped
>
> > into this computer and Windows selected it would protest that
>
> > perhaps I had a virus and refuse to boot. :-)
>
> >
>
> > The details go on and on but my question is would I
>
> > have to buy a copy of Windows to use virtualbox or is there a
>
> > way to make it use the original copy on the disk containing
>
> > WindowsXP that came with this computer? If I swap data cables
>
> > around Windows still boots. It is installed by itself on an 80
>
> > gig sata drive.
>
> >
>
> > Bob
>
>
> I think I'd try virtualization of your physical machine - I've done 
> that a lot to go to VMWare VMs, but there's a way to use VMWare free 
> tools to get to a VirtualBox VM - here's one site that explains the 
> process:
>
> http://www.sysprobs.com/physical-virtual-virtualbox-virtualbox-p2v
>
>
> -- 
>
> Claude Jones
>
> Brunswick, MD, USA
>

Thanks Claude, I spent some time with that yesterday after
reading this but that page is pretty hard to follow. Poor
example images that are different than I see? I will have
another go at it and let you know if it works for me.

Bob
Zuni, VA.


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Re: Virtual Box & Windows -

2011-03-22 Thread Claude Jones
On Tuesday, March 22, 2011, Bob Goodwin wrote:
> I've installed "virtualbox" on this F-14 computer and
> it appears to be working, however now I need a copy of Windows
> to run in it in order to solve my other problem. I have
> several copies of WindowsXP Pro including the one that came
> with this computer but refuses to run unless that drive is
> plugged into the first slot.
> 
> That problem occurs because initially I had a computer
> failure and elected to replace the computer and install the
> hard drives from the failed unit into the "new" one. The old
> one had a Windows partition that was selectable from grub and
> would operate normally if needed. Once the drives were swapped
> into this computer and Windows selected it would protest that
> perhaps I had a virus and refuse to boot. :-)
> 
> The details go on and on but my question is would I
> have to buy a copy of Windows to use virtualbox or is there a
> way to make it use the original copy on the disk containing
> WindowsXP that came with this computer? If I swap data cables
> around Windows still boots. It is installed by itself on an 80
> gig sata drive.
> 
> Bob

I think I'd try virtualization of your physical machine - I've 
done that a lot to go to VMWare VMs, but there's a way to use 
VMWare free tools to get to a VirtualBox VM - here's one site that 
explains the process:
http://www.sysprobs.com/physical-virtual-virtualbox-virtualbox-p2v

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Claude Jones
Brunswick, MD, USA
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Re: Virtual Box & Windows -

2011-03-22 Thread compdoc
>My problem is
>that the only way I can get Windows to run is to plug it into
>the first slot, then Windows boots but I never see grub.

By first slot I guess you sata port? It's been a while since I've noticed
Windows caring about device order. I have seen windows try to change its
drive letter when it finds itself on a new drive port, but that was only
under certain conditions.

When you move your windows drive to port 1, you don't see grub because grub
is installed on the other drive. Unfortunately, I don't know anything about
dual booting with grub, so maybe someone else here can tell you how...

I think if you were to place your windows drive in port 1, and then were to
set up grub to run from the windows drive, it would solve the problem?





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Re: Virtual Box & Windows -

2011-03-22 Thread Bob Goodwin
On 22/03/11 12:18, compdoc wrote:
>> Windows is very fussy about the hardware. If the hardware changes from
>> when it was originally installed, it refuses to run. This is
>> (supposedly) to prevent unauthorized copies. So it is unlikely you will
>> be able to get the copy on disk to run.
>
> It's true that when you make major changes to the hardware, Windows often
> won't be able to see the boot device. But this is not a refusal to run, and
> it isn't a form of copy protection. It's simply a matter of not having the
> proper drivers for the new hardware.
>
> There are several ways around the problem - one is to run Sysprep, which
> makes all drivers known to the OS available for use on the next boot with
> the option of adding drivers during the boot.
>
> Another is to run windows from a drive controller that can be installed in
> the new system, so that Windows finds itself booting from the same hardware
> it always has. Sometimes this works great, sometimes not.
>
> It's not impossible to move Windows to new hardware, and it's not even that
> hard to do. However, you might end up having to call Microsoft after the
> move to get it activated. That's the copy protection part. They ask you a
> couple of questions and you get the new code. And they're usually pretty
> nice about it.
>
>
>

These are used computers purchased from Discount PC who sells
them with Windows XP Pro installed, however there is no cdrom
provided, no means for reinstall. Usually that's not a problem
since I don't need Windows anyway.

But if I do a new install from the Fedora DVD it will install
Fedora on an added drive and configure grub so I can select
whatever, including Windows and all is happiness. My problem is
that the only way I can get Windows to run is to plug it into
the first slot, then Windows boots but I never see grub.

Or I can move the original drive to a third slot, it shows up as
/dev/sdc0 and grub will select it but then Windows refuses to
boot, yields an error screen and the computer has to be powered
off to reboot.

Now it looks to me that by moving the Windows drive to the slot
it wants I can do a reinstall of F14 and produce a working
system with grub selecting Fedora or Windows.

Is there a procedure using the DVD to reorganize things without
destroying the existing Linux configuration?

Bob


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Re: Virtual Box & Windows -

2011-03-22 Thread Richard Shaw
On Tue, Mar 22, 2011 at 9:59 AM, Bob Goodwin  wrote:
>        I've installed "virtualbox" on this F-14 computer and it appears
>        to be working, however now I need a copy of Windows to run in it
>        in order to solve my other problem. I have several copies of
>        WindowsXP Pro including the one that came with this computer but
>        refuses to run unless that drive is plugged into the first slot.
>
>        That problem occurs because initially I had a computer failure
>        and elected to replace the computer and install the hard drives
>        from the failed unit into the "new" one. The old one had a
>        Windows partition that was selectable from grub and would
>        operate normally if needed. Once the drives were swapped into
>        this computer and Windows selected it would protest that perhaps
>        I had a virus and refuse to boot. :-)
>
>        The details go on and on but my question is would I have to buy
>        a copy of Windows to use virtualbox or is there a way to make it
>        use the original copy on the disk containing WindowsXP that came
>        with this computer? If I swap data cables around Windows still
>        boots. It is installed by itself on an 80 gig sata drive.

As long as you don't mind using the original drive, you might consider
raw disk/partition access. It's in the VirtualBox documentation,
somewhere in chapter 9 I think.

I did this for a while before deciding I didn't need native Windows
anymore. What I did was setup a separate hardware profile in XP which
allowed me to boot natively or in VBox.

I managed this without sysprep but it might be a good idea.

Richard
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RE: Virtual Box & Windows -

2011-03-22 Thread compdoc
> Windows is very fussy about the hardware. If the hardware changes from
>when it was originally installed, it refuses to run. This is
>(supposedly) to prevent unauthorized copies. So it is unlikely you will
>be able to get the copy on disk to run.


It's true that when you make major changes to the hardware, Windows often
won't be able to see the boot device. But this is not a refusal to run, and
it isn't a form of copy protection. It's simply a matter of not having the
proper drivers for the new hardware.

There are several ways around the problem - one is to run Sysprep, which
makes all drivers known to the OS available for use on the next boot with
the option of adding drivers during the boot.

Another is to run windows from a drive controller that can be installed in
the new system, so that Windows finds itself booting from the same hardware
it always has. Sometimes this works great, sometimes not.

It's not impossible to move Windows to new hardware, and it's not even that
hard to do. However, you might end up having to call Microsoft after the
move to get it activated. That's the copy protection part. They ask you a
couple of questions and you get the new code. And they're usually pretty
nice about it.



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Re: Virtual Box & Windows -

2011-03-22 Thread Greg Woods
On Tue, 2011-03-22 at 10:59 -0400, Bob Goodwin wrote:

> The details go on and on but my question is would I have to buy
> a copy of Windows to use virtualbox or is there a way to make it
> use the original copy on the disk containing WindowsXP that came
> with this computer?

Windows is very fussy about the hardware. If the hardware changes from
when it was originally installed, it refuses to run. This is
(supposedly) to prevent unauthorized copies. So it is unlikely you will
be able to get the copy on disk to run. However, you should be able to
create a new virtual machine and install Windows XP onto it from the CD,
using your product key.

--Greg


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Re: Virtual Box & Windows -

2011-03-22 Thread Steven Stern
On 03/22/2011 09:59 AM, Bob Goodwin wrote:
> I've installed "virtualbox" on this F-14 computer and it appears
> to be working, however now I need a copy of Windows to run in it
> in order to solve my other problem. I have several copies of
> WindowsXP Pro including the one that came with this computer but
> refuses to run unless that drive is plugged into the first slot.
> 
> That problem occurs because initially I had a computer failure
> and elected to replace the computer and install the hard drives
> from the failed unit into the "new" one. The old one had a
> Windows partition that was selectable from grub and would
> operate normally if needed. Once the drives were swapped into
> this computer and Windows selected it would protest that perhaps
> I had a virus and refuse to boot. :-)
> 
> The details go on and on but my question is would I have to buy
> a copy of Windows to use virtualbox or is there a way to make it
> use the original copy on the disk containing WindowsXP that came
> with this computer? If I swap data cables around Windows still
> boots. It is installed by itself on an 80 gig sata drive.
> 
> Bob
> 
> 
> -- 
> 
It seems you want to import an existing Windows partition, not install a
new copy of Windows from scratch.  Installing is the easiest thing to do.

You can import an existing partition, but it looks to be ugly:
http://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?t=1966

This looks promising:
http://www.labnol.org/software/create-virtual-machine-of-existing-computer/10510/

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Virtual Box & Windows -

2011-03-22 Thread Bob Goodwin
I've installed "virtualbox" on this F-14 computer and it appears
to be working, however now I need a copy of Windows to run in it
in order to solve my other problem. I have several copies of
WindowsXP Pro including the one that came with this computer but
refuses to run unless that drive is plugged into the first slot.

That problem occurs because initially I had a computer failure
and elected to replace the computer and install the hard drives
from the failed unit into the "new" one. The old one had a
Windows partition that was selectable from grub and would
operate normally if needed. Once the drives were swapped into
this computer and Windows selected it would protest that perhaps
I had a virus and refuse to boot. :-)

The details go on and on but my question is would I have to buy
a copy of Windows to use virtualbox or is there a way to make it
use the original copy on the disk containing WindowsXP that came
with this computer? If I swap data cables around Windows still
boots. It is installed by itself on an 80 gig sata drive.

Bob


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