Linux on MS Virtual PC
Microsoft’s Virtual PC 2004 SP1 is now downloadable for free. (via Guardian Technology) It’s apparently useful for testing new apps or operating systems without really installing it onto a machine.
So with that in mind, what about installing Linux on a PC running Windows? The article How To – Configure Ubuntu for Microsoft Virtual PC 2004 shows how it could be possible for Ubuntu to be installed. And this helpful list shows what other types of Linux might work, What Works and What Doesn’t in Microsoft Virtual PC 2004.
I’m not attempting this on any machine I use all the time, but once I find a spare Windows XP, I’ll give it a go. Apparently MacOSX won’t work though!
There’s a new version of Virtual PC (2007 edition) available now: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/downloads/virtualpc/default.mspx (via Lifehacker – http://lifehacker.com/software/virtual-pc/download-of-the-day–microsoft-virtual-pc-2007-windows-238059.php
I had another go at this last week with Virtual PC 2004 and a Knoppix disk image. From virtual pc it’s possible to open the image straight into a virtual machine. My only problem was that it lacked interactivity, so that moving the mouse worked but any clicks didn’t – which kind of defeated the object.
I have a new set of Ubuntu disks though so will give that a try soon.