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I can run Windows on my Apple laptop exclusively (through bootcamp) or through virtualization (through Parallels). A great feature is to take a running Windows bootcamp session, 'pause' it and 'resume' it as a virtualized session.

My next laptop will be a Windows 7 laptop and I will need to make heavy use of Linux. Is there software that will let me run Windows or Linux in a dual boot setup, but also let me run the same Linux installation as a virtualized system inside Windows 7?

I'm willing to look at free or commercial software.

Thanks

3 Answers 3

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You can have both installed, in dual boot, then use VMWare Server in Windows to launch the installed Linux OS. When you create the virtual machine, when asked about the hard-disks, you specify 'Use physical disk'. On the next steps, you select only the Linux partitions. That's about it.

You may have to fix some settings in Linux (ex. the X config), and I can't tell you specifically what.. I tried this with an ArchLinux installation, and it worked fine. With the new distributions that do not need anymore detailed setups, and load what they need when booting, you may be lucky enough to 'just work'.

Also, I haven't tried the snapshot feature in this setup (pause/resume), but I am pretty sure it won't work.

Good luck

(PS: VMWare Server is free for personal use, I've tried it with version 1.07; I've done something similar with VirtualBox, but it's a little bit more complicated to create the 'RAW' vmdk disk files)

Cheers!

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  • I want to make sure I understand: Install Linux and Windows 7 in a dual-boot setup (the way it is normally done). Then vmware will let me start up my linux 'partition' as a virtual machine? I will be able to switch between vmware and dual-booted linux and changes made in one will show up in the other?
    – user14660
    Nov 3, 2009 at 17:05
  • yup, pretty much that is. in vmware, instead of using a virtual disk drive, you use only some 'pointers' to the real partitions. you actually start in vmware the installed OS
    – Alex
    Nov 3, 2009 at 21:48
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You do not need software. You just need an Ubuntu Live CD to install Ubuntu inside Windows.

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  • I am a developer and need to use Windows and Linux heavily. Google tells me that Live CDs are good for quick demos or 'try-outs' but not for heavy work. Besides, I want the option to boot straight into Linux, or run Linux inside windows. Am I misunderstanding something?
    – user14660
    Nov 3, 2009 at 17:08
  • that is the same thing as Wubi .
    – djangofan
    Nov 16, 2009 at 15:56
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Like the guy before me said, you use Wubi to install Ubuntu on Windows just like any other application.

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  • This will also let me boot straight into Linux?
    – user14660
    Nov 3, 2009 at 17:09
  • yes, it will add a second item to your bootloader when you turn on your computer. ( if you see an error, just wait 30 seconds and it will boot up.)
    – djangofan
    Nov 5, 2009 at 0:58
  • Wubi won't let him run it virtualized. Nov 14, 2009 at 2:36

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