For more info, see:
http://www.pjlnash.co.uk/blog/?p=39

Yes, the webbook’s screen is 1024×600. Here’s a trick though; if you hold down the “alt” key and then click “anywhere” on a window, you can drag that window so the edges go “outside” of the visible screen. So you could drag the window up further so the taskbar at the bottom is visible.

I run an XP VM in VirtualBox for testing purposes sometimes and have not had any problems with drivers. I can’t recall what graphics hardware VirtualBox emulates but it is a *very* common device as is the networking interfaces for example. I don’t recall having to install any extra drivers for my XP VM at all.

I would recommend installing the “Guest Additions” though. This gives much better mouse control, shared folder support and the ability to run Windows apps in seamless mode, and, I think it might help with the resolution issue too.

Cheers

Alan

Thanks for your help.

Partly my fault I had not set my user id in VirtualBox as I assumed it was already done when I added my user id on the startup of the webbook.
One done I could use the original MS XP Pro disc.

Now I need to find how to shrink the screen so I can see the task bar at the bottom of XP. The screen I think and I need to check on webbook is 1076×600, also I drivers I got to use with XP will not load this may be because they are for a standard install on a webbook and not running in a virtual window.

Should I load a virus software to XP ?

Rgds
Norman

having re-read your original post, and as you have a USB DVD Drive you should simply be able to mount the ISO directly from your USB drive in VirtualBox.

Rather than copying the “contents” of the WinXP CD (which isn’t actually what you need. You need to copy the whole CD image as a true “ISO” file) connect the DVD drive before starting up the VirtualBox manager. Then you should be able to mount it from the “Mount CD/DVD Drive” option. Once you have selected it, when you start the Virtual Machine, it should just use the CD as normal.

I didn’t realise (not having used Windows for quite some time now) how hard it is to actually create an ISO image from a physical CD in Windows! I just did a quick google and it seems you actually need a special tool to do it (in Linux it is easy). Anyway, I came across this page (http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/v1.htm) which may, or may not, help if you need to get make an ISO file from your CD on your Windows PC and then copy it across to the webbook. But you should just be able to use your external DVD Drive as I mentioned above.

I’m going to be out of the office for a couple of days now, I will check in occasionally and respond when I can but it might not be for a day or two (so please don’t be offended if I don’t reply immediately). Of course other viewers might be able to help here too.

Alan

I think I have created and ISO directory on a Flash Memory Stick.
The directory has all the files and sub directories.
This what I have managed to get setup in CD\DVD – ROM
Mount CD\DVD Drive (check box blank)
Host CD\DVD Drive
Enable Passthrough
ISO Image File

File SETUP.EXE(/media/MightyDrive/XP Prp ISO(H))

EVery think under Mount is greyed out.

Should I be able to install this way ?

I have not used Linux only MS. If I have to copy from the memory stick, how do I do it so that I can install XP. Or could you point me to info that I can follow.

Rgds

thanks for the comment.

With VirtualBox, once you create the Machine using the wizard, you need to point the wizard to either a physical CD with the installation media (difficult with a webbook) or to an ISO file on the file system.

If you can copy your Windows XP CD onto a computer as a plain iso file and then move that to the webbook, then you use the CD/DVD rom settings dialogue and choose the “ISO image file” option. Point this to your iso file then strat the VM. It will run through the Windows install routing, just as if you had booted a PC from the CD.

Hope this helps.

Alan

Any help please.

Rgds

Windows is NEVER virus free. However, running it inside a VM does mean that it can’t damage the rest of your host. Of course it may well propagate over the LAN but hey-hum.

You do not need to create partitions. VirtualBox Virtual Machines are actually just a single, albeit large, file with a .vdi extension.