Virtual windows 7. Virtual machine for Windows

The concept of a virtual machine (from the English Virtual Machine) is understood as a software or hardware system that emulates the hardware of a certain platform (guest platform), executing programs for the guest platform using the host platform.

Also, a virtual machine can virtualize a certain platform, creating independent, isolated environments for work on it operating systems and programs.

Virtual machine for Windows 7 - we offer you an overview of popular programs.

To put it simply, a virtual machine provides the ability to create several virtual computers on one real, physical computer, install various operating systems, programs, etc. on them.

This technology came to the general public from the world of server infrastructure, where virtual machines are used to create maximum load server and reducing equipment downtime.

Virtual machines are used to solve a range of tasks such as:

1. Optimizing the use of server resources.
2. Information protection, as well as limiting the capabilities of some programs, the so-called sandbox idea.
3. Research into new computer architecture or software.
4. Emulation of various computer architectures (for example, for emulation game console PlayStation from Sony).
5. Creation of malicious code.
   For example, the SubVirt rootkit, created in 2006 by Microsoft Research (MSR), created a virtual work environment in which the user's operating system was placed along with an antivirus, firewall and other software designed to protect the PC.
   At the same time, the rootkit itself remained external and therefore did not fall within the scope of antivirus software, providing remote control over the virtual machine to the attacker.
6. Simulation of computer networks.
7. Software testing and debugging.

We present to your attention short review the most popular virtualization programs.

Virtual machine for Windows 7: Virtual Box

Virtualization program from Oracle, for operating systems Linux, Mac OS X, MS Windows, etc.

The program is quite popular and below we will consider not everything, but only its key advantages:

Free.

Cross-platform.

Support for 64-bit guests on 32-bit host platforms. To do this, the host platform must support virtualization technology at the processor level.

Supports audio devices and various types of network communication.

The ability to create a chain of backup states that you can return to in case of problems with the guest system.

Russian-language interface.

Important! The program's shortcomings are not significant, but for the sake of objectivity in the assessment, they should also be mentioned - VirtualBox is poorly compatible with Win 95/98 (slow system operation) and Mac OS X (sound problems).

As you can see, the program's shortcomings are not significant and are rather nominal.

Virtual machine for Windows 7: Xen

Virtual Machine Monitor (hypervisor), developed at the University of Cambridge and distributed open source source code(GPL license).

Using paravirtualization technology (PV mode), Xen allows you to achieve very high performance by emulating real hardware platforms.

A special feature of the PV mode is the absence of the initial moment of booting the computer (imitation of BIOS code, bootloader) and the guest OS kernel starts immediately in desired mode, like regular programs.

It is worth noting that Xen can be compared to enterprise-grade software due to its rich functionality.

Advantages:

Free.

Cross-platform.

High performance of running virtual machines, which is very close to the performance of real systems.

Ability to migrate running virtual machines between physical hosts.

High degree of support for emulated hardware.

There is perhaps only one drawback of the program - its relative complexity, compared to similar software from other companies.

Virtual machine for Windows 7: Virtual PC

Initially this program was developed by Connetix for Mac OS back in 1997. 4 years later, a version for Windows OS was released.

Later, in 2003, the rights to the program were acquired by Microsoft Corporation, and in 2006 the program became free.

Subsequently, Virtual PC was not developed and currently contains functionality from 2007.

Advantages:

Free.

Simple, user-friendly interface.

Flaws:

The program only works in Windows OS, but is not compatible with Windows 8 and higher.

The program, unlike Virtual Box, is not compatible with AMD processors.

Virtual machine for Windows 7: VMware Player

A product from the largest American virtualization software developer Vmware.

Vmware products are primarily aimed at the corporate segment of the market, therefore full version programs - VMware Workstation - paid.

The license price is about $250. For non-commercial use, the manufacturer offers a program with limited functionality VMware Player.

It is worth noting that the restrictions generally apply to software developers and IT specialists; the program is quite functional for performing the tasks of the average user.

Advantages:

Free.

Fast.

Simple, user-friendly interface.

ThinPrint technology allows you to print any document opened in the guest OS without installing additional drivers.

Working with multiple monitors in a guest OS.

Exchange files between guest systems using Drag&Drop technology.

Flaws:

Limited functionality of the free version.

Installing Windows 7 x64 on VirtualBox (virtual machine)

Virtual machine for Windows 7: multiple operating systems on one machine

Virtualization allows you to encapsulate internal organization operating systems or parts thereof within virtual hardware and software. In other words, create a virtual space that will be real from the point of view of the operating system running in this space. This is exactly what virtual machines do for Windows 7, Linux and Mac OS X. Virtualization also allows you to simulate devices that are not even on your computer.

Note: In a sense, virtual machines allow you to create a computer within a computer.

There are two important aspects of machine virtualization:

• interaction between a physical host (computer) and a virtual host
• interaction between the operating system running in the virtual space and the hardware used

Virtualization software, namely virtual machines for Windows 7 (Linux, Mac OS X), is typically a regular operating system application or service that allows you to create hosts. A host is any physical machine (computer). Within virtualization software, the operating system runs on a host similar or identical to the actual host, called a virtual machine. For convenience, the operating system running in a virtual machine is called a guest operating system.

In addition, there are various ways virtualization, on which not only the implementation of applications for creating virtual machines depends, but also the capabilities provided for guest systems. There is conventional emulation, in which hardware and software calls pass through an intermediate layer. There is also para-virtualization, where part of the actions inside the virtual machine takes place on real hardware, while the other part passes through an intermediate layer. There is also virtualization at the system level, when each guest system boots into special kernel, which allows you to run only similar versions of the operating system.

Some of these methods can be performed on the fly, without significant changes to the actual host and its operating system. Others require the host to be rebooted into a special instance of the operating system that supports virtualization. Others use special hosts that support and are designed for virtualization at the hardware device level. The latter are also known as bare metal virtualization methods (although this is not entirely true, since some software kernel is still used).

The virtualization software that manages the creation and operation of virtual machines, as well as the allocation and limitation of the resources provided, is often called a hypervisor. Some virtualization applications can also use special processor extensions to improve the performance of virtual machines. The presence of such extensions is called hardware support for virtualization. Examples of this support are VT-X (Intel) and AMD-V (AMD) technologies.

What is not virtualization and virtual machine?

Some people like to call virtualization programs ( virtual machines) anything that creates a layer of abstraction between the operating system and some of the running processes. For example, there is Sandboxie, which allows you to isolate browsers from the system (see browser protection utilities). Some programs allow you to freeze the state of the system so that it cannot be changed. Others also allow you to use the so-called shadow mode, in which all programs run normally, but any changes are canceled when you restart the computer.

Of course, all of these programs provide various benefits, but they are not considered virtualization technologies and are not virtual machines because they do not simulate system calls, and they do not allow guest operating systems to run on top of the current system. Such programs only create additional layers of separation, mainly to increase the level of security. If we continue the topic of security, then...

Why use virtualization and virtual machines?

If security comes first for you and is the first thing you think about in any situation, then virtualization (the use of virtual machines) can certainly help you with this. But don’t assume that virtualization is mainly used for security. Its initial goals are: testing, cost reduction, flexibility, legacy product support, and education. Increasing the level of security is just a pleasant bonus, which also has many pitfalls.

Note: Although virtualization allows you to isolate one operating system from another, there are still ways to get from the guest system to the main one.

What is needed to run virtualization technology and virtual machines?

The first thing to consider is the physical host. Depending on the type of virtualization software (virtual machines), completely different hardware and operating systems may be required. Virtualization does not imply any single solution that will run wherever needed. Virtual machines need to be selected for the system (Windows, Linux, Mac) and for the hardware (hardware). In addition, the host must have the necessary .

So if you are going to run guest operating systems on top of your system, you will need additional resources to run them, such as a processor and RAM. For example, if your computer only has 2 GB random access memory and you want to run a guest system on Windows 7, then you will have to greatly limit the resource usage on the real system so that the virtual machine can function properly. Unless, of course, you're trying to run Windows XP with 256 MB of memory. However, if you have 16 GB of RAM, then you can run more than one guest system without experiencing any shortage of resources.

Pros: Easy to install and use.

Cons: Limited functionality. Does not support snapshots or directory sharing.

Virtual machine for Windows 7, Linux and Mac OS X - VirtualBox

VirtualBox is another cross-platform virtual machine creation program for Windows 7 and above, as well as Linux and Mac systems, currently owned by Oracle. VirtualBox is similar to VMware Player, but has more features, including a more advanced networking stack, unlimited snapshots, some OpenGL support and DirectX, as well as much more. The app is easy to install and just as easy to use. You can also use the command line for automatic deployment. VirtualBox also supports USB and shared directories. There is also a portable version of VirtualBox. However, there are also disadvantages. You cannot take screenshots of guest systems. Disk management is a bit confusing.

Audience: beginners and experienced users.

Pros: Easy to install and use, many features.

Cons: No support for screenshots, importing existing machines is difficult, disk management is not intuitive.

VMware ESXi hypervisor for creating virtual machines

ESXi is a bare metal hypervisor with reduced functionality compared to ESX. The app requires a host and can be controlled from the console (the console is locked by default, but you can enable it manually). You will not be able to take screenshots or record video of the screen of your virtual machines. Transferring and cloning guest systems can only be done manually. But what you get is memory sharing for improved RAM efficiency, powerful monitoring and management, and command line access via SSH (when unlocked). You can also install VMware Tools to improve the performance of virtual machines. Para-virtualization is also supported by ESXi.

Pros: Powerful, advanced virtual machine capabilities.

Cons: Requires a host and a lot of resources. Not easy to install and run.

Virtual machine for Unix/Linux - Kernel-based Virtual Machine (KVM)

KVM supports virtualization only for UNIX-like operating systems (Linux). The application can be run on any hardware or in emulation mode, but without processor extensions the performance will be terrible. KVM is designed to be used via a console. But, it has a decent management interface that allows you to start and stop virtual machines, take screenshots and much more. The interface is known as the Virtual Machine Manager (VMM) and is also used to manage Xen virtual machines (see below). Local and remote control. There is a known conflict with VirtualBox, but it can be resolved relatively easily

Audience: advanced users and professionals.

Pros: Full control and flexibility, very high performance under the right conditions.

Cons: Only UNIX-like systems. Requires hardware virtualization extensions for normal execution. Emphasis on the command line. Not easy to install and run.

Virtual machine for Unix/Linux - Xen

Xen is another application for virtualizing UNIX-like operating systems (Linux). It must boot in its own kernel instance. The emphasis is on the command line. But, you can also use VMM. Officially, Xen has been supported by OpenSUSE for many years and was recently added to the main kernel release branch. Xen can run in hardware-assisted or para-virtualization mode. However, for para-virtualization, Xen is extremely problematic to install and run. Additionally, Xen has limited support for CD-ROM and network devices. The program is also available as a bare metal virtualization hypervisor on a Live CD. There are numerous third party extensions for managing Xen.

Audience: advanced users and professionals.

Pros: Full control and flexibility, very good performance, native kernel support.

Cons: UNIX-like systems only. Para-virtualization mode is buggy. Emphasis on the command line. Several utilities command line which may be misleading. Not easy to install and run. You must boot your own instance of the kernel.

Other solutions for creating virtual machines

There are many other solutions that were not listed here, such as Parallels Virtuozzo, OpenVZ and VMLite-based VirtualBox. There are also a number of redesigned solutions, including examples of crossing virtualization and thin clients. Linux also has great amount own modifications. And don't forget about cloud technologies with your virtualization applications.

However, if you are a novice user, then you should not chase possibilities and colorful modifications. Otherwise, trying to create a virtual machine to run a couple of programs can result in several sleepless nights.

A few words about virtualization programs

This review will be useful not only for novice users, but also for experts. The listed products cover a wide range of virtualization technologies at all levels. All solutions described are free for personal use. Choose what you want or need based on the available hardware, requirements for ease of setup and startup, as well as the availability of the required set of functions.

Typically, most people start learning virtualization with VMware Player or VirtualBox. Linux users may prefer KVM and perhaps Xen. Advanced users might want to take a look at ESXi.

Sometimes, for different purposes, the user needs to use several systems at once. There is an option, of course, to use several computers at once or install several systems on one, but this is inconvenient and impractical. In this situation, there is one solution that has long been used among programmers and developers - installing a virtual machine for Windows. In this article you will learn how to install a virtual machine under Windows 7, 8, 10.

Which virtual machine should I choose?

You may not believe it, but there are plenty of virtual machines big choice. Each of them has its own specific functionality and features. Please note that you won’t be able to install a powerful virtual machine on a weak computer, and in general, weak computers It is difficult to tolerate programs of this kind. If your PC has less than 2 GB of RAM and less than 100 GB free space on a hard drive, we do not recommend installing a virtual machine. First increase the memory, and only then use it to the maximum.

For everyday tasks and regular use, we recommend using the program VMware Workstation, which is a whole range of applications for working with a virtual OS. You can figure it out even if you have never used such programs. It is easy to use, does not consume a lot of RAM and includes the integration of a virtual system into the main one, which allows you to use them in parallel in the same work environment. We suggest you carefully consider the VMware installation process.

We tested version 11 of this software, it supports everything that both a novice and an experienced user will need.

VMware Workstation installation process

This completes the installation process, now we move on to how to install the OS on a virtual machine for Windows. Please note that any OS that has an installation file is suitable for installation. Let's look at an example Windows installations 7 Maximum in VMware Workstation.

How to install an operating system on VMware Workstation

First, you need to download the OS installation file to your computer. You can use the search and find this file, or maybe just ask someone installation disk(homemade) and download from there.

After downloading Windows to your computer, we will begin the OS installation process.

1. We create a new virtual machine. To do this, go to the menu "File - New Virtual Machine";
   
   
2. The negotiation of the parameters of the future VM will begin. In the first window, you will be asked how you want to install it. We suggest you choose "Selective" configuration type and click "Further";
   
   
3. In the next window we also click "Further";
   
   
4. In the next window you will be asked to select the source for installation "guest" OS. If you took the installation disk, specify the drive, and if you downloaded it from the Internet, specify the path to the file using the button "Review". After that click "Further";
   
   
5. Now you need to provide your product key and OS user information. We only recommend choosing "Windows 7 Ultimate", and skip the rest;
   
   
6. Enter a name for the new virtual machine or leave the old one, and then define the parameters. Let's start with the type of firmware - leave the BIOS, and the number of processors - 1/4 of those available to you. We have 4, so we set it to 1, but with two cores. With RAM it’s about the same, but 1/3 of the total available memory. We have 4, but about 3 are available, so we set it to 1 GB;
   
   
   
   
   
   
7. Now let's figure out the Internet for the virtual machine. We leave everything as is further, where they ask about the controller, the type of virtual disk;
   
   
8. We recommend put 20-30 GB for the virtual OS hard disk, and then specify the path where the virtual OS file will be stored;
   
   
9. Check all the installed parameters and the OS installation will begin;
   
   
   
   
10. Next, the standard OS installation will occur. Just follow the progress and, if necessary, enter user information;
11. After successful installation, start the virtual machine and check its functionality;
    
    
12. After the virtual machine has been successfully launched, the system will start. Wait for completion;
    
    
13. After downloading you will be taken to "Desktop" virtual machines and you can start working;
    
    
14. To manage a virtual machine for Windows, you need to click on the desktop;
15. When work in the guest OS is completed, you need to turn off the virtual machine in the same way as when using a permanent system - “Start - “Shut down”, otherwise you may “break” it. Good luck using VM for Windows 7, 8, 10!
    
    

Appearance new version operating system is stressful for most users. Therefore, one of the main tasks of developers is to make the transition as smooth as possible. This doesn’t always work out, but the creators of Windows 7 turned out to be understanding people, and therefore introduced a virtualization package into the system that was new at that time, allowing you to run XP inside the “seven”.

General information

A virtual machine emulates hardware, creating an isolated environment within the system in which any OS can be installed. This allows you to solve many problems with software compatibility, and also makes it possible to “try” another system without deleting the current one. You will be able to work with physical drives, install games and programs for Windows XP without giving up the “seven”, save files and perform other tasks. Let's see how to install a virtual machine on Windows 7 to take advantage of all its useful features.

Checking for Virtual PC

If you installed Windows 7 Ultimate, Enterprise or Professional versions, then you have the Virtual PC feature by default. You just need to make sure that the processor supports hardware virtualization. This can be done using the utility from Microsoft Hardware-Assisted Virtualization Detection Tool.

Download the utility and run it. Depending on the results of the processor test, the following messages may appear on the screen.

Enabling/disabling virtualization is done in BIOS settings, so before installing Virtual PC manually, make sure the option is enabled.

The option may be called Intel_Virtualization Technology, AMD-V, Virtualization Extensions, etc. Find this feature in the BIOS and change the value from “Disabled” to “Enabled”.
If after this you cannot start the virtual machine, Windows offers to install a special patch. At this stage, it is important to choose the correct system bit size – x32 or x64.

Manual installation

Installing a virtual machine on Windows 7 includes two steps:

1. Installing Windows Virtual PC;
2. Installing a virtual Windows disk XP Mode.

First, let's deal with Virtual PC:

Then you can proceed to installing the Windows XP Mode virtual disk:

First start

After installing XP Mode, the "seven" must further configure it to create a virtual disk. Therefore, after clicking the “Finish” button, the following window will appear on the screen, in which there will be another license agreement, the terms of which you must accept.
Specify the folder where the virtual disk will be located and create the first user.
Enable security features of the system you are creating. This is not necessary. Click "Start Installation".
The installation process will start; you just have to wait for it to end.

New virtual machine

The system is prepared, the virtual disk is installed. All that remains is to create a new environment and run Windows XP in it.

The newly created sandbox will appear in the XP Mode main window. Right-click on it and select “Open”. Select the “DVD drive” option and specify the path to the physical drive (if you have a disk with the Windows XP distribution) or a pre-downloaded ISO image. The system installation wizard will launch.

All you have to do is install Windows XP as usual to start using this system in an isolated environment created using the hardware virtualization feature.

After the installation is complete, you can use all the features of the Microsoft OS: install gadgets for Windows XP, install games that do not run on the “seven”, run outdated programs, etc. – to do this, just run XP mode through the emulator.

Alternative virtual machines

In addition to the built-in hardware virtualization feature, Windows 7 supports third-party programs that help you create an isolated environment and install any operating system into it.

First of all, it is necessary to note such virtualization systems as VMWare Workstation and Oracle VM VirtualBox. Let's look at the example of Virtualbox to see how such programs work.

Oracle VM Virtualbox

Download and install Virtualbox. It is installed in the same way as any other program, so you should not have any problems.

1. Launch Oracle VM VirtualBox and click Create. The Create Sandboxed Environment Wizard opens.
   
2. Enter your name new car, system type and bit size, and then click Next.
   
3. Set the amount of RAM that will be automatically allocated when the virtual machine starts for its operation.
   
4. Create a new one HDD and click Next.
   
5. Specify the disk type. If you don't know which is better, leave the first item on the list checked.
   
6. Select the storage format – it is recommended to select “Dynamic image”.
   
7. Specify the name and volume of the new virtual hard drive, and then complete the wizard by clicking the "Create" button.
   

The isolated environment is ready. To start working with it, mark it with the left mouse button and click the “Run” button in the top menu.
A new window will appear on the screen through which you will first install and then interact with Windows 7 or another installed operating system. Specify the path to the physical disk or ISO image with the Windows distribution and click “Continue.”
We will not consider the Windows 7 installation process in detail here, since it is no different from a regular installation on a physical hard drive. You just need to wait until the system installation is completed.

The virtual machine is launched through the Oracle VM VirtualBox program. You will need to open this utility and select the desired virtual system image from the main menu on the left.

As for other utilities, in VMWare Workstation the process of creating a virtual machine almost completely repeats the procedure described above.
In some other programs you may need additional customization, so for beginners they may seem a little complicated.

Conclusion

Creating a virtual machine and installing a system on it is quite simple, but you need to be careful - since April 2014, Windows XP is not supported by Microsoft, therefore, even by emulating the mode of this OS, you make your system vulnerable.

Additionally, XP mode is not supported on machines with installed Windows 8, and there is no way you can fix it. The Virtual PC feature was originally created for a smooth transition between systems, so skipping versions will not work.

But you can try installing a system other than Microsoft Windows– for example, Linux.
It’s quite difficult to switch to it right away; besides, you have to give up most of your usual habits. Windows programs. In emulation mode, you will gradually get used to the peculiarities of interaction with the new system and decide whether you need to completely switch to it.

Network and server administrators are often faced with the need to test hardware, software, and certain parameters and settings on real servers. But testing something on a running server is extremely dangerous, as it can lead to data loss and operational failures.

Specialized software comes to the rescue in this situation. Capable of emulating a real computer and performing all the necessary actions with it. The most popular program in this case is VirtualBox from Oracle.

How to use virtualbox?

virtualbox 32/64 bit for windows 7 and 8 must be installed on a work computer running an operating system Windows systems. In the future, VirtualBox allows you to create any number of virtual machines with selected parameters, and install any operating systems on them for testing. In this case, the real physical computer will be the host computer, and the operating system on it will be the host computer.

When installing an operating system on a virtual machine, you should pay attention to the fact that it must be configured properly and comply with minimum requirements. In this case, the operating system installed on virtual computer, called guest.

Thanks to the use of virtual machines, testing of hardware, software and necessary settings is greatly simplified. With all this, the virtual and physical machines communicate with each other through a network connection. In addition, a virtual machine can seize control of any equipment installed on a physical computer.

The program is also available for operating systems such as MacOS and Linux (popular for Ubuntu and Mint).