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#30
There should be advantages when running Windows in virtual under Linux. First there should be less problems with hardware drivers because Linux historically has better driver coverage. And then the Windows system should be better isolated from malware.
Well that was precisely the problem I had when first going to try Linux out prior to 2009 when the switch from Verizon dsl over XFinity cable came about! Once the modems as well as seeing additional routers came into play the new connection was an immediate success since the old dsl barely saw XP drivers let alone those for 98! and none at all for the 64bit Windows of any version! Yet even at Comcast when making a call to inquire the people I spoke with back in 2009 didn't seem to understand what a 64bit OS was when continuing to point at 64bit encryption instead! daaaaa.....
The practicality of doing that wouldn't be seen there. The single advantage seen with VMware's Workstation Player is being able to run multiple VMs simultaneously provided you have the additional ram to cover each VM as well as what is required by the host OS allowing just a bit more to have available then needed! With the Hyper-V feature however it's one VM only regardless of which OS is being run on the single VM. Of course that's why having a dual boot of 10 along with the 7 side kick becomes quite useful at times!
Better driver coverage? That all depends on which hardwares you have in mind! No sound and limitations on video cards as far as setting over a basic 1024x768 was common place as well as abandoning any programmable keyboard or mouse especially the mouse part. Been there too often for comfort and just one more reason why Linux could never become the primary OS here!
One of the things you shouldn't kid yourself on there is Linux not seeing malwares! It didn't take long once more people started taking a look at that OS before the malware writers got busy and the av companies started offering Linux versions of their wares! Linux can get nailed too! You just don't hear of it as often as less of it ends up being reported. But before ruling out the need for any Linux system protection you may want to read a security blog at one of the Linux sites. Malware and Antivirus Systems for Linux | Linux.org
You can of course get malware in your Linux system. I always say that there are less problems than in Windows, but I have never said that there were no problems at all. It is just a matter of the number of chances.
Last edited by whs; 08 Feb 2016 at 22:04.
I didn't say you were making any claim like that but pointing out that even with the other guy's OS there somebody will have written a few nasty items you still have to be cautious of and should always have some thought about security in place. With the av software used here it offers an additional option for adding security to VMs as well as the social network scans it can perform since many will be trying out Linux on VMs.
But all that won't be any help inside the VM itself or if you have a distro custom installed somewhere like a second partition or drive or even as I might see done here custom installed onto a flash drive which does tend to isolate the OSs a bit further. File transfers between VM and Host OS are just another way of actually ending up spreading bugs around! Here I have remote access between OSs ongoing whether or not they are running on VM or physical drives.
As far as seeing 10 surpass XP users most by now have likely been forced into one of the newer versions maybe having hesitated with Vista and 7 both but ended up with needing a new laptop that saw 8 or 8.1 soon after since that was only a year apart with MS moving fast on the "castas-8-trophy"! MS simply stop all mention about 8 for no reason! Yet sooner or later don't be surprised to learn that Linux had finally made it past XP as well simply since Linux will be continuing on with a new flavor each month as it's rep goes! That's to keep people from getting bored with it I guess!
I knew where you were coming from! I just had to indicate that there is no such thing as a 100% fool proof OS even to this day. The bulk of malwares actually came about during the time XP lingered on as the popular choice of OS prior to seeing 7 mark a landing and being an instant hit back in 2009-10!
People only then started moving up if not later into 8.1 since 8 flopped fast. 7 has been holding on as the champ until now with 10 out and starting to progress into the same line 7 started as far as working OSs go. I think between Vista stalling after all the long delays and not being a hit followed by 8 hitting the dumpsters right after 7 went into warp speed MS is finally learning a few things!