WIN10 Home - Installing as virtual machine on PC running WIN7 Pro

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  1. Posts : 8
    Windows 7 Pro
       #1

    WIN10 Home - Installing as virtual machine on PC running WIN7 Pro


    I have been following the thread entitled "Windows 7 - what should we do after January 2020" which was started by Windower7 in April 2019 and still going.

    Up until a week ago I had decided to keep WIN7 for a few more years. I had a new computer, custom built in October 2016, with one of the last WIN7 Pro installed. If I had left it 2 more days I would have had to have WIN10.

    Due to a special offer through a computer magazine I take and a company called Cleverbridge/Creativemark, I was offered WIN7 Home for £30[38.6.USD]. WIN10 Pro is on offer for £39.99[51.27USD].
    I have decided to go with the Home edition and rather then do an upgrade or clean install, I have decided to set up as a virtual machine[using Virtualbox] as opposed to dual boot. That way I can see if I like WIN10 or not. I have plenty of space on the HD - 759GB free of 925GB.

    I have searched through the list of tutorials and I am not sure which one to use out of those listed. I think the one entitled 'Install Windows 10 Virtual Machine in VirtualBox' by Shawn Brink is what I need?

    I could of course buy a new HD, add it to my PC and install on that for another £30 or £40. But that I think that involves a dual boot?

    Rgds
    Antioch
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 1,656
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #2

    antioch said:
    I think the one entitled 'Install Windows 10 Virtual Machine in VirtualBox' by Shawn Brink is what I need?
    Yes, use VirtualBox - nice and simple to use. You have a nice host system so assign some decent RAM,CPU and video memory to the VM.

    Install Windows 10 Virtual Machine in VirtualBox
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 7,606
    Windows 10 Home 20H2
       #3

    antioch said:
    But that I think that involves a dual boot?
    Dual-booting is not a problem.
    Dual Boot Windows 10 with Windows 7 or Windows 8
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 8
    Windows 7 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Hi Golden
    Thank you for confirming the tutorial to use.
    I was thinking of allocating 250GB to 300GB for the virtual - what do you think as I am unlikely to increase what is already installed in WIN7.
    I appreciate it is slightly off my thread/topic, but I am assuming that creating a backup of a virtual machine would be no different to how I backup now. I am currently using the built-in Windows backup to a 1TB external HD. I know lots of people use Macrium Reflect.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 6,253
    Windows 11 Pro - Windows 7 HP - Lubuntu
       #5

    As you have a Desktop, my suggestion is to buy a small SSD (120G, ~US$25) and do a clean install of Win 10 on it.
    With a SSD, it will boot in 20sec and open programs almost instantly.
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 8
    Windows 7 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Hi Matthew
    Thanks for the link, but on consideration I feel virtual slightly easier than dual boot.
    I tried dual boot many years ago and ended up having to do a clean install of my OS - despite much help from forums.

    Antioch
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 56,808
    Multi-boot Windows 10/11 - RTM, RP, Beta, and Insider
       #7

    antioch, VB is good and so is VMWare, but you will not get the true full performance from a VM. Dual booting is a lot easier than it was a few years ago. Many of us do it, and also do VMs. Your choice, of course. Doing a good system image backup (Macrium is highly recommended here:Macrium Software | Macrium Reflect Free ) can help ensure if something goes totally south on you, you can be back up in minutes.

    Give it some thought.
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 8
    Windows 7 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Hi Megahertz

    Yes, I have considered that option - extra cost of about £25[32USD] and I am told a dual boot system?
    Going the virtual way if I cannot get on with WIN10 I can dump it and not have an HD of no use.
    Thanks for your suggestion.

    Antioch

    - - - Updated - - -

    Hi f14
    Thanks for your input. I have not yet made a final decision on which way to install. I just want to get a feel for WIN10
    to see if I can cope with it.
    If I can and like it I will seriously consider a dual boot install. I will look for a good tutorial on that.
    Using Macrium has been a case of 'getting round to it'. I will one day.

    Antioch
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 7,606
    Windows 10 Home 20H2
       #9
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 6,253
    Windows 11 Pro - Windows 7 HP - Lubuntu
       #10

    My suggestion is to use the small SSD only for Win 10 to see if you like it (I don't).
    If you do like it, you can transfer Win 7 to it and on another partition have win 10 (dual boot on same disk). The HDD will have only your data to be used by win 7 and win 10.
      My Computers


 

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