Virtual that can standalone just run a browser?

bro67 said:

You cannot run a Virtual Machine without a OS., same as a browser.

However, you can run Hyper-V in a server version of Windows which is not much more than the bare minimum OS to run Hyper-V. As far as I know, it does not even have a gui like W10 - basically command prompt driven. User @Kari is far more of an extpert on this than me.

Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2016 | Microsoft Docs

ReallyFrustratd said:

I know its virtually (pun intended) impossible to run a Virtual PC without an OS, but though id ask if it was possible to just have a virtual PC that has only a browser running and nothing else?

Guessing absolutely not, so follow up question, whats a good fast Virtual Machine software? And what minimum requirements and OS would it need to run smoothly and now slow down the PC its installed on? Like say a Linux that can run a Chrome browser? How much ram allocation and hard disk space would be the minimum for optimal running?

I think you could set up a Windows 10 vm in kiosk mode, with access to only one app - i.e. browser only - it would have to be edge I think.



Set up a single-app kiosk on Windows 10/11 - Configure Windows | Microsoft Docs

Obviously main admin account is password restricted so other users can literally only run Edge. I do not think it is possible to select another browser as iirc kiosk mode only allows uwp apps.

ReallyFrustratd said:

.... possible to just have a virtual PC that has only a browser running and nothing else?

cereberus said:

I think you could set up a Windows 10 vm in kiosk mode, with access to only one app - i.e. browser only - it would have to be edge I think. .... I do not think it is possible to select another browser as iirc kiosk mode only allows uwp apps.

It may be possible to use other browsers if you intstall them from the Microsoft Store, like Firefox for example.

https://apps.microsoft.com/store/det...hl=en-us&gl=US

ReallyFrustratd said:

I know its virtually (pun intended) impossible to run a Virtual PC without an OS, but though id ask if it was possible to just have a virtual PC that has only a browser running and nothing else?

Guessing absolutely not, so follow up question, whats a good fast Virtual Machine software? And what minimum requirements and OS would it need to run smoothly and now slow down the PC its installed on? Like say a Linux that can run a Chrome browser? How much ram allocation and hard disk space would be the minimum for optimal running?

maybe just run a browser from a USB in a virtual box ?
How to enable USB in VirtualBox | TechRepublic

cereberus said:

I think you could set up a Windows 10 vm in kiosk mode, with access to only one app - i.e. browser only - it would have to be edge I think.



Set up a single-app kiosk on Windows 10/11 - Configure Windows | Microsoft Docs

Obviously main admin account is password restricted so other users can literally only run Edge. I do not think it is possible to select another browser as iirc kiosk mode only allows uwp apps.

I have just tested this in a Hyper-V virtual machine - I set up main account with password, and second account in kiosk mode, and only app that can be run was EDGE (@Bree indicates it might be possible to install another browser from MS Store first before selecting kiosk mode).

Note: you have to add kioskuer0 to remote desktop users group using lusrmgr.msc if running kiosk mode in a Hyper-V virtual machine.

Of course, you can set up kiosk mode on host OS - user can literally only access the browser and nothing else (provided main admin account is password protected).

So you could setup pc, so somebody e.g. a friend could only surf from you pc but do nothing else.

cereberus said:

I think you could set up a Windows 10 vm in kiosk mode, with access to only one app - i.e. browser only - it would have to be edge I think.



Set up a single-app kiosk on Windows 10/11 - Configure Windows | Microsoft Docs

Obviously main admin account is password restricted so other users can literally only run Edge. I do not think it is possible to select another browser as iirc kiosk mode only allows uwp apps.

Exactly.