DIGIT-ARC read-only archive · snapshot: July 23, 2026

Linux and Windows on the same Desktop

20 posts · originally from https://geek.digit.in/community/threads/linux-and-windows-on-the-same-desktop.80348/

Cyrus_the_virus
Cyrus_the_virus Original post #1
Feb 15, 2008 at 7:09 PM
Do you want your desktop to look like this? Then follow the Tutorial! :D

You can have both Windows and Linux Running at the same time on the same desktop.

*news.softpedia.com/images/extra/LINUX/small/windowslinuxsymbiosistwo-small_018.jpg

*news.softpedia.com/images/extra/LINUX/small/windowslinuxsymbiosistwo-small_019.jpg*news.softpedia.com/images/extra/LINUX/small/windowslinuxsymbiosistwo-small_020.jpg*news.softpedia.com/images/extra/LINUX/small/windowslinuxsymbiosistwo-small_021.jpg

Tutorial Here
T
The Conqueror #2
Feb 15, 2008 at 7:13 PM
Cool. Thanks for sharing :)
MetalheadGautham
Feb 15, 2008 at 7:33 PM
that one had come in Linux For You december issue.
They showed gnome bar on top, XP bar on bottom. It looked natural and cool.
praka123
Feb 15, 2008 at 7:39 PM
too lazy to click :oops: what was that?some VM running wi^dow$ inside ubuntu? :?
Zeeshan Quireshi
Feb 15, 2008 at 7:41 PM
VirtualBox has had this feature for 2-3 Months now .

Functions exactly like Parallel Desktops for Mac .
praka123
Feb 15, 2008 at 7:49 PM
a que:do we need av for windows in vm inside Linux :?:
NucleusKore
Feb 15, 2008 at 7:56 PM
Thanks, I have one question though, will the windows running in the virtual box have access to sound card, printers and other system devices? And what about installing drivers for these?

I am asking this so that I can do away with my windows partition all together. I have a licensed OS.

*img217.imageshack.us/img217/9472/pubthefuture2cisopen466cr4.png
K
khattam_ #8
Feb 15, 2008 at 8:01 PM
a que:do we need av for windows in vm inside Linux :?:

you will like to have an AV inside windows, be it in a virtual machine or anywhere else.... coz its the same windows....
praka123
Feb 15, 2008 at 8:03 PM
^HAHAHA! :lol: I thought the other way ;)
infra_red_dude
Feb 15, 2008 at 8:16 PM
Thanks, I have one question though, will the windows running in the virtual box have access to sound card, printers and other system devices? And what about installing drivers for these?

I am asking this so that I can do away with my windows partition all together. I have a licensed OS.
Yes but the hardware emulated are generally the generic ones. Like Sound-Blaster compatible sound, VESA VGA, generic LAN etc. So the drivers of your acutal hardware will be of no use in VM.
Cyrus_the_virus
Feb 15, 2008 at 8:18 PM
Thanks, I have one question though, will the windows running in the virtual box have access to sound card, printers and other system devices? And what about installing drivers for these?

I am asking this so that I can do away with my windows partition all together. I have a licensed OS.

I've used Virtual Box before. It makes the windows partition a virtual one and hence it uses virtual machine hardware. i.e not your actual hardware but everything like sound and graphics will work fine. I haven't been able to get my TV tuner card to work in windows with Virtual Box.

One major drawback of Virtual Box is that when I tested it the last time 5months ago(not sure if a new version supports it), there is no Direct3D support or any 3D acceleration.. or in short.. there is really no extra graphics support.. which means... no games.. no video playback etc.. etc.. Although I'm not sure if the latest version of Virtual box supports it.. This is where other Virtualization softwares like VMWare are ahead..

you will like to have an AV inside windows, be it in a virtual machine or anywhere else.... coz its the same windows....

Nope, you don't need an antivirus to use Windows in Virtual Box on a Linux Host. This is Because, Windows is going to use a step connection to the internet which means it's going to connect to the Linux networking stack and then use the existing network which linux is already using to get onto the net and also... windows is in a virtual box... so even if malware gets into linux, it's not going to be able to get into the virtual box as you need to put files into a specific folder for it to be accesible to both windows and linux.

PS: Please don't ask me any more about the explanation i just gave about not needing antivirus, I don't know in detail how it works but the bottom line is: You don't need an antivirus to use Windows in Virtual Box on a Linux Host
A
adi007 #12
Feb 15, 2008 at 8:40 PM
Thanks for sharing...:D
but the problem is i have only 256 MB RAM...:(
New
New #13
Feb 15, 2008 at 8:44 PM
Superb...*gigasmilies.googlepages.com/36.gifThanks for the info..
T
ThinkFree #15
Feb 15, 2008 at 9:29 PM
Thanks
T
The Conqueror #16
Feb 15, 2008 at 9:43 PM
It would have been better if this was done with VMWare Workstation.
VMWare is the best virtualisation software :)
NucleusKore
Feb 15, 2008 at 10:58 PM
Thanks infra_red_dude, Cyrus_the_virus and others for your replies. That was enlightening.

*img217.imageshack.us/img217/9472/pubthefuture2cisopen466cr4.png
blackpearl
Feb 16, 2008 at 6:35 PM
Wow. This is cool.
drgrudge
drgrudge #19
Feb 16, 2008 at 6:44 PM
From what I've seen, people who are planning to switch from Windows, like to know if their Crapware can be run other OSes. But when they're on *nix, they'll forget Windows altogether. ;)
topgear
topgear #20
Feb 17, 2008 at 8:00 PM
great find !