Linux Lite on Win7 Virtual PC (Display Resolution)

[Yoru3]

I'm running Linux Lite on a virtual machine, Windows 7 Virtual PC.

Had I know better I might have used VirtualBox, but as it is I now have all my legacy MS machines in that VM.

Anyway, all seems to be working well, except that the Linux machines have a display resolution of 800 X 600. Exactly the same thing happens with Linux Mint.

I gather this is due to the MS Virtual PC not being very forthcoming with the virtual display definition, and so Linux has to
assume a modest VGA capability.

In fact what the MS Virtual PC uses by default is a Ye Olde S3 Graphics 764/765 [Trio32/64/64v+], which shows up better in the PCI Devices - System Information, rather than Display - System Information. The Virtual Card shows up as having a memory of 64MB (32bit, non-prefetchable), which is more than capable of 1024 x 786, which is what I setup on Windows 3.11 and Windows 98 VM's, using MS drivers, but there doesn't seem to be a Linux equivalent driver.

The original plan on the Linux Lite Virtual machine, and on Mint, was to stop the X server, create an xorg.config.new, edit in the extra resolution mode(s) info and restart with the new config.

The minor detail is I can't see how to stop the X server, and having read a few messages it may not be a very wise move.

So what is the best way to get a Linux Lite configured with 1024 x 768 on a Win7 Virtual PC,
Please, keeping in mind that my Linux skills are relatively novice at present.

[Wirezfree]

Hi,

Don't have any real experience with MS Virtual PC.
Given you are on Windows 7, you could always try Virtualbox, which I use a lot.?
It is my understanding this is far superior to MS Virtual PC

1. Follow the "first" part of this Youtube Video to install Virtualbox on Windows 7. (Thanks to [glow=red,2,300]PuppyLinuxWorld[/glow])
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5CKznXm_Jo

  "Note" The latest version of Virtualbox is now: 4.3.20

2. Then get the Linux Lite iso file here, use the 32 bit version:
  http://www.freecinema2022.gq/download.html

2. Then follow this to install Linux Lite on Virtualbox: (Thanks to [glow=red,2,300]Teddy5090[/glow])
  https://www.freecinema2022.gq/forums/index...opic=388.0

Dave

[Yoru3]

Hi,

Finally gave up on MS Virtual PC for anything other than various Windows.

MS have done a good job at fowling up their package, to make it as difficult as possible to use with third party OS's. Not even giving their virtual display a name ie. blank, shows this was quite deliberate. Which doesn't inspire confidence in using their other products. It seems to be the same old story that I've seen before, where the engineers do a good job, but the high level policy makers screw up, by making an ill considered decision, forcing the engineers to cripple their work. They did a similar thing with their floppy disk drive support, the function is actually there, but they removed the graphical interface.

Anyway, also tried VirtualBox, spent a couple of days with it, but finally put that aside too. It seems that it's gone pair shaped at the moment, if you happen to be using Windows 7 with SP1. Something they did after version 4.3.12 and which they are still trying to resolve with 4.3.20. I nearly achieved an installation when I tried 4.3.12 but still had problems. It's a shame because it does look like a very good, well designed package, but needs sorting out.

So, I eventually moved on again, to VMware Player. I installed it and it worked, like a breath of fresh air. Still have a couple of grumbles with printing and sound to sort out, but their VMware Tools, which I had to install manually, allows pick and dropping of files between Windows host and Linux guests, just as good as Virtual PC with Windows.

May do a separate post on it when I sort out the remaining grumbles.

BTW how about a Virtual Machine Corner, as a new subject area.

[Wirezfree]

Hello Yotu3,

Really not sure what issues you had with VBox install.
I have installed it many/many times on Win7 & XP.
In my opinion it is the best for Home Users/Enthusiasts,
I think VMPlayer is more suited towards business, given it's parent.

Some of the common things over looked.

1. This may or may not be possible depending on the age/vintage of your CPU.?
    In the BIOS settings you may have a setting,
    Something like Virtualisation/VTx, check your manual or go on-line.
    This improves performance by using your CPU features directly, rather than emulating them.

2. Before creating your first VM ensure Virtualbox extensions pack is installed.
    Ensure you get the version that matches the Virtualbox version you are about to install
    VirtualBox 4.3.20 Oracle VM VirtualBox Extension Pack
    It is a download common across all platforms released with each release,
    download it from the same location you get Virtual box from(not the Oracle Site):
    https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads then..
    File > Preferences > Extensions click on the little orange V to add it



3. Once you have created your VM the first thing you need to do is install "Guest Additions"
    This contains all the relevant VBox drivers for the corresponding VM, like display etc...
    Apologies & Sorry... "Windows Alert", but the only way I could capture a screen shot is with a Windows VM,
    My LL goes full screen 1920x1080, and the VBox pop-up menu is not captured by the screen shot tool.?
    At this stage your VM will be in a standard default box, like 1280/1024 or 1024/768?, which maybe native.?
    There is a menu, select Devices > Insert Guest Additions CD Image
    ((this is added automatically during VBox install, it's a small iso image in a VBox directory))
    Click it, it should auto start installing the Virtualbox drivers in the VM



Dave