Linux and Windows XP on one machine!

What's the best way to have it?

[wildbest]

Anyone care to share their experience, please?

[encyclo]

I use Kubuntu as my primary OS, and I have Windows XP running in VMware Server (now a free download). No dual-booting, you can run XP on one desktop and even copy/paste between the two.

You can of course do the reverse (if you must!): run XP as your primary OS and Linux in VMWare.

Virtualization is the only way to go unless your machine is too slow to be able to handle it.

[zCat]

Exact same setup here (except using VMWare client).

I wouldn't do it any other way. Works find on a 1.5 Ghz PC with 768MB memory. (I hate to think what Vista might need though, if it runs at all).

[encyclo]

If you're just doing the basics like browser testing, then 256Mb is largely sufficient as a reserved memory block. 192Mb or (at a stretch) 128Mb could be enough if you don't mind things churning a bit. So I would say that 768Mb overall is the minimum, but quite acceptable, 1Gb plus is better as the virtual machine won't hog the memory for the host OS.

Haven't tried Vista, but I believe you need at least 1Gb just for Vista to run, so calculate at least 2Gb on the host machine before trying.

[zCat]

For that VM the setting is 224 Mb; works just fine for IE7 (which is the only reason I need it). I haven't got any "anti-virus" software running (I've got a "clean" backup image should I need it - another advantage of virtualisation).

[wheel]

I've got a dual boot setup with XP and Mandriva. Works fine for me and has for years, I have to boot in and out occassionally (my scanner software for example).

I guess I should investigate vmware. It'd be nice to do my scanning while keeping my other linux stuff still running.