How to run multiple operating systems simultaneously ?

How to run linux operating system within windows ?

How to run windows operating system inside linux?

How to run Apple Mac operating system inside windows or Linux?

How to run several operating systems without dual boot option or without partitioning your hard drive?

The answer to all these questions and much more is one word Virtualization. You need a Virtual Machine for your platform to run multiple operating systems.

This way you can have one main operating system called HOST and any number of GUEST operating systems. You can run Windows, Linux, Solaris, FreeBSD, NetBSD, Mac, openBSD, Windows Mobile, HP-UX, Sprite, z/OS etc. (You name it, you can run that)

VMWare server is a virtual machine software which is a FREE virtual machine and capable of running many OS inside many OS. I just captured the steps when I installed the VMWare server 2 for working with Debian Lenny GNU / Linux on Windows Vista host. VMWare server is for server machines but can be run in most OS’s without any problems.

Step 1

Get VMWare server 2 from http://www.vmware.com/products/server. You should Register and get the license key for the free download.

Step 2

Install VMWare server 2 in your host OS. Here I have used Windows Vista Enterprise. Follow the default install options.

During the installation is the license key will be required. Register with the license keys you have got.

Step 3

Complete the Installation.

Step 4

The challenge of installing a Virtual Machine does not end with the default installation. Now you have to create a Virtual Disk which is a portion of your hard disk for installing the GUEST Operating System. To access your VMWare server homepage find the icon available on the Desktop and start the same it will open in Firefox or Internet Explorer or any browser which is the default one.

You cannot immediately reach to the VMWare Server Homepage as your browser will not allow because of security violations. [ The Server communicates with your Guest OS in a different port which may be blocked usually]

In Firefox you should provide an exception. Here’s how to overcome the ‘This Connection is Untrusted’

Step 5

Click on I understand the Risks

Step 6

Select Add Exception, to exempt the security check for this port.

Step 7

The next step would be to get a certificate. Click on Get Certificate.

Sometimes you will not be able to find out the Menu Bar, Title, Close button, Maximize button and Tabs like Applications, Processes, Services, Performance, Networking, Users etc in the Task Bar.

The Task Manager behaves in such a way because it runs in what Microsoft Windows describes as Tiny Footprint mode.

Task Manger with Menu Bar & Close Button

Task Manager with No Menu, No Tabs, No Control Buttons

How the Strip occurs?

If you have accidentally Double Click anywhere in the empty Tab areas Task Manager will switch to Tiny Footprint mode.

You can close this ONLY by:

1. ALT+F4 OR

2.If you are in the Processes Tab and taskmgr.exe is visible kill that by using Endprocess.

Even if you kill the Task Manager or Restart it, it will come in the same ‘useless’ state again and again until you rever it back to Normal Mode.

Solution 1: Double click once again in the empty tab areas (Grey area surrounding the list) to show all tabs, title bar etc.

If you are a ‘Mouse Hate’ and always love to access the applications by using keyboard you will soon find that there are many applications you cannot start by typing their name in Run. For example you cannot start Chrome browser by typing Chrome or Chrome.exe.

By a simple registry hack, you can enable ANY application to be started from Run.

1.Windows Start > Run > Type regedit. This will open the Registry editor.

windows-run-dialog-box

2. Navigate to

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths

3.Right click on App Paths and select New Key

4. Enter the desired name for the application. (You will use type this name in the Run dialog box to start the application)