How to install Windows XP on Linux (and especially Ubuntu)

How to eventually run Windows XP contained within a small Window on your linux desktop.

Install QEMU

Run Applications/System/Synaptic Package Manager, make a search for qemu and mark the alternative named qemu for install.

It may ask for permission to also check some packages required for installation.

Click Apply.

Install VMWare Player

Run Applications/System/Synaptic Package Manager, make a search for vmware-player and mark the alternative named vmware-player for install.

It may ask for permission to also check some packages required for installation.

Click Apply.

Configure VMWare Player

Launch a terminal (at any directory), and type sudo /usr/bin/vmware-config.pl.

You will then have to enter your superuser/root password, and accept the License agreement.

Following that is a very high number of configuration alternatives, and for most users it will work fine by pressing enter at all of them.

When you return to the prompt you can go to the next step.

Create your enviroment

You should create a directory where all your system file stuff will be stored.

Launch a terminal (at any directory), and type mkdir ~/WindowsXP in order to create it in your home folder.

Create your virtual disk

Launch a terminal (at any directory), and type qemu-img create -f vmdk ~/WindowsXP/WindowsXP.vmdk 35G to create a 35gb disk.

Here are some other alternatives:

Create your VMWare Player launch file

Open up a text editor like Mousepad or Nano. Paste the following contents for a configuration with 256 MB of RAM:

#!/usr/bin/vmware
config.version = "8"
virtualHW.version = "3"
ide0:0.present = "TRUE"
ide0:0.filename = "~/WindowsXP/WindowsXP.vmdk"
memsize = "256"
MemAllowAutoScaleDown = "FALSE"

ide1:0.present = "TRUE"
ide1:0.fileName = "auto detect"
ide1:0.deviceType = "cdrom-raw"
ide1:0.autodetect = "TRUE"

floppy0.present = "FALSE"
ethernet0.present = "TRUE"
usb.present = "TRUE"
sound.present = "TRUE"
sound.virtualDev = "es1371"
displayName = "Windows XP Pro"
guestOS = "winxppro"
nvram = "WindowsXPPro.nvram"
MemTrimRate = "-1"
ide0:0.redo = ""
ethernet0.addressType = "generated"
uuid.location = "56 4d 3e 33 fa f1 47 62-7d 7b d4 7f 3d d6 e6 ae"
uuid.bios = "56 4d 3e 33 fa f1 47 62-7d 7b d4 7f 3d d6 e6 ae"
ethernet0.generatedAddress = "00:0c:29:d6:e6:ae"
ethernet0.generatedAddressOffset = "0"
tools.syncTime = "TRUE"
ide1:0.startConnected = "TRUE"
uuid.action = "create"
checkpoint.vmState = ""
tools.remindInstall = "TRUE"

If you have backed up your Windows XP CD-ROM to an ISO file - make sure you name your ISO XPVOL_EN.iso and put it into ~/WindowsXP/ - then you can use the following configuration:

(Note: Installation from ISO goes much faster)

#!/usr/bin/vmware
config.version = "8"
virtualHW.version = "3"
ide0:0.present = "TRUE"
ide0:0.filename = "~/WindowsXP/WindowsXP.vmdk"
memsize = "256"
MemAllowAutoScaleDown = "FALSE"

ide1:0.present = "TRUE"
ide1:0.fileName = "~/WindowsXP/XPVOL_EN.iso"
ide1:0.deviceType = "cdrom-image"

floppy0.present = "FALSE"
ethernet0.present = "TRUE"
usb.present = "TRUE"
sound.present = "TRUE"
sound.virtualDev = "es1371"
displayName = "Windows XP Pro"
guestOS = "winxppro"
nvram = "WindowsXPPro.nvram"
MemTrimRate = "-1"
ide0:0.redo = ""
ethernet0.addressType = "generated"
uuid.location = "56 4d 3e 33 fa f1 47 62-7d 7b d4 7f 3d d6 e6 ae"
uuid.bios = "56 4d 3e 33 fa f1 47 62-7d 7b d4 7f 3d d6 e6 ae"
ethernet0.generatedAddress = "00:0c:29:d6:e6:ae"
ethernet0.generatedAddressOffset = "0"
tools.syncTime = "TRUE"
ide1:0.startConnected = "TRUE"
uuid.action = "create"
checkpoint.vmState = ""
tools.remindInstall = "TRUE"

So paste those contents into the text editor and save (from any directory) using the filename ~/WindowsXP/WindowsXPPro.vmx

You can change the contents of this file at any time.

Create a shortcut to your newly created workstation

Google for Windows XP images to find a nice icon. Then create your shortcut / launcher with the command vmplayer WindowsXP/WindowsXPPro.vmx

Install Windows XP

Ok, this part should be quite familiar :)

Questions could be mailed to bedr.se @ info.