I have installed and using Windows from my Ubuntu Edgy machine now using VMWare server. I tried different options like Virtual Box, QEmu, Crossover Linux etc and nothing worked. QEMu worked, but it was slow and I couldn’t access Volume Control under Start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> Entertainment -> Volume control. I installed Windows using VMWare Server and it’s working perfectly for the past 2 weeks. Most of the stuff works fine. I’m trying to get my webcam to work, which was connected through a USB hub.

Here is the HowTo guide to install Windows using VMWare server (Thanks to Ubuntu Forums for the help).

Go to this link and download VMWare Server for free. Register as a new user (if you haven’t registered already) and give a valid email address. They will send the registration key to that email address. Download the file after registering.

Open a terminal (Application -> Accessories -> Terminal). Type the following commands

sudo apt-get install linux-headers-`uname -r` build-essential xinetd

Now, open the downloaded VMWare server file and extract it. It should extract the files to vmware-server-distrib (if you have the options right while extracting). Change to vmware-server-distrib by entering the following command in the terminal.

cd vmware-server-distrib

Install the VMWare server now by issuing the command below. Enter your password when prompted. You can go with the default options. It installs to /var/lib/Virtual Machines….

sudo ./vmware-install.pl

Enter the registration key sent to your email, when prompted. The installation should go without any hiccups. Once installed, you’ll see a menu option under Applications -> System Tools -> VMWare Server Console.

Start the VMWare Server Console by selecting it from the menu. Once started, it’ll show you a box with the host you want to connect to (as shown below). Select Local host and click Connect.

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Once connected, you’ll get an option as shown below. Since this is the first time we have started the VMWare server, you have to select Create a new Virtual Machine option. Once we created the virtual machine, you have to select Open a Virtual Machine option, each time you want to start the virtual OS.

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Once you clicked on the Create a new Virtual Machine, go with the default options. When you come to the screen of selecting the Guest Operating System, select the OS you want to install. In my case, I selected Windows XP Professional as shown below.

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When you come to the part where it asks for the Name of the Virtual Machine and the Location, select the default if you have enough space in the root folder (8 GB). 8 GB is default, but you can adjust the size. I created with 8 GB and with Windows update and minimal programs I needed, I filled up 6 GB, so my advice is to go with default or with more space. I didn’t have enough space under the root directory, so I had to change the installation path to my home folder. I created it under /home/myusername/VMWare.

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You have to have the Windows installation CD ready in the drive by the time you complete this step. Once it installs Windows, you are ready to go. Shutting down Windows will shut down the virtual OS and it’ll get you back to the VMWare Server. The next time you want to start the virtual OS, Start the VMWare server, select Local Host, and then click on Open a Virtual Machine. Select the virtual OS you just installed and click OK (as shown below).

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The next step is to click Edit Virtual Machine Settings to add or remove devices (as shown below).

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Once you select the edit option, it’ll pop up a screen as shown below with the list of hardware. I removed Floppy drive from that list since I didn’t have a floppy drive in my PC and I was getting an error each time I started the virtual machine. VMWare server won’t add the sound device by default, so click on the Add button at the bottom.

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Click on the Sound Adapter and Click Next. Continue till you finish adding it. Similarly add USB controller, if you have one and other options if you need. Once you add what you want, click OK and close the virtual machine settings.

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Now, Click on Power On this virtual machine. This will start Windows as shown below. You are all set and ready to go.

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You have options to run the virtual OS as a console or full screen or quick switch mode. If you are running the OS under full screen (and also under console mode), you have to press CTRL and ALT key at the same time to come out of it (and back to Ubuntu). Quick Switch mode will give you a menu bar that hides at the top and when you move your cursor to the top of the screen, you’ll get the VMWare server menu.

I couldn’t get my webcam to work. It was earlier attached to USB hub. I then attached it to USB port on my desktop, but it wasn’t recognized still. I would appreciate if you anyone can help me to get it work.

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