The best virtual machine for windows 7. An overview of virtual machines from different developers. Install the VirtualBox program

To have several operating systems with separate workspace and applications at hand, you do not need to buy a second (third, fourth, etc.) computer. Because it all fits into your only PC. How? Thanks to virtual machines (VM) - special programs that create (emulate) inside the main operating system imaginary (virtual) computers.

The virtual PC is almost like a real one. It has its own processor, memory, HDD, network adapter and everything else. Of course, these are not physical devices, but they are made in such a way that the operating systems consider them just like that - real.

Several virtual ones can work on one physical computer at the same time. How much depends on hardware resources: the faster the processor, the larger the RAM, the more spacious the drive, the more. A typical home PC with average performance Windows based The 10 handles three to five lightweight OSes running concurrently (like Windows XP, Android and Lubuntu + base system). Or two or three relatively heavyweight ones (for example, basic Windows 10 + virtual Windows 7 and Mac OS X). As you already understood, virtual computer emulator applications allow you to install and run a wide variety of operating systems on them.

Virtual machines general purpose(as opposed to specialized ones, such as, for example, VM Java), use:

To run applications that the main system does not support.
To protect the system from potential harm from unverified programs.
As an additional barrier against viruses when visiting questionable web resources.
To create an isolated environment for studying malware activity.
As a testing ground for debugging your own developments.
To master the technologies of building networks.
For double authorization on some game portals and much more.

And of course, virtual machines are widely used to distribute server working resources.

Today we will not touch upon the industrial application of VM, but consider only what can be useful for home users of Windows.

Oracle Virtualbox

Let's take a look at the process of creating a new virtual machine and starting the installation of Windows 10 into it.

Click the "Create" button in the top panel.

In the first window of the VM creation wizard, we will indicate the OS name (it will be displayed in the list of guest systems), its type (Windows, Linux, etc.) and version. In our example, this is Windows 10 32 bit (you can also install 64 bit, but it will require more resources). Click Next to proceed to the next step.

Next, we will indicate the size random access memory VM. By default, Windows 10 x86 is allocated 1 GB, but you can increase this amount by moving the slider to the right. If your PC does not have a lot of RAM, do not give the VM more than 2-3 GB, otherwise the main system will slow down due to lack of memory.

Next, we create a virtual hard disk. If you are installing the system for the first time, select the "Create new" option.

Leave the default virtual disk type.

A storage format is an area on your computer's physical storage that is assigned to a VM. It can have a constant or dynamically expanding volume within the limits that you define further. To save space, we will choose a dynamic format.

Next, we will indicate the name of the volume (virtual disk C) and its size. The default is 32 GB.

After clicking the "Create" button in the last window, a new virtual machine will appear in the list. Its parameters are shown in the frame on the right.
To proceed to the Windows installation, click the "Run" button in the top panel.

In the window that will open after that, a window will appear “Select boot disk". Click on the folder icon and specify the path to the system distribution kit. It can be an image in .iso format or physical media (DVD, flash drive). After selecting the distribution, click "Continue".

The further course of OS installation into a virtual machine does not differ from its installation on a physical computer.

Some VM and guest settings

Clicking in the virtual machine window captures the mouse cursor (that is, it will only move within the virtual screen). Press Ctrl + Alt to return the cursor to the main OS.

To access the entire set of functions of the guest OS, you need to install special add-ons. Go to the "Devices" menu, click "Mount Guest OS Additions Disk Image" and follow the further instructions.

To connect a folder to the guest system for sharing files with the main one, click in the "Devices" menu item "Shared folders". Click on the "folder +" icon in the window that opens and through the "path to folder" field specify it in the explorer (it shows the directories of the main system).

If you want the setting to work all the time, check Auto Connect and Create Permanent Folder. a shared folder will be accessible from the explorer of the virtual machine as a network.

To change the order of polling boot devices (for example, to boot a virtual machine from DVD), shut down the guest OS, open its settings (in the main window of Virtualbox) and go to the first tab of the "System" section. In the Boot Order list, mark the media you want and use the arrow buttons to move it up.

VMware Workstation Pro

Some options for Hyper-V virtual machines

To take a snapshot of a running guest OS, open the top menu of its Action window and click Checkpoint. Or press the combination Ctrl + N.

Access to the settings of an individual virtual machine is opened from its context menu in the list of the main manager window and is hidden behind the "Settings" button.

Other features of the program are also very straightforward and are mastered without much difficulty.

Let's take a closer look at what virtual machines for Windows are and what they are for. Learn all about the best OS simulators and how to get started using them.

A virtual machine (VM) is a computer application that allows a user to create an imitation of an operating system. An OS image is installed in the machine for use internally the existing system... Very convenient, isn't it? But there are also pitfalls. Read what you will encounter during installation and which virtual machine to use. Windows versions 7,8 and 10 are better to choose.

Why do we need PC virtual machines?

In most cases, VMs are used to test software in. To work with several operating systems, you need only one computer, which significantly speeds up the work.

One computer can run several virtual machines... Their number depends on the available RAM and the space on the children's disk, since a virtual OS consumes exactly the same memory resource as a regular copy installed on a computer.

With the help of virtual machines, you can work with programs, functions that are not available in the main OS. Also, there is the possibility of creating backups VM, with their subsequent movement and use on other computers.

Viruses, errors and other failures of the virtual OS do not affect the operation of the main system. After the machine is closed, the additional OS stops working and the RAM is freed.

During the operation of the VM, the device may slow down, because the increased consumption of storage resources leads to an increase in the processing time of requests.

Reasons for installing VM:

You want to familiarize yourself with the work of other operating systems without fully installing them. If there is a need to replace an existing OS, first use the virtual simulator to test other software options. This will save you from possible bugs and incompatibilities with the hardware;
You are a developer and want to create a comprehensive testing system for your applications.

VirtualBox

VirtualBox is a virtual machine for Windows 7,8,10. The virtualization environment is distributed free of charge and can be installed both for working with operating systems and for deploying network infrastructure and hosting sites.

VirtualBox main window:

The main feature of this virtual machine is cross-platform. It works fine on all versions of Windows. Also, from the developer's site you can download installers for Mac OS, Debian. In the virtualization environment itself, you can install any desktop OS.

With VirtualBox you can familiarize yourself with the functionality of the OS or in safe mode test the program without harming the main system. Users often prefer to install old games on virtual machines that are incompatible with modern operating systems.

After the simulator is finished, all data and changes will be saved. The next time you turn it on, you will be returned to your desktop and can continue to perform tasks.

Advantages and disadvantages

VirtualBox advantages:

Free distribution. 90% of similar software is paid, while VirtualBox is completely free. The functions and capabilities of the program are not limited to the developer;
The ability to create screenshots - screenshots of the virtual system. The resulting image will only display the secondary OS window. Taking screenshots with the main OS degrades the resolution and also hijacks your regular desktop;
Creation of an exact copy of an existing virtual machine;
Ability to drag folders, shortcuts and other objects inside the simulator;
Unified file system - from a virtual machine, you can access directories that are stored on a PC, and vice versa;
Simultaneous work with several machines.

Also, a distinctive feature of the new VirtualBox 4 is a convenient virtualization management system and an intuitive workspace of the program. Also, in the new assembly, the ability to capture video from the screen of an additional OS is available.

VirtualBox supports working with USB drives connected to the computer.

Disadvantages of the program:

Slow down your computer. Even if your PC has good technical specifications, sufficient RAM and storage space, when using a virtual machine, you will experience slower performance of all functions. If during the creation of a VM you have allocated too much memory, the computer will freeze or shut down;
Insufficient video memory. If you need to achieve the best possible image quality, this will be difficult with VirtualBox. The program allows you to configure the settings for using the video card only at a basic level.

How to install

To install the VirtualBox program, download the installer from the official developer site - the Oracle company. The installation process is standard and does not require additional settings:

Run the EXE file;
Select the Hard disk where the root folder with the program will be located;
Wait for the installation to complete. If necessary, the user can view the statistics of hard disk usage during the installation process.

In the field "Custom Setup" it is possible to disable support for USB, network services. This helps to reduce the total size of the application.

Video tutorial on how to install two OSes using VirtualBox

After installing the program, you can start creating your first virtual machine. Click on the "Create" button in the left upper corner window. The VM settings tab will open:

In the setup wizard window, select the type of virtual OS (Windows, Linux, Debian, MacOS) and its version. Specify a name for the simulator to be created and click on the "Next" button.

Then, the program will provide you with the opportunity to independently specify the size of the RAM that will be allocated for the additional OS. For newbie users, we advise you to set the value that is indicated in the "Recommended size of main memory" field.

The size of the RAM for the VM should be determined depending on technical characteristics your PC. If you have 4 GB of RAM available on your computer, normal work the simulator will suffice with 512MB-1GB.

Next, the program will ask you to select in file system OS image (which matches the previously specified family and version). After completing the configuration, a window will appear with a brief listing of all parameters. Click on Finish.

After the installation is complete virtual windows, an icon for starting the OS will appear in the main window of VirtualBox. Click on it and wait for the desktop to load. Install the drivers if necessary.

For automatic update drivers, click the Devices tab in the virtual machine toolbar. Then click on the desired media type and in the new window follow the instructions to get the new software.

Ready. You can now start working with the virtual operating system. To exit the program, first shut down the OS and then close VirtualBox.

VMware

VMWare Workstation is the best virtual machine for Windows 10. The developer positions the program as a convenient platform for creating. Compared to other popular counterparts, VMWare supports more functions for customizing the virtual machine and allows you to synchronize the simulator with software development tools.

This virtualization environment is popular among programmers, web designers and other professionals who often have to test the work of their projects for cross-platform.

Advantages and disadvantages

Among the advantages of VMWare are:

Convenient toolbar;
Synchronization with development tools from Microsoft, in particular the .NET platform and the Visual Studio software environment;
Safety system. Built-in VMWare tools provide high level protect your files in an additional OS. The simulator can detect attempts of malicious activity to eliminate them;
Operation of encryption services for the created virtual machines.

Disadvantages of the application:

Paid distribution. User can download free trial version utilities, but to get full version applications with all available functions will need to pay for an annual or monthly subscription;
Not suitable for beginners. If you have not used operating system simulators before, we recommend starting with the simpler options. For example, VirtualBox and the standard Windows Hyper V. VMWare is suitable for advanced users who prefer to manually configure the system.

How to install

You can download a virtual machine for Windows from the official developer site VMWare.com.

It is recommended that you turn off Windows Defender or another running antivirus during the installation process. This is only necessary for the correct installation of all files and encryption algorithms used by the program for virtual machines. No harm will be done to your main OS as the product is downloaded from an official source.

Functionality overview and first program setup

To create the first virtual machine in VMWare, you need to download the OS distribution kit that you want to use in the emulator on your computer. Then open a window installed application and click on the "Create a new virtual machine" field

Note! The user can create a group of virtual machines instead of several simulators. This allows you to reduce the resource of the consumed RAM and speed up the operation of the computer and the OS simulator.

In the VM Setup Wizard window, specify the path to the operating system image (this can be a file in the computer's memory or a boot disk). Also, it is possible to configure a virtual machine without installing an OS (you can install it later).

In the window that appears, specify the OS name, username and password for accessing the account;
Specify on which disk of your computer the virtual machine will be stored;
Allocate the amount of RAM you need for the VM to work;
Configure the hardware (automatically or manually).

After completing the configuration of the virtual machine, wait for the OS image to install and start working:

Microsoft Virtual PC

Microsoft Virtual PC is another popular virtual machine emulator. The program is well compatible with all versions of Windows OS. If you use a Microsoft product as your main OS, we recommend choosing Microsoft Virtual PC for emulation.

Advantages and disadvantages

Benefits of the emulator:

Excellent compatibility with all versions of Windows OS. In most cases, the user does not need to install any additional drivers for the virtual OS. All of them are synchronized with the main system;
File system sharing. Access files stored on the hard drive of the PC through the VM window;
Support for 64-bit Windows OS in the "Guest Host" and "Guest Environment" operating modes;
Support for hardware virtualization.

Disadvantages:

There are paid features. The program is distributed free of charge, but you will have to buy a subscription to support setting up a group of virtual operating systems;
There is no support for Linux-like systems.

Functionality overview and first program setup

To install a virtual OS, first load its image into the computer memory, and then open Microsoft application Virtual PC. Click on the "Create a virtual machine" button and configure the following parameters in a new window:

Set the name of the new OS;
Make room for her hard disk and the size of the RAM;
Select which devices the VM will support ( network environment, flash drives, and so on).

Outcome

We've told you about the best virtual machines for Windows, but not all of them. If you think that these are not the best ones - write in the comments! Help novice readers decide which emulator to start with.

Sometimes, for different purposes, the user needs to use several systems at once. There is an option, of course, to use several computers at once or put them on one several systems, but this is inconvenient and impractical. In this situation, one solution, which has long been used among programmers and developers, is to install a virtual machine for Windows. In this article, you will learn how to install a virtual machine under Windows 7, 8, 10.

Which virtual machine should you choose?

You may not believe it, but there is a fairly large selection of virtual machines. Each of them has its own specific functionality and features. Please note that you cannot install a powerful virtual machine on a weak computer, and indeed, weak computers it is difficult to transfer programs of this kind. If your PC has less than 2 GB of RAM and less than 100 GB of free hard disk space, we do not recommend installing a virtual machine. First make the increase in memory, and only then use it to the maximum.

For everyday tasks and constant use, we recommend using the program VMware Workstation , which is a whole range of applications for working with a virtual OS. You can understand it, even if you have never used such programs. It is easy to use, does not eat a lot of RAM and includes the integration of the virtual system into the main one, which allows them to be used in parallel in the same working environment. We suggest taking a close look at the VMware installation process.

We tested the 11th version of this software, it supports everything that will be necessary for both a novice user and an experienced one.

VMware Workstation Installation Process

This completes the installation process, now we are smoothly moving on to how to install the OS on a virtual machine for Windows. Please note that any OS that has an installation file is suitable for installation. Let's consider an example Windows installations 7 Maximum in VMware Workstation.

How to install an operating system on VMware Workstation

First, you need to download the OS installation file to your computer. You can use the search and find this file, or you can just ask someone installation disk(homemade) and download from there.

After downloading "Windows" to our computer, we will begin the process of installing the OS.

We create a new virtual machine. To do this, go to the menu "File - New Virtual Machine";
Negotiation of the parameters of the future VM will begin. In the first window, you will be asked how you want to install it. We offer to choose "Selective" configuration type and click "Further";
In the next window, we also click "Further";
In the next window you will be asked to select the source to install "guest" OS. If you took the installation disc, specify the drive, and if downloaded from the Internet, specify the path to the file using the button "Overview"... Then click "Further";
Now you need to provide the product key and OS user details. We only recommend choosing Windows 7 Ultimate and skip the rest;
Enter a name for the new virtual machine, or leave the old one, and then define the parameters. Let's start with the type of firmware - leave the BIOS, and the number of processors is 1/4 of the available ones. We have 4, so we put 1, but with two cores. With RAM, it's about the same, but 1/3 of the total available memory. We have 4, but about 3 are available, so we put 1 GB;
Now let's deal with the Internet for a virtual machine. We leave everything as it is and further, where they ask about the controller, the type of virtual disk;
Recommended put 20-30 GB for the hard disk of the virtual OS, and then specify the path where the virtual machine file will be stored;
Check all the installed parameters and the OS installation will start;
Further will happen standard installation OS. Just follow the course of events and, if required, enter user details;
After successful installation, start the virtual machine and check if it works;
After successfully starting the virtual machine, the system will start up. Wait for completion;
After downloading, you are taken to "Desktop" virtual machines and you can start working;
To manage a virtual machine for Windows, you need to click on the desktop;
When the work in the guest OS is completed, it is necessary to shutdown the virtual machine as correctly as when using a persistent system - "Start -" Shutdown " otherwise you can "break" it. Happy using VM for Windows 7, 8, 10!

Computer users are sometimes faced with the situation when it is necessary to work with old programs that functioned successfully on previous versions of Windows. It is not always convenient to manage two computers at once. But it is possible to install a different edition of the operating system on a working laptop. Parallel operation of two systems can be provided by a virtual machine for Windows 7 (VM). From this article you can find out:

what is VM;
what programs exist for this purpose;
how Windows 7 is installed and configured in a VM.

The second computer is real

Virtual machine - software... It creates a copy of a real computer with:

hard virtual disks;
optical software drive;
analogue of network adapters;
BIOS, etc.

A virtual laptop with its operating system runs in a separate window and takes up a certain amount of space on the physical hard disk. It looks like this:

The example shows how in a real operating system with installed Windows 7 Professional, the program works with the virtual Windows XP operating system. And it performs the same actions as on a real device.

VM tasks

Almost everyone is faced with a situation when downloaded from the network and installed program pulls a train from unnecessary applications... That is why more advanced users prefer to install the downloaded application in a virtual system and check it, both for operability and for unexpected surprises.

In addition, other tasks are being solved:

The ability to test the program.
Avoid harmful effects from suspicious programs.
Emulate a second computer network.
Check the consequences of changing the settings in the system.
Safely perform autosurfing over the network.
Reduce the likelihood of a real laptop infecting with computer viruses.
Running programs incompatible with the real operating system.

Most popular emulators

You can find many programs with which it is possible to create a virtual Windows. But it's best to check out the most popular ones.

This is the most common demon paid program, with which you can emulate the most popular operating systems:

Windows(with support for different versions).
MacOS.
Any operating system from the family Linux.
Interaction with VM from paid version emulator VMware Workstation.

Windows 7 and the created virtual machine can be easily configured by an ordinary user. The program differs in both performance and stability. In addition, despite its free-of-charge, it has ample opportunities and an intuitive interface. It is better adapted for home use than others.

VMware

Also a well-known and popular program. Found its main application in large corporations.

There are two versions of this product:

Workstation;
Player.

Version Workstation will be able to fully satisfy the needs of the user, but this is a paid program. Regular users can use free analogue Workstation - VMware Player.

The paid version supports work with systems 32 and 64, sees USB 3.0, various operating systems work quite successfully. VMware Workstation- an advanced version of a computer emulator, but due to its cost, it has found its application mainly among large companies, and not among ordinary users.

Microsoft Virtual PC

A similar virtual machine for working in Windows 7. It has a wide range of functionality and a clear, convenient and practical interface. But there is also a significant disadvantage - it can work only with operating systems of the Windows family. Other operating systems, such as Linux or Mac OS, will not run on it.

In that brief overview the three most popular virtual machines are described. Now you can see that it is best to use the program for home needs. Next, we will consider the procedure for installing and configuring it.

Mounting Windows 7 in a VirtualBox virtual machine

The process of installing a virtual operating system can be divided into several stages:

To install the program .
Download the Windows 7 image file for VM.
Installing virtual Windows 7.

Let's consider all these processes separately.

Install the VirtualBox program

First of all, you need the virtual machine itself. As already mentioned, there are several of them. We are interested in . You can download it from the official website https://www.virtualbox.org. From the proposed list, select VirtualBox 5.1.14 for Windows hosts.

The process of how to install a virtual machine is described in other articles, but there are a few points:

After the Internet connection is restored, you can start downloading and installing the finished VM file in Windows 7.

Finding a finished VM

Microsoft for testing different versions Internet Explorer(8, 9, 10, 11) specially prepared several options for downloading from its website VM with preinstalled Windows versions(7; 8.1; 10) https://developer.microsoft.com/ru-ru/microsoft-edge/tools/vms/. If this link is not available, the browser will automatically redirect to the English version of the site https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/tools/vms/

So, first you need to choose windows image 7 with any IE version (8, 9, 10, 11).

Select from the drop-down list the item which virtual machine will undoubtedly be used. In our case, it is.

And click on the Download .zip button. The zip file download process will begin.

It remains to install and run the virtual machine on Windows 7.

Adjusting virtual Windows 7

The virtual Windows file itself is extracted from the "IE10.Win7.For.Windows.VirtualBox.zip" archive.

After the file is extracted, right-click on it
and from the drop-down list we choose “ To open with».

In principle, nothing needs to be changed in the import parameters. You can leave it as it is and click the Import button.

The configuration process starts. The "" window looks like this:

After the process is over, the new 7 and VM will appear in the program list. To start it, you just need to either double-click on the VM itself, or click on the button with the arrow “ Run". The process of starting the operating system will begin immediately. If you install it for the first time, it will take a little longer, however, the same happens when installing a real OS. Once the installer has completed all the necessary steps, a desktop appears with working system Windows 7.

Windows 7 on English language and the created virtual machine is ready to start.

Configure a virtual system

All VM controls are intuitive. But if you have any questions, you should carefully read the pop-up tips in Russian. You can turn to help for help, where you can find answers to all questions.

Usually, both mouse and keyboard work only in VMs and are blocked in real Windows. But it is possible to switch between the two systems using the Right Control host key.

Now that the virtual machine is installed and running, you can configure Windows. The first step is to install software components (drivers) for all virtual devices. The process is simple enough. You need to go to the main menu and in the line “ Devices" click on the " Install guest OS add-ons».

After the installation is complete, the VMs are rebooted. Now the picture has become clearer, the VM window can be dynamically changed, support for mouse integration will be connected, access to the Internet will open.

It also has the ability to expand the function of the displays. In this mode, the windows that open in the VM will be displayed on the real desktop, and not in an independent program window. This makes it possible to facilitate access to all controls and installed VM programs.

Shutting down virtual Windows 7

As in a real laptop in a VM installed Windows requires a specific order for completion. You can quit by pressing the button to quit. A menu will open, which will offer three options for closing the VM.

« Save machine state"- before disconnecting, the machine will save all running applications at the time of disconnection. When the VM is turned on again, work in it can be continued from the moment it was turned off.

« Send shutdown signal»- all applications can be closed, and the machine will turn off automatically.

« Turn off the car"- in the same way as if a real computer were de-energized.

Conclusion

From this small overview, it can be seen that working with virtual machines, such as, makes it possible to connect several different operating systems at once on one device. Naturally, the more powerful the real device (RAM and CPU), the faster virtual computers will also work. Disabling the antivirus on your own machine or if in the list of exclusions will also help speed up the work antivirus software add a virtual directory.