Which VM to use?

Bree said:

A 16 bit app will run in 32-bit Windows 10, and W10 will be supported until 14th October 2025. After that it will continue to work, but you may want to avoid connecting to the internet as W10 will get no further security updates. For your purposes it would seem that internet connectivity is not a requirement, so it should be safe to stay offline and continue using W10.

You don't actually need a VM to be able to run another OS, you could have an laptop set aside with 32 bit W10 installed, or could dual-boot on your main machine.

One simple way to dual boot that does not affect the set up of your currently installed OS is to native boot a .vhdx file.

Create Windows 11 Virtual Hard Disk (VHDX) at Boot to Native Boot Tutorial

This tutorial will show you how to create a Windows 11 Virtual Hard Disk (VHDX) file at boot and natively boot it to dual boot with Windows 10 or Windows 11 Pro, Education, or Enterprise editions. Native Boot allows you to create a virtual hard disk (VHDX), install Windows to it, and then boot...

www.elevenforum.com

Click to expand...

I already have a laptop with 32bit Win 10 installed and it's failing. I don't wish to purchase another laptop and front the same problem again. Most laptops these days are made for 64 bit and getting 32 bit drivers for them is a problem. I'm thinking a VM is the solution as I have an over powered desktop machine spending most of its life doing not very much.

My current desktop runs UEFI and Secure Boot and does not natively support 32 bit Windows operating systems. If it did then dual boot would be my preferred option.

I agree about keeping a VM Win 10 off the internet once it is no longer supported. In 3 years time I am hoping that one way or the other my needs for all of this will no longer exist.

I'll look into native booting a VHDX file but it might be less convenient than running a VM as a Win 11 guest. I don't know yet but I suspect I might have to run a Hyper-V VM to create a VHDX. If that is the case I wouldn't take that path as a dual boot.

thanks Bree.

BobD said:

I'll look into native booting a VHDX file but it might be less convenient than running a VM as a Win 11 guest. I don't know yet but I suspect I might have to run a Hyper-V VM to create a VHDX. If that is the case I wouldn't take that path as a dual boot.

Click to expand...

No, if you go the native boot route then the tutorial I gave a link for shows how to set it up and install an OS in the .vhdx without needing to use Hyper-V.

Bree said:

A 16 bit app will run in 32-bit Windows 10, and W10 will be supported until 14th October 2025. After that it will continue to work, but you may want to avoid connecting to the internet as W10 will get no further security updates. For your purposes it would seem that internet connectivity is not a requirement, so it should be safe to stay offline and continue using W10.

You don't actually need a VM to be able to run another OS, you could have an laptop set aside with 32 bit W10 installed, or could dual-boot on your main machine.

One simple way to dual boot that does not affect the set up of your currently installed OS is to native boot a .vhdx file.

Create Windows 11 Virtual Hard Disk (VHDX) at Boot to Native Boot Tutorial

This tutorial will show you how to create a Windows 11 Virtual Hard Disk (VHDX) file at boot and natively boot it to dual boot with Windows 10 or Windows 11 Pro, Education, or Enterprise editions. Native Boot allows you to create a virtual hard disk (VHDX), install Windows to it, and then boot...

www.elevenforum.com

Click to expand...

VM's are the best way to do it these days -- BTW I even had a 64 bit VM running on a Windows 32 bit XP Host -- although of course the 4GB limitation of the 32 bit OS was there. I had a W7 64 VM bit running quite nicely on an Windows XP 32 bit Host -- although to do this then you did need to have (of course) a 64 bit capable processor with the various VT things enabled. Host CPU was an Intel Pentium IV.

These days if you are worried about the cost of heating for your home in Winter try running a couple of machines with those old Intel Pentium IV processors -- they would probably generate enough heat to cook your thanksgiving turkeys etc on !!!


Cheers
jimbo

Bree said:

No, if you go the native boot route then the tutorial I gave a link for shows how to set it up and install an OS in the .vhdx without needing to use Hyper-V.

Click to expand...

I always set up vhdx file in Hyper-V first and install it there, then create a native boot entry for the vhdx file afterwards.

That way, the vhdx file also contains the efi partition necessary to boot it from Hyper-V if you wish to do so. I often do updates via Hyper-V so I can carry on using host whilst updates are done in the background.

Also good -- can't add anything more constructive to that post either, (or even destructive !!!)..

cheers
jimbo

I have created my VM, installed Windows 10 Pro 32bit, installed NTVDM, and installed and configured my application. My host Win 11 has connection to my VM Windows 10 and the reverse also. I have a working system. I'll have to decide how to back up my applications data on the VM.

BTW, installing the application is just copying the folders into their place, setting compatibility for the EXE, copying the INI file into Windows\System32, and some minor settings. This application is too old for the Registry so nothing complex needed. The original installer put all of the files into the Windows folder. This not done now. Other complications are that the application has restrictions on path length and each path element is limited to 8 chars without spaces. If any of these are not compliant it hangs.

Some comments:

Some questions:

1. I can (and do) auto start the VM on host login. Is it possible to have a desktop icon to start the VM and connect to it? My usage of this VM will be occasional.
2. When I connect to the VM, I have to login. Is it possible to auto login? I have used exactly the same Windows login and PW as I use for the host Win 11. I have adjusted the registry and used netplwiz to create an auto login to the VM Win 10
3. My WM Win 10 is not activated. It seems that I don't need to unless I want to do Personalization. Is there any other advantage or need for activation?
4. When creating the VM, I set the WM window resolution to 1920x1080. When I connect I get a full screen window to match my 4k monitor. Is there any way to limit it to the smaller window? Settings does not allow change of resolution via remote connect.

BobD said:

I can (and do) auto start the VM on host login. Is it possible to have a desktop icon to start the VM and connect to it? My usage of this VM will be occasional.

Click to expand...

Yes. For a Hyper-V VM you can create a shortcut to C:\Windows\System32\vmconnect.exe localhost "name of your VM"
This must be run as an administrator. Once you have created your shortcut you can set that in its Advanced Properties.

BobD said:

When I connect to the VM, I have to login. Is it possible to auto login? I have used exactly the same Windows login and PW as I use for the host Win 11. I have adjusted the registry and used netplwiz to create an auto login to the VM Win 10

Click to expand...

I avoid having to log in by setting the account in my VM to have a blank password.

BobD said:

My WM Win 10 is not activated. It seems that I don't need to unless I want to do Personalization. Is there any other advantage or need for activation?

Click to expand...

For activation purposes a VM is no different from any other machine. It has its own unique hardware ID and requires activation in its own right to gain a digital licence. If you have an old Win7/Win8/Win8.1 key that is no longer being used then you can use that to activate Windows 10. Even the key from the CoA sticker of a dead Win7 PC will work.

While an unactivated machine will work (with some minor restrictions) it is against the EULA to continue using an unactivated Windows.

Once you have activated a Hyper-V VM do NOT just delete it else you'll loose its digital licence. If you need to delete the VM and start over, then you should preserve the VM for reuse.

BobD said:

When creating the VM, I set the WM window resolution to 1920x1080. When I connect I get a full screen window to match my 4k monitor. Is there any way to limit it to the smaller window? Settings does not allow change of resolution via remote connect.

Click to expand...

You should be able to set any resolution you like in the Settings app of the VM itself, as I can.

@Bree , Your reply seems to have sorted me out very well. Thanks, Bob.