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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Can I setup Linux on a VM and then swap to that setup permanently if it works well for me? (lemm.ee)

submitted 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Not really sure how dualbooting or vms work at their core. I'm kind of over windows and want to swap, always liked the customizability aspect and have been using Linux more and more for self hosting purposes. Was wondering if I setup linux on my external ssd using a vm if I could change it from vm to a dualboot drive after I'm done setting it up. That way I could setitup and swap to it while keepign my original ssd with my windows install,. and not have to deal with dualbooting and going back and forth while setting up?

Can I make a vm of my current windows machine backup and run that in a linux setup?

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 days ago (3 children)

That would definitely be a technical challenge, but also it's absolutely possible.

I used to do dual-boot Windows + Linux and I could run the Linux installation from a VM in Windows as well as the Windows installation from a VM in Linux.

When rebooting between metal and VM, Windows would always spend a few minutes "doing things" before continuing to boot, but it worked.

Linux would not even fret. It would just boot normally without any complaints.

I don't remember exactly which distro I had at the time, but probably it was Linux Mint.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

Interesting. Does modern Windows allow booting OEM version into VM? Historically it was a) not allowed by license, b) not possible because Windows tended to hard configure to your motherboard hardware for example. Back in the Windows 7 days, I had to buy a separate Windows 7 Pro version to move from dual booting windows to running windows in a VM and dumping the annoying dual boot config. Back then the Consumer and OEM versions were not allowed to run in VMs. Non-OEM Pro and Enterprise were.

Also, I agree. Linux generally can boot into changing environments without issue. Windows, always a question.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 days ago

Iirc I had a Windows 7 (maybe 8 or 10) Home OEM, original (not cracked), but it still worked. Perhaps if I had kept using it for long periods in the VM it would have started complaining? Anyways I booted it baremetal from time to time, so maybe that's why it kept working.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

yup, I did the "linux running metal" and using the same partition with a VM in Windows and it worked fine. It was years ago, certainly Ubuntu or MX Linux. IIRC the linux partition cannot be on the same drive than the linux partition, it needs to be a different drive.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 days ago

For me it was the same drive. I remember I had to generate a special file to convince VirtualBox to use the physical partition as if it was part of a different drive. I don't remember the details. Quite hacky perhaps, but it worked.