Locking state of PC in VMware

[TechSupp]

Installed Vmware player and created a virtual XP PC as I want to test out some software installs and maybe the new cameo software. Can I lock off the PC from saving any settings or installed programs when I shut it down so I still have my 'virgin' VIRTUAL xp pc when I start it up again? Sure I remember doing something like this many years ago? If not whats the best way to do it? Copy the virtual file to a backup and keep restoring it?

[Guest Guest]

I believe you can, but why not use VirtualBox as it is a fully fledged VM workstation app?

[TechSupp]

use VirtualBox as it is a fully fledged VM workstation app

Whats the difference? Already had VMware installed from a past project.

[Guest Guest]

Whats the difference? Already had VMware installed from a past project.

 

Virtualbox is free, vmware isnt. Functionallity wise I havn't come across anything which has limited me in virtualbox.

[ihaveaproblem]

Never heard of a way to lock the system from saving any settings. You could create a snapshot of the 'clean' state before you install anything and then once you've installed software and decide you want to go back to the clean state you can revert back using the snapshot.

I second virtualbox. Use it myself and never had any problems with it and best thing is it's free!

[glennda]

could you not use something like the MS app Steadystate which reverts the pc to its original settings (from when you ran the steadystate freeze) on reboot.

 

Its pretty simple to use although i havn't used it in a long while!.

[bio]

Installed Vmware player and created a virtual XP PC as I want to test out some software installs and maybe the new cameo software. Can I lock off the PC from saving any settings or installed programs when I shut it down so I still have my 'virgin' VIRTUAL xp pc when I start it up again? Sure I remember doing something like this many years ago? If not whats the best way to do it? Copy the virtual file to a backup and keep restoring it?

 

You'll need VMware workstation for this. the VMplayer can't do this

 

bio..

[TechSupp]

Thanks, have loaded VirtualBox and it has the snapshot feature (my bad explanation, called it locking) I was after. Must have been the workstation version I used many years ago. Edited January 26, 2011 by vikpaw
language / typo

[EduTech]

Yeah Oracle VirtualBox 4.2 is very good! new features and layout is very nice and awesome!

 

It's great as it's FREE and it does everything anyone would want to do in a TEST/DEMO Environment!

 

Nice One!

 

James.

[vikpaw]

Isn't vmware workstation free, i know vmware server is. Allows simple testing on a PC host. Only 1 snapshot though, the paid for product allows more.

[ihaveaproblem]

Isn't vmware workstation free, i know vmware server is. Allows simple testing on a PC host. Only 1 snapshot though, the paid for product allows more.

 

I beleive it's a 30 day trial and then you have to buy, i may be wrong though.

[Arthur]

Isn't vmware workstation free

It's "free" if you become a VMware Certified Professional (it costs around £100 otherwise).

[vikpaw]

strange, cos vmware server is free. well i used it as such for well over a year.

[andrew-virtusolve]

VMware Server is free, ESXi is free, workstation is a chargeable product designed for developers without Servers and powerful laptops/desktops

 

Probably easier to go MS Virtual PC (pap) or Virtualbox