How to run Windows 7 (Bootcamp) with VirtualBox

On this topic:

Super Bootcamp, and all that, but ... But there is a lot of interesting solutions!

Sometimes you want to do a small task that requires running Windows, or alternative software for the Mac, but you do not want to be overloaded in BootCamp. Or do you want to quickly switch between the operating systems ... VirtualBox, can certainly help you! It's really delicious piece of free (freeware) software which is love, and learn to use it. Go tell - nothing complicated!

VirtualBox allows you to run Windows 7, what you have in Bootcamp as a virtual machine ( VM ) Without programming skills. Thus, you can use Windows 7 without restarting the system and save the Windows 7 operation at any time, which will make it possible to run Windows from the place where the finished work. Thus, the data remains synchronized within Mac OS. And most importantly - Instead of creating a virtual hard disk file as a normal virtual machine, it uses a small special file that significantly more convenient.

Step-by-step instruction

Proinstaliruyte VirtualBox (VM) on the system Mac OS X.
Create a new virtual machine. Follow these instructions until you select Virtual hard Disk:
- - What are your the VM, choose Windows 7, click Continue (I called "Bootcamp")
- - Select the memory (RAM) to the virtual machine (put at least not less than 1 GB, 1024 MB) and click Continue.
- - Now leave things as they are, do not close anything, we will do something else before you continue ...
Open the Finder, go to the main page, look for a folder named "VirtualBox VMs", make sure it contains a folder of your virtual machine (I have this Bootcamp).
Open a terminal (Applications> Utilities> Terminal) and type the following commands diskutil list Press Enter / Return, under "/ dev / disk0" needs to be served to find the section number associated with the VM (Bootcamp). It should be 4. diskutil unmount /dev/disk0s4 If your number from the previous command, not 4, replace it instead of N to your in disk0s N (it is required to do and the last and the next team) sudo chmod 777 /dev/disk0s4 sudo vboxmanage internalcommands listpartitions -rawdisk /dev/disk0 disk0 enter it all in one line, and then press Enter / Return.
- - Enter the administrator password. Entering the password is not displayed on the screen, this is normal, continue to enter and make sure you enter the right. Then press the Enter / Return key.
- - A list of topics will be displayed. At this time you will not see their names. So make your paritition 4 (or your room which we found in the example above) Bootcamp partition (compare size).
cd VirtualBox VMs/Bootcamp/ Type cd space then Virt and press tab, the terminal automatically expand the name of your folder. Enter Bootcamp (your name VM) and then press the Enter / Return key. sudo vboxmanage internalcommands createrawvmdk -rawdisk /dev/disk0 -filename "win7.vmdk" -partitions 4 disk0 -filename "win7.vmdk" -partitions sudo vboxmanage internalcommands createrawvmdk -rawdisk /dev/disk0 -filename "win7.vmdk" -partitions 4 Enter all in one line, and then press Enter / Return.
- - If the process is successful. It will show "RAW host disk access VMDK file win7.vmdk created successfully".
- - Return to the Finder, browse the folder Bootcamp (VM folder). It should appear win7.vmdk and win7-pt.vmdk.
sudo chown (username) win7*.vmdk
- - Replace the (username) in the account name (if you are not sure, type whoami into the Terminal window and press Enter / Return.
- - Press the Enter / Return, and enter your password.
Return to VirtualBox. Select Use an existing hard drive and click the yellow folder to the right side, locate and select the created win7.vmdk, and then click Next.
VirtualBox will appear on the Summary page, then press Done.
Open the configuration created VM, to adjust the settings to your liking.
- Network: You must select Bridge adapter and network interface used to connect to the Internet.
- Shared Folders: Select the folders that you could share files between the Mac and the Windows, when you run the virtual machine. Do not forget to tick the automatic mounting.
Start the VM.
- - Install Guest Additions (select from the menu on the Mac while working with virtual machine) Device> Install Guest Additions, after the virtual CD will appear in Windows 7. Install and restart the virtual machine.
- - After the reboot, if the public folder does not appear, select Map Network Drive from the toolbar and locate the shared folder, and then select Reconnect at logon.
- - If you are using VBox's Seamless Mode, a mode that runs Windows applications on the Mac like family.

Useful add-on for usability VM:
- - Before starting the VM in Bootcamp, always first have to unload (unmount) Bootcamp partition. You must also grant permission to access the data on the disk (2nd and 3rd terminal commands in Step 4)
- - If you want this to happen automatically when you login to Mac, open a terminal and follow these steps:
- - Enter the password and press Enter. Teminal show a blank page.
- - Enter below the specified lines to the terminal (N, change the number in the / dev / disk0sN, to match the number of your disk Bootcamp).
- - Press Control + O, after the Enter to save.
- - Press Control + X to exit.
Done!

How To: Run Windows 7 (Bootcamp) in VirtualBox (original English topic)

»Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide ..."

Bootcamp is great and all, but ... the fact that we have to reboot is not!

Sometimes you want to do a little task that really has to be run on Windows or there's no alternative software for Mac, but you do not want to reboot into Bootcamp to do it. And you want to keep Bootcamp, since it lets you run Windows to its potential. Well, VirtualBox can certainly help you! It's a great piece of freeware that I recently fell in love with.

It lets you startup Windows 7 that you have on Bootcamp as a virtual machine ( VM ) Relatively easy. So the data stays in sync whether you boot up from Bootcamp or VBox inside Mac OS (since it's really the same installation). Instead of creating a virtual hard disk file like normal virtual machine, it uses a small special file that essential let the VM access the real physical disk.

Step-by-step guide:

Install VirtualBox in Mac OS X.
Create New Virtual Machine, follow the step until you have to select Virtual Hard Disk , Leave it like that. The steps are,
- Name your VM, select Windows 7, click Continue (I name mine "Bootcamp")
- Allocate Memory (Ram) for the VM (essentially, you should give at least 1 GB, 1024 MB), press Continue
- Virtual Hard Disk, leave it like that for now, do not close it or anything, we'll do something else before continue.
Open Finder, go to Home Directory, look for folder named "VirtualBox VMs", make sure it contains your VM folder (mine is Bootcamp).
Open Terminal (Applications> Utilities> Terminal) and type these commands,
- ```
  diskutil list 
```
  press Enter / Return, then look under "/ dev / disk0? find the partition number associate with your VM (Bootcamp). It should be 4.
- ```
  diskutil unmount / dev / disk0s4 
```
  If your number from previous command is not 4, replace it N with yours, in disk0sN. (Do the same in the next command)
- ```
  sudo chmod 777 / dev / disk0s4 
```
- ```
  sudo vboxmanage internalcommands listpartitions -rawdisk / dev / disk0 
```
  Type it all in one line, and press Enter / Return
  - Type your Admin password (should be your own password). Nothing will show while you're typing the password, and it's normal, keep typing and make sure you type correctly. Then press Enter.
  - It will show a Partitions List. This time you'll not see their names. So make your paritition 4 (or whatever yours is) is the Bootcamp partition. (Compare the size)
    .
- ```
  cd VirtualBox VMs / Bootcamp / 
```
  Type cd, space, then Virt and press tab, Terminal will automatically complete the folder name for you. Type Bootcamp (VM name) and press Enter.
- ```
  sudo vboxmanage internalcommands createrawvmdk -rawdisk / dev / disk0 -filename "win7.vmdk" -partitions 4 
```
  Type it all in one line, and press Enter / Return
  - If the process is successful. It will show "RAW host disk access VMDK file win7.vmdk created successfully."
  - Go back to Finder, look inside Bootcamp Folder (or your VM folder) that win7.vmdk and win7-pt.vmdk are there.
    .
- ```
  sudo chown (username) win7 * .vmdk 
```
  - The Replace (the username) with your name the Account (the If you're not sure the, of the type whoami in the Terminal and press the Enter).
  - Press Enter and type your password.
    .
Go back to VirtualBox. Select Use existing hard disk and click yellow folder on the right side to find and select the created win7.vmdk, and click Continue.
VirtualBox will present you a Summary page, click Done.
Open up Settings of the created VM, configure the settings to your liking.
- Network: you should select Bridge Adaptor, and the network interface you use to connect to the Internet.
- Shared Folders: select a folder, so you can share files between Mac and Windows while running the VM. Do not forget to tick Auto-mount.
  .
Start up the VM.
- The Install Guest Additions are (the Select from the Menu Bar in the Mac 'while' the running the the VM) the Device> the Install Guest Additions are, the then in the Windows 7, a virtual CD will be there. Install and restart the VM.
- After restart, if the Shared Folder does not show up in Computer, click Map network drive in Toolbar and look for your Shared Folder and tick Reconnect at login.
- If you use VBox's Seamless Mode, it'll be like Windows app is running on Mac natively (of course not truly natively), pretty cool.
  .
Back to Mac OS, this is what you need to know.
- Before starting up Bootcamp in VM, you'll always have to unmount Bootcamp partition first. Also you have to grant permission to access the data on the disk. (2nd and 3rd Termianl commands in step 4)
- If you want this to happen automatically after you login to Mac account, open up Terminal and follow the steps,
```
  sudo nano /etc/rc.local 
```
  1. Type your password, Enter. Teminal will show a relatively blank page.
  2. Type these lines in (change N number in / dev / disk0sN to match your Bootcamp disk)
```
  # Grant VBox permissions to Bootcamp
 sudo chmod 777 / dev / disk0s4
 diskutil unmount / dev / disk0s4 
```
  3. Press Control + O, and Enter to save chanegs.
  4. Press Control + X to exit.
End of Story

Liked? Subscribe to RSS news!
You can also support shram.kiev.ua, click:

Do not be amiss to your friends and find out this information, share with them the article!

Comments

Commenting, keep in mind that the content and the tone of your messages can hurt the feelings of real people, show respect and tolerance to his interlocutors, even if you do not share their opinion, your behavior in terms of freedom of speech and anonymity offered by the Internet, is changing not only virtual, but real world. All comments are hidden from the index, spam control.

Free Credit Card with a limit of 15,000 USD.