Hi, A quick question about VM's. If I fire up Windows 8.1 in a VM will it give me a true representation of my drivers used inside of it ? The reason I ask is I tried the RTM leak and couldn't get my keyboard working on my laptop at all, so I went back to Windows 8. Over the last week or so I have reinstalled windows 8 several times ( due to another unrelated issue) and and don't really want to be doing it again , until I make permanent the move to 8.1. What would be the best VM to use as well please and would I have any issues installing drivers inside a VM. Thanks. Edit : Here are my laptops specs if needed : Win 8 Core X64 Intel i5 3230 mobile Intel 4000 HD mobile. 8 Gig DDR3
Go for VMware workstation. Regarding drivers, devices the virtual machines see are not the actual hardware in the machine. So in short no worreis just install VM tools after installing VM....
Thanks that looks like what I am after as it will definitely use my system drivers and allow me to work out fixing the keyboard issue without reinstalling. I did have a go with that before posting but got a blue screen , saying something like " I'm trying to install x64 on an x 86 machine". I think its down to my BIOS being locked for VT, "Securable" ( grc.com/securable.htm) says my laptop can support hardware virtualization. Would the tool kit and that functionality to Workstation ? Thanks for the answers appreciate it lots.
No dice with either I'm afraid. My BIOS don't contain any option for VT and they are running the latest firmware. I think I have two updates to choose from on the Acer driver website. Oh the joys of cheap laptops and crappy updates. It was the cheapest i5 laptop available and I went for it. VHD is it then Thanks.
If you take Tito's advice you don't need VT extensions. I have Windows 7 Ent, Windows 8 Pro and Windows 8.1 Pre all installed and running (badly ) on an old Acer One in VHD's I don't think the original Atom CPU's had any VT extensions.