How-To run Linux applications on Windows XP, Freeware
Here are a set of simple instructions that will have you running one of our Virtual Computers on Windows XP in about 20 mins. We picked Puppy Linux because its only 74Meg to download.
Get Sun xVM VirtualBox
Get 7-Zip
- Download and install the 7-Zip compression tool There are many tools available to extract the content of a "rar" file. I find 7-Zip to be functional and lightweight
Get the VDI:
Download Puppy Linux using a bit torrent client here. Puppy Linux is a very small lightweight Linux Desktop.
Uncompress the rar file.
Using windows explorer find the file that was downloaded with your bit torrent client
"VirtualBox - PuppyLinux-4.00-k2 [veedee-Eyes].rar"
- Right Click on the rar file and select "7-Zip > Open Archive"
- Double-click on the folder "VirtualBox - PuppyLinux-4.00-k2 [veedee-Eyes]" to view the VDI file inside the folder. "puppy-4.00-k2.6.21.7-seamonkey.vdi".
- Click on the "puppy-4.00-k2.6.21.7-seamonkey.vdi" file in 7-Zip
- Click on the "Copy Button" and select a location to put the VDI
(Note: "You should put this file in the default VirtualBox VDI directory which can be found from the VirtualBox Manager - Menu ->File/Preferences")
Attach the VDI in VirtualBox
Create a New Virtual Machine in VirtualBox using the uncompressed VDI file as the Hard Drive
- Run VirtualBox
- Click the "New" button
- Click "Next"
- Enter the name "My Puppy";
- Select "Linux 2.6" with the OS Type dropdown
- Select "Next"
- On the "Memory" panel select "Next"
- On the Virtual Hard Disk" panel select "Existing"
This opens the VirtualBox Virtual Disk Manager"
- Select the "Add" button.
- Select the "puppy-4.00-k2.6.21.7-seamonkey.vdi" file that was extracted in the previous steps.
- Click "Select"
- Click "Next"
- Click "Finished"
- Optional: (Configure VirtualBox General settings to match the site settings.)
Start the VirtualMachine
Click on the "Start" button on the VirtualBox toolbar
LogIn
Now you're running linux. It's that simple.

Stumble It!