Virtualization and Links 2003

I’ve had a play around running virtualization (running one operating system within another) trying out various virtualization software packages with Links 2003 and APCD.

Virtual XP inside Windows 7: This is a virtual machine (VM) mode from Microsoft and is free. It is designed for use with older applications that require XP to run properly. This doesn’t work with Links 2003 or APCD as the VM doesn’t support 3D video drivers.

VMWare (with an XP VM): I used the Workstation edition which is a reasonably complex application. Links 2003 and APCD do not work here either.

VirtualBox: This is Sun Microsystems offering. It is free and is an excellent and fairly straightforward application that is easy to configure. It does have some 3D support included.
I actually got APCD to work properly with VirtualBox (an XP VM) and it is very usable. With Links 2003 I actually got the game to load and was able to load a course but the game was unplayable  with much of the screen being blank.

VHD Technology: VHD stands for Virtual Hard Drive and is brand new technology from MS that is included in it’s two new versions of Windows (7 and Server 2008 R2). From an IT geeks perspective like myself this is fascinating technology where the only virtualized drivers is for the hard drive. Here the virtualized OS is installed as a dual-boot without the problems a normal dual-boot causes which is do all sorts of funny things to the boot sector of the hard drive.

Links 2003 would almost certainly work in this environment but currently it isn’t fully functional with older versions of Windows like XP.

Re Windows 7 and my new Sapphire 4870 with Links. It works perfectly with no issues whatsoever as long as the Aero GUI is disabled when the game is running. If anyone wants to play Links on a Windows 7 machine, stay away from Nvidia cards and drivers. The game currently has serious issues in Windows 7 with anything based on Nvidia graphics hardware.