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virtualbox-ose package

can windows virus run in virtualbox os

Asked by SWAGATAK GHOSH

I like Ubuntu , but due to some programs I want to install windows inside my Ubuntu 10.10. my question is , if I install windows inside Ubuntu can the viruses (because windows is created for running viruses) run in my system Ubuntu ? Can they effect my system ? Is it will be possible to remove the windows completely after my use ?

I have another question that earlier I used windows. at that time my hard drive had 4 partitions C,D,E,F.
now I have installed Ubuntu in C drive(EXT4). the other drives are my storage, they are formatted as NTFS, now I am felling bore to mount the every time I login. spicily KDE requires passwords every time. is it possible to format my hard drives to any other format.

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SWAGATAK GHOSH (swagatak) said : 		#1

I forgot to say I want to install windows using virtualbox

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marcobra (Marco Braida) (marcobra) said : 		#2

Yes virtual pc is like a real pc so if you install Windows on it you can take viruses into the virtual machine with Windows on it.

As a good rescue method, you can save a clean virtual machine with all your usual software installed using Virtualbox menu:

File → Export Appliance

then you can restore it when windows take viruses... then restore the backup of your data

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safeer rizvi (safeerrizvi) said : 		#3

It can. But,
depending on it's type but then again it's on you, if you allow it to launch through the virtual box OS then yes but it will do no harm to you're Ubuntu Operating system. (none to any of you're other drives either if not affiliated with Ubuntu.)
the answer to you're second Q is simple you will need to format the drive whole and then re-create the partitions according to the format type you want it to be in. (this may require installing ubuntu again) but i think it can be done with the partitioner given in the installer that comes with the Ubuntu 10.10 setup.

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safeer rizvi (safeerrizvi) said : 		#4

It can. But,
depending on it's type but then again it's on you, if you allow the infected file to launch through a windows emulator (wine) then yes, but it will do no harm to you're Ubuntu Operating system. (none to any of you're other drives either if not affiliated with Ubuntu.)
the answer to you're second Q is simple you will need to format the drive whole and then re-create the partitions according to the format type you want it to be in. (this may require installing ubuntu again) but i think it can be done with the partitioner given in the installer that comes with the Ubuntu 10.10 setup.

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Best delance (olivier-delance) said : 		#5

Can the viruses (because windows is created for running viruses) run in my system Ubuntu ? Yes, as the computer is emulated at 100%. You have all Windows functionalities, including all viruses. So you could need an anti-virus.
Can they effect my system ? Your virtual box is what is called a sand box. Except if you define a shared folder, the host machine (Ubuntu in your case) will be unaffected. As Windows software doesn't run on Ubuntu (except under Wine packet), executable virus are disabled. But it exists also "macro" virus which are made of pseudo-code run by software like Office Suite, Adobe Reader and some others, and they could theoretically do damage on computer. But practically, today, virus activity on Linux is null.
Is it will be possible to remove the windows completely after my use ? You can delete virtual machine, but you can also freeze virtual machine when you don't use it, which will reduce opportunity for virus to infect virtual machine. It is possible to save this freeze state on a file, to restart immediately (2s.) the virtual machine.
I use such virtual machine with XP on it and I don't use anti-virus. This virtual machine is alive a few time each week to reed some e-magazine.

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delance (olivier-delance) said : 		#6

"is it possible to format my hard drives to any other format." The format is the way folder hierarchy is coded in partition. The disk mounting simply use format information to select partition "driver" which fits partition format. What you need is to do a copy on contents of partition on an external device, format previous partition in ext4 and copy back data. I know any software able to convert NTFS partition into a Linux one.

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SWAGATAK GHOSH (swagatak) said : 		#7

Sir,
thanks to you both........

@ marcobra (Marco Braida) I am new Ubuntu user. plz tell me in details I cannot understand the part "File → Export Appliance"
thank you.

@safeer rizvi I cannot understand
  "it can be done with the partitioner given in the installer that comes with the Ubuntu 10.10 setup."
what type of partition should i use for that purpose, EXT4.

.

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delance (olivier-delance) said : 		#8

I forget to tell you that Virtual Box allow you to make snapshot which allow you to go back. When a snapshot is done, the whole virtual disk is not copied. Virtual Box store only differences between two snapshots, so it's not too costly.

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delance (olivier-delance) said : 		#9

I forget to tell you that Virtual Box allow you to make snapshot which allow you to go back. When a snapshot is done, the whole virtual disk is not copied. Virtual Box store only differences between two snapshots, so it's not too costly.

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SWAGATAK GHOSH (swagatak) said : 		#10

thanks delance ,thanks a lot. I never get any such good community.
thank a lot to all ..............

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SWAGATAK GHOSH (swagatak) said : 		#11

Thanks delance, that solved my question.