Category:Tutorial

Hyper-V (comes with windows 8)

with Hyper-V you can test reactos in a virtual machine on your windows 8 pc. see also alternatives qemu or virtual box

first you have to add Hyper-V to your windows 8 installation. in explorer go to add/uninstall programs. on the left is: windows features activate. there you check the Hyper-V. easy.

now on the start page you will find 'Hyper-V manager'. make a link to desktop or start for easy use.

in hyper-v create a virtual machine. use the type 1 (no secure boot). remove the netcard and the scsi component. from the new virtual pc. add a virtual disk 'hdd1.vdh' with 1GB and MBR-partition style. not use .vdhx. important: in the virtual disk don't create a volume or drive letter, yet. don't format it yet. add the reactos-install-iso as cd/dvd image to the VM.

start the VM .. it should boot from the install cd. you should see the light blue background. in installer you create a big partition and format it with FAT. let the installer install a bootloader in VBR, not in MBR. installation is fast. reboot from disk and enjoy. reactos will find a ACPI device but not a driver. just click it away. when you shutdown the VM you can mount/unmount the virtual disk in your windows 8 explorer. with right click und the hdd1.vdh. now you can copy/rename/delete files in your reactos installation.

the Hyper-V also allows kernel debugging. you create a pipe for the virtual com port. it is the same like kernel debugging of a normal windows-VM. google kernel debugging with hyper-V.