I’m using Ubuntu 11.04 (upgrading from 10.04), so it’s time to setup Windows XP in Virtual Box. Virtual box is a piece of software originally created by Sun Microsystems (now Oracle) that allows you to install an operating system “inside a box” on your computer’s desktop.
I use Ubuntu, so VirtualBox allows me to install WindowsXP in it’s own little window on my desktop (just like a browser), and you can install software, use your printer (or other USB devices), browser the web -as if it was another computer (inside your computer). You can install multiple snapshots and versions, like Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows Vista, you could even install Mac OS X, other versions of Linux, etc. I use Windows XP for Photoshop and my multi-function printer.
I came accros a weird problem today, since I upgraded to Ubuntu 11.04 I had to install WindowsXP for the first time in Virtual Box. The install went just fine until I had to “click F8 to continue” on the EULA screen. No matter what I did – the F8 just didn’t work at all the virtual box window. I’m using a Microsoft wireless comfort keyboard 4000.
I had to google a few things to figure this out, and that’s when I found that because my keyboard is a multimedia keyboard (a lot of Microsoft and Logitech keyboards are like this), they F keys are mapped to do different things (help, undo, redo, new, open, close, reply, fwd, send, etc.).
There’s actually a button I’ve never used in 20 years called “F lock”, and if you click that it turns off all the “extended capabilities” of your keyboard (same as a num lock or caps lock).
Just find that button on your keyboard as in the image above, and once you click it you should be able to return to the Virtual Box windows and click F8 to continue installing WinXP. Also, if you have problems with your F keys working on a Mac in OS X – like the tab key, scrolling, or other things – try the F lock for those as well.
Hope that helps!
