Is there a VM that will let me run my bootcamp?

[Tokiopop]

If that made any sense...

What I mean is, is there a VM that will boot Windows from my Windows (bootcamp) partition. So that it's running my own Windows, with all my programs and stuff that's already installed on my bootcamp partition, in a VM...

Sorry, I'm bad at explaining but hopefully someone understood that.

 

[tofagerl]

Yes, both Fusion and Parallels support that.

 

[Tokiopop]

Yes, both Fusion and Parallels support that.

Sweet! Thanks!

But not CrossOver?

Edit: Also, which is the best for gaming? I'm not talking about Crysis or anything (that's what bootcamp's for), but just stuff like Counter Strike: Source.

 

[Tokiopop]

In addition to my previous post, will Parallels do the same thing as my original question, but with Linux? (I have Linux installed on a 3rd partition).

 

[Anonymous Freak]

Parallels and VMware both only support booting your Boot Camp partition in the VM if the Boot Camp partition is running Windows. Sorry, no Linux Boot Camp.

Crossover doesn't do Boot Camp because it isn't the same thing as Parallels or VMware.

Parallels and VMware pretend to be a whole computer, requiring that you install an operating system inside their "Virtual Machine". This means that you have to go buy a copy of Windows to install in Parallels or VMware. (The copy you installed in Boot Camp qualifies when you use that method.)

Crossover pretends to be Windows itself; not a whole 'bare metal' computer. With Crossover, you don't use a Windows install disc. You don't install ANY Microsoft code. Crossover is a piece of software that pretend it is Windows. (It's based on the open-source WINE.)

Because Crossover isn't full-fledged Windows, it works with a limited selection of software. Go to their website and check their compatibility database for the software you want to run. If it says your software works, then Crossover would be enough for you. (Crossover has the benefit that it runs software slightly faster than Parallels/VMware, because it is just translating the code, rather than pretending to be a whole machine.)