VirtualBox

[Krakerman]

I'm sure this has been asked before or posted, but I did a search a found nothing about how to get this to run from GameEx. I tried creating a shortcut to my VB WinXP by creating the shortcut within VB, but when I setup GameEx to run it it just exits back to GameEx. Anyone have this setup in GameEx and would like to share how to get it running.

Thanks.

BTW here is a good logo image I found for VB as well

[Draco1962]

Not sure about getting this to run through GameEx so wouldn't be the one to ask but my guess is that it would have to run as an external application and not as an emulator

VirtualBox is Oracle's (formerly Sun) take on full OS virtualization, unlike DosBox which virtualizes a DOS environment. It is akin to Microrsoft's Virtual PC 2007 and VMWare products. To run anything in these requires a registered license of the Windows or other commercial OS that you are running as a virtualized system generally saved in an ISO format . Most Linux variants are free.

Virtualised environments are fun to play with and, sometimes, you can get good results with some of the older legacy programs and games, however, there are limitations due to the GPUs, Sound cards and CPUs being simulated and really take having a pretty good knowledge of the OS you are attempting to run as a VM (Virtual Machine) to overcome these limitations.

[Krakerman]

I have a copy of Win XP Home that I bought at Fry's and installed and running perfect even from the desktop shortcut I created on the desktop, but when I tried setting it up in GameEx via batch file (*.lnk) it doesn't run for some reason, but will work when I click on the shortcut on the desktop.One reason for setting this up this way is I am running GameEx as an Entertainment Media Center and not on an Arcade Cabinet.Guess I'll mess with it more later and see what I come up with.

[Draco1962]

Have you tried running it as a an external app invoking the exe file directly instead of through a link file?

[fRequEnCy]

How are you running this? As an emulator, external app, etc. Please give more info. What is your command-line for what you're trying to do? Did you try troubleshooting with the runitgame.bat file?

[Draco1962]

OK so you are running it as an HTPC - have you considered linking directly from within MCE instead of GameEx? That might not be preferable but, depending on how you are trying to launch it from within GameEx, it may be the better alternative if we can't figure out a way for you to get it running launching through GameEx (and I think it is doable!).

[Krakerman]

After some searching on the Internet and figuring out all the command line options of VirtualBox I got it working with GameEx.

[wobbly]

After some searching on the Internet and figuring out all the command line options of VirtualBox I got it working with GameEx.

maybe you could tell as all how you did it? may help someone

[Krakerman]

Gladly!

Well I basically created a shortcut to my VirtualBox OS. My Shortcut was named "Microsoft Windows XP Home.lnk". Then I set up VirtualBox in GameEx like you would run a batch file except the command line should read as follows: VBoxManage.exe startvm "[ROM]". I also created a advanced config file named "VirtualBox.ini" to look at two files named: "VirtualBox" & "VBoxSVC" where is ask for Additional processes to wait to exit or close on exit. Added the Advanced config file to my VirtualBox setup in GameEx.

That's it and it runs perfectly.

Make sure your Roms folder is where you have the .lnk file located and the Startup folder is pointed where VirtualBox is installed.

Enjoy!

[Draco1962]

Gladly!

Well I basically created a shortcut to my VirtualBox OS. My Shortcut was named "Microsoft Windows XP Home.lnk".

Where? As an Emulator or as an External Application?

Then I set up VirtualBox in GameEx like you would run a batch file except the command line should read as follows: VBoxManage.exe startvm "[ROM]". I also created a advanced config file named "VirtualBox.ini" to look at two files named: "VirtualBox" & "VBoxSVC" where is ask for Additional processes to wait to exit or close on exit. Added the Advanced config file to my VirtualBox setup in GameEx.

That's it and it runs perfectly.

Make sure your Roms folder is where you have the .lnk file located and the Startup folder is pointed where VirtualBox is installed.

Enjoy!

Where is the Advanced Config file to VirtualBox located? Where was it added in GameEx?

Not trying to bust your chops (well, actually I am! LOL!) but if you wouldn't mind maybe providing more step-by-step detail for future reference that all interested can use should they decide to use this program. Not everyone is experienced and assume your audience is all n00bs when you provide instruction will help to avoid quite as many questions later!

I think that using a virtualized environment, while not always the best for running all games, is a great way to provide protection to your system. Provided you make regular backups of your virtual environment, many of the VM products allow for restoring from backups (this varies by product with ease and process). Great if you want to add an additional layer to surfing the web (if virtualized session is protected by anitvirus and antimalware software) but should become compromised. You can often kill it, restore from back-up, and be able to go once again as if nothing happened!

Thanks!

[Krakerman]

@Draco Where you say? As an emulator

Here is the code to save this as VirtualBox.ini and put it in your Config/Emulators folder within GameEx. This will be the file within your VirtualBox emulator setup to set as the Advanced Config. I have a real hard time trying to explain these things so if someone else wants to jump in and explain it better than me feel free.

------ Cut --------

# This is an advanced emulator configuration file. It does things such as allow keyboard only emulators to be operated by a gamepad, wait for additional processes to exit and map keys. If this file is used it overrides the MAPKeys setting for the emulator.

[GENERAL]

# Enabled. Use this.

Enabled=True

#Make MCE Back button and X-ARCADE Escape and SlikStik Escape to close emulator process

MapBack=True

#Make Escape key close emulator process

MapEscape=false

#When exiting an emulator via the above mappings, you can specify keys in the send keys format to send instead of having GameEx close the process to cleanly exit the emulator. Such as the Q Key or ALT F4 which is %{F4}

KeysToSendOnExit=

#Wait for keys to be processed by the emulator

EmuWaitForKeys=True

#Additional processes to wait to exit or close on exit. Dont include the .exe. Leave blank not to use.

Process1=VirtualBox

Process2=VBoxSVC

Process3=

Process4=

[JOYMAPPING]

# For mapping a GamePad to keys

# Specify a virtual key code to send when the specific joystick control is pressed. Look at vkcodes.htm for codes.

JoymappingEnabled=FALSE

Left=

up=

Right=

Down=

Button1=

Button2=

Button3=

Button4=

Button5=

Button6=

Button7=

Button8=

Button9=

Button10=

Button11=

Button12=

[GAMEPADEXIT]

#MAP Gamepad controls to exit and make controls exit process

MapGamePadExit=True

#Flag the controls that exit a game by placing True next to each control. To not use the control as part of the combination use a 0

Left=True

Down=

Right=

Up=True

Button1=

Button2=

Button3=

Button4=True

Button5=True

Button6=True

Button7=

Button8=

Button9=

Button10=

Button11=

Button12=

[MOUSEMAPPING]

# For registered users, the ability to control the mouse with a gamepad and/or directional keys.

# For example for PC strategy games.

# Apparantly this functionality is similar to the software Pinnacle profiler. Remember you can setup an emulator

# as one PC game. Specify enabled, and mousespeed 0-20. 20 Being fastest. This setting overrides the directional

# mapping for the above and buttons 1 and 2 Button 1/CTRL becomes left mouse. Button 2/ALT Right mouse

MouseMappingEnabled=False

MouseSpeed=0

[bLOCKKEYS]

# Use this section to disable and block key presses and mouse clicks.

# To disable the mouse clicks use code 1 for left mouse button,

# 2 for right button and 4 for middle button

Enabled=False

BlockKey_1=1

BlockKey_2=2

BlockKey_3=4

BlockKey_4=

BlockKey_5=

[KEYBOARDREMAP]

# Remap Keys for the emulator. Specify from the from key, which is the key you wish to replace the to key

# This should be good enough for real time gaming. Registered version feature. Look at VKCodes.htm for codes.

Enabled=False

Remap_1_From_VK=

Remap_1_To_VK=

Remap_2_From_VK=

Remap_2_To_VK=

Remap_3_From_VK=

Remap_3_To_VK=

Remap_4_From_VK=

Remap_4_To_VK=

Remap_5_From_VK=

Remap_5_To_VK=

------- End ------------

Creating the shortcut to your Virtual Enviroment in VirtualBox is done in the VirtualBox Manager by right clicking on your OS and create desktop icon. I put that shortcut file that I created in a directory I made in GameEx folder called "C:\GameEx\Batch Files\VirtualBox". And this will work for as many Virtual Enviroments that you make it's not limited to just one, just put all the shortcut batch files that you make in that directory.

Here is a same config to setup in GameEx (You can change the directories to wherever you put your folders):

------- Cut ----------

Enabled=True

STARTPAGENAME=VirtualBox

TITLETEXT=VirtualBox

StartPageLogo=VirtualBox

WorkingPath=C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox

RomPath=C:\GameEx\Batch Files\VirtualBox

ROMFilter=*.lnk

Command=VBoxManage.exe startvm "[ROM]"

SnapPath=C:\GameEx\Box Scans\VirtualBox

MapKeys=False

ReplaceDash=False

ReplaceUnder=True

Capitals=False

RemoveBrackets=True

ShowDesktop=True

Debug=False

ShowMostPlayed=False

configFile=VirtualBox

-------- End ---------

As for busting my chops Draco that is quite ok as it isn't the first time someone has done that and probably won't be the last time either I'd be disappointed if someone didn't (hahaha).Hopefully some of this make sense to the n00bs. If not then I'm sure they'll speak up

[Draco1962]

Perfect! Thanks for the detailed setup info. Perhaps we can get this "Pinned" in the other forum for future reference. As many of the newer PCs are better capable of running virutualization, it may be a good reference for some.