Windows 11

cleo43 wrote:
I use Linux, running Win 7 & XP without any problem.
Windows 7 stuck its nose on my very old Brother DCP-7020 Printer/Scanner, so I found an XP ISO on Archive.Org, install it on VBox, whip out the driver CD and everything works again.
A minimum install of XP takes less than 10G, and when not running, takes no CPU ressource at all. I print/scan once or twice in a blue moon.
I have'nt touched real Windows for a while.

Using Linux as a Host?

Yes, that will make a difference as long as your Linux has a driver that works with the old peripheral hardware.

But that is like comparing apples to oranges when it comes to using Win10 64bit as a Host and running XP/7/8 as a guest.

If Win10 64 bit has no drivers that recognizes your old peripheral hardware there is no way you will be able to get any VM guest to be able to talk to that hardware..

I don't do Linux and I suspect that 98% of the world does not do Linux.. Looked at it yrs ago, hardware driver support is limited at best, software support is limited at best, UI not obvious, command line can be clunky, installing software and drivers is not straightforward.. All of those I suspect are the reason you are using XP and Win7 in VMs perhaps?

If that is the reasoning you are using VMs, then why bother with the Linux Host? You CAN setup multi boot XP/7/8 and yes even Win10/11 basically having multiple OS boot options you can choose from.. Or you can setup Win7 pro which offers the option for a VM of XP.. Win10 Pro includes the option of running VMs already baked into it. Home versions do not offer built in VMs which is why I like the Pro versions.

The reality is using Linux as a Host and running XP or any other Guest OS does not make your PC any more "secure" from viruses and you are taking a hit on speed (Guests WILL always be slower than the Host OS)..