
This article describes how to set up a Windows XP virtual machine on your existing Linux system. However, if your system has Windows XP installed on it, you can more easily set up a dual-boot Linux/Windows XP.

Running Windows XP in a virtual machine (VM) on your Linux laptop is a better solution than either reimaging your Linux system with XP or attempting the often precarious task of setting up a Linux/Windows XP dual-boot system next to an existing Linux installation.

If you find yourself needing to run Windows applications, especially Windows legacy applications on Windows XP, there is a solution: virtualization. Your Linux laptop can do a lot of things, but it cannot fully emulate Windows nor can it run many essential Windows programs.
