Possible to boot an OS with an image-file from the hd?

[Episodio1]

I was wondering if a computer could load the operating system from an image file stored in hard drive, so not having to boot as normal: reading all the files and checking for hardware and the things that OS's do on boot. Just copy the image file into RAM.

If it is possible, loading time would be much much shorter? Or loading a 400 Mb file would take same time?


Thanks.

[akupenguin]

It's called "hibernate". But it's not as simple as dumping RAM and restoring it; you still need to reinitialize all the stateful hardware.

[Episodio1]

But "hibernate" keeps the memory data in memory, not in hard drive, doesn't it ??

Thanks, anyway!!

[mitsubishi]

But "hibernate" keeps the memory data in memory, not in hard drive, doesn't it ??

Thanks, anyway!!

"proper" hibernate is suspend to disk, as opposed to the other sleep mode suspend to RAM.

Suse Linux comes preloaded with the ability to load straight into another OS from the boot menu with rebooting.

There was a utility called "loadlin" which could boot into linux and even as you wanted, from a ramdisk. This AFAIK doesn't work in XP, only dos and 9x. But google might like it as a starting point to find more.

[foxyshadis]

VMWare has this ability, for what it's worth (and I'm sure Xen does too).

[Blue_MiSfit]

Indeed. This is a distinct advantage that comes with virtualization.

Bring on 8GB of RAM, a 64 bit host OS, and a quad core processor!! :D

[Shinigami-Sama]

Indeed. This is a distinct advantage that comes with virtualization.

Bring on 8GB of RAM, a 64 bit host OS, and a quad core processor!! :D

they own for compile time on intensive things as well

[sunny155]

Yes, can run a Vista Ultimate on XP using Free Virtual Server 2005 R2 SP1 from Microsoft. It also supports running a Linux inside the VM. Just need a speedy HDD and atleast 1.5 GB RAM.... or use Virtual PC 2007

[Shinigami-Sama]

Yes, can run a Vista Ultimate on XP using Free Virtual Server 2005 R2 SP1 from Microsoft. It also supports running a Linux inside the VM. Just need a speedy HDD and atleast 1.5 GB RAM.... or use Virtual PC 2007

you mean they finally figured out how to do linux?
last time I used it it pretty much killed the linux install even with the drivers it was buggy
I'd still stick with VMware though, the interface is much nicer and its a more mature product

[Sharktooth]

Bochs, Virtualbox, qemu, VMWare Server... all free solutions.