Virtual Machine vs Actual Install

I usually use a VM to do any work I need to do in a linux environment, but I've come across a program which is leaving me wonder whether I should just do an actual install to run. My biggest concern is that the program requires at least 2GB of RAM and my laptop only has 4GB. When I tried to run the VM with a 2GB configuration, everything in the host machine seemed to chug along a lot slower and my resource monitor showed I was using up pretty much all my memory.

Is this a case where I should just do an actual install?

Can you reverse the setup? Linux host and windows guest?

Quote from vivahate : Can you reverse the setup? Linux host and windows guest?

I didn't think about that, but I'd rather not since the majority of my applications that I use are in Windows. Also, I'd only need to use the Linux environment once in a while.

What VM program are you using? Which version of Windows?

Dual boot?

If this is a program that needs to run all the time, then I would recommend a separate machine and an actual install or seeing if you can up your RAM for the VM software.

If it is not a program that needs to run all the time but only when you need it, I'd recommend a dual boot install like prozac hints on and do an actual install.

Quote from WarrenM : What VM program are you using? Which version of Windows?

I'm using VirtualBox. The Windows version is Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit and the Linux version is just Ubuntu.

Quote from prozac4312 : Dual boot?

Quote from menace33 : If this is a program that needs to run all the time, then I would recommend a separate machine and an actual install or seeing if you can up your RAM for the VM software. If it is not a program that needs to run all the time but only when you need it, I'd recommend a dual boot install like prozac hints on and do an actual install.

Sorry when I meant "actual install", I meant dual boot. I should have clarified that in my post.

Is running off a flash drive not an option? I know it loads the OS into the memory, but how much of the memory is taken up by that?

Are you low on HDD space? Why not just partition 10-20GB solely for Linux?

Quote from DinkinFlicka : I'm using VirtualBox. The Windows version is Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit and the Linux version is just Ubuntu. Sorry when I meant "actual install", I meant dual boot. I should have clarified that in my post. Is running off a flash drive not an option? I know it loads the OS into the memory, but how much of the memory is taken up by that?

Running off of a flash drive only uses up memory when you are running a Live CD version. You could also install the OS to the flash drive as long as you can boot off of it.

Quote from DinkinFlicka : I'm using VirtualBox. The Windows version is Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit and the Linux version is just Ubuntu. Sorry when I meant "actual install", I meant dual boot. I should have clarified that in my post. Is running off a flash drive not an option? I know it loads the OS into the memory, but how much of the memory is taken up by that?

You mean the Linux install? I don't see why not as long as the boot loader knows to boot from the flash drive when pointing to the Linux install.

Quote from prozac4312 : Are you low on HDD space? Why not just partition 10-20GB solely for Linux?

No I'd be willing to do that, but if I ever want to get rid of that partition, I feel like it would be a hassle to fix the Windows bootloader since I don't have any Windows Installation media.

Quote from WarrenM : Running off of a flash drive only uses up memory when you are running a Live CD version. You could also install the OS to the flash drive as long as you can boot off of it.

Quote from menace33 : You mean the Linux install? I don't see why not as long as the boot loader knows to boot from the flash drive when pointing to the Linux install.

One possible issue with this is how well a persistent install works. If I install things like python libraries, will those stick upon a reboot?

Quote from DinkinFlicka : One possible issue with this is how well a persistent install works. If I install things like python libraries, will those stick upon a reboot?

If it were a live cd type of boot no. If it were an install onto a flash drive, yes.

Quote from DinkinFlicka : I usually use a VM to do any work I need to do in a linux environment, but I've come across a program which is leaving me wonder whether I should just do an actual install to run. My biggest concern is that the program requires at least 2GB of RAM and my laptop only has 4GB. When I tried to run the VM with a 2GB configuration, everything in the host machine seemed to chug along a lot slower and my resource monitor showed I was using up pretty much all my memory. Is this a case where I should just do an actual install?

Not an expert but from your description, it sounds like you are actively using both the VM and the host OS simultaneously. In your situation, does the VM run fine but the host OS chugs? If so, then I guess the simple solution is not to do any work on the host OS while you are doing work on the VM. Setting up your computer with a dual boot will prevent you from using two OSes at once anyway so either way, you would only be working with on OS at a time.

However, if both the VM and the host OS are running really slow, then I agree with the other suggestions of running a dual boot set up.

Can you up the ram in the machine you're using, maybe to 8 gigs?