Windows 7 - Virtualisation

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I am looking for a laptop capable of supporting Windows 7 virtualisation. (My current laptop runs Win 7 perfectly well - but the BIOS won't allow me to switch on virtualisation.) Any suggestions. After the summer holidays I am going to start studyng for the Windows 7 exams.

 

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You just need to ensure that the processor has either Intel's VT or AMD-V capabilities.

As an example I use an old HP 2510p laptop, it's a 1.2ghz processor that has VT capabilities where as my Lenovo X60 with a 1.4ghz processor doesn't.

Next I would suggest you look for a laptop that can take a minimum of 4gb of ram, more if you can.

For a portable virtualisation capable laptop you can't go much wrong with a second hand Alienware (Dell) M11X laptop, go for the one with the SU7300 cpu however because the lower spec cpu doesn't support VT. The M11x also supports 8gb of ram.

My next virtualisation laptop is actually the larger M15x with an i7 620m processor and 8gb of ram, just waiting on the 8gb turning up before I swap out the 2510p for the M15x.

 

The BIOS of the laptop/desktop also has to support turning the feture on. On some laptops I have found it's on by default (no option relating to it). On others there is an option to enable / disable. Unfortunately I have also come across laptops where the process supports it, but the system board doesn't, so you just can't use it. Unless of course they release a firmware update to add support in.

My last work laptop definitely supported it (MSI EX625) as does my current one : Acer Aspire 5740G (Core i5 version)

 

Thanks to everyone for their time - particularly WAGNERK. You have saved me some money.

 

I think you'll find you now owe him money!