“There is another user sharing this computer”

[MacBiter]

For fun, I tried a VM & OS X 10.6.11 so that I could run my old 32 bit applications on a Mac with Apple Silicon S.O.C. (M4)

It simply would not work. From my research, the best information I have is that Apple's S.O.C. architecture can't do 32 bit no matter what is presenting it.

No you can't. A VM has to use the same architecture as the host machine as it’s actually installing another OS not emulating it like Rosetta does. So Apple Silicon - which is ARM - can only run an ARM-based OS, which rules out most older OS’s.

 

[MacBiter]

In Case This Helps Figure It Out:
My OS that I had when I used Virtual Box for Windows & DOS virtual machines gave a similar message when I would click the computer to shut down. Quitting the virtual machine and virtual box before shutting the Mac down stopped it.

Note, however, that this was on a much older operating system than yours. (OS X 10.11.6 machine with Windows XP Pro, Windows 98 or MS DOS as the virtual machines.)

My wife has a computer using OS X 10.6.x and Virtual Box. She has to also shut the Virtual Box and the Windows down before quitting to avoid the message.

Paul
PS: For the little it is worth, I very much liked Virtual Box versus Parallels for its stability and zippiness. (Not to mention the zero cost.)

I'll try that from now on, thanks.

By the way I hate VirtualBox compared to Parallels : you can't drag its window to a new size like Parallels, in order to increase the resolution; the mouse is slow or jumpy and horrible to use; and the last thing I would call it is ‘zippy’!.

 

[PGB1]

I'll try that from now on, thanks.

By the way I hate VirtualBox compared to Parallels : you can't drag its window to a new size like Parallels, in order to increase the resolution; the mouse is slow or jumpy and horrible to use; and the last thing I would call it is ‘zippy’!.

That's interesting, MacBiter. Your experiences must have to do with a different host machine or OS than mine.

On my old computer with Virtual Box and I can resize the window the same ways as one can with other applications. (Drag a corner or click the green button in the windows corner for full screen)

I've no troubles with the trackpad pointer being jumpy. So many things all work together, so it makes sense that one machine is troublesome and one is "zippy".

People at the link below are really helpful, should you ever decide to try VirtualBox again. I learned lots of tricks and techniques from them.

virtualbox.org - Index page

Paul
PS: in #19 I didn't explain well. The 32 bit applications and OS X I tried to run were Mac. I understand that Parallels and WINE can let Windows 32 bit applications run on Apple silicon. But, I may be misinformed, ar there may be glitches.

 

[MacBiter]

On my old computer with Virtual Box and I can resize the window the same ways as one can with other applications. (Drag a corner or click the green button in the windows corner for full screen)

What was your Mac and OS, and which version of VirtualBox were you using?
.

People at the link below are really helpful, should you ever decide to try VirtualBox again. I learned lots of tricks and techniques from them.

virtualbox.org - Index page

Thanks - yes the forums are very good, and there's lots of help how to make the app work when you get started.

PS: in #19 I didn't explain well. The 32 bit applications and OS X I tried to run were Mac. I understand that Parallels and WINE can let Windows 32 bit applications run on Apple silicon. But, I may be misinformed, ar there may be glitches.

You can't run Mac 32-bit anything on Apple Silicon. However, Windows 32-bit apps MAY run if there's an emulator in Windows ARM that allows them? That would be the only way.

 

[PGB1]

What was your Mac and OS, and which version of VirtualBox were you using?
.

Mac OS X 10.11.6 and Mac OS X 10.6 were the operating systems. Processor is Intel,
Virtual Box Version 5.0.20 r106931

I don't know if this is of interest, but Parallels Com has one year on sale for 64.99 USD (1 year). They also have a link to get free upgrade if you already have Parallels.

Run Windows on Mac with a virtual machine | Parallels Desktop

Download Parallels Desktop virtual machine to run Windows on Mac without rebooting or slowing down your Mac, plus get over 200,000 Windows apps.

www.parallels.com

 

[MacBiter]

Mac OS X 10.11.6 and Mac OS X 10.6 were the operating systems. Processor is Intel,
Virtual Box Version 5.0.20 r106931

I don't know if this is of interest, but Parallels Com has one year on sale for 64.99 USD (1 year). They also have a link to get free upgrade if you already have Parallels.

Run Windows on Mac with a virtual machine | Parallels Desktop

Download Parallels Desktop virtual machine to run Windows on Mac without rebooting or slowing down your Mac, plus get over 200,000 Windows apps.

www.parallels.com

Ok - I'm using VB 6.1.50 in High Sierra so it OUGHT to be better, sadly not. Having said that, I found running a VM of 10.6 was far better than Mavericks.

I've actually bought Parallels 15 from eBay with 1 year on it, for around £30 including shipping - I did have Parallels 11 but installing it on another machine was a nightmare: it recognised me, and the licence key, but wouldn't activate, just giving a senseless message to “check your internet connection and try again" (my internet is full fibre and always on!). Parallels wouldn't give any kind of upgrade from such an old version, but I'm hoping to install Parallels 15 without the senseless message.