clarify 64-bit guests requesites

[higuita]

Please put a sub-section in the item 3 of ​http://www.virtualbox.org/manual/ch03.html#intro-64bitguests (3.1 and 3.2).

let me explain...

i have a cpu without hardware virtualization support, but reading the manual i see this:

"On 64-bit hosts, 64-bit guest support is always enabled, so you can simply install a 64-bit operating system in the guest."

as i'm running a linux 64bit, i understood that i could run a 64bit guest, so i tried to install and it fails... searching the web i found this post: ​http://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=15274

only after that i understand that that sentence is not isolated from the previous items. right now, one may think that the 3 items apply for 32bit guest and the above sentence apply to 64bit host OS. the url above you see exactly the same bad interpretation of the manual.

so a simple sub-items for the 32bit and 3.2 for the 64bit is enough to clarify the requirement.

[Sander van Leeuwen]

You need to look a tiny bit harder: ​http://www.virtualbox.org/manual/ch03.html#intro-64bitguests

[higuita]

sorry, but i already know the url, i have post it :)

what i recommend its a very small change that will clarify the 64bit virtualization requirement... it's just add a "3.1" and a "3.2" to each paragraph the 3rd condition.

this i the "changed text":

3 3.1 If you want to use 64-bit guest support on a 32-bit host operating system, you must also select a 64-bit operating system for the particular VM. Since supporting 64 bits on 32-bit hosts incurs additional overhead, VirtualBox only enables this support upon explicit request.

3.2 On 64-bit hosts, 64-bit guest support is always enabled, so you can simply install a 64-bit operating system in the guest.

nothing more... yet is enough to mark the last sentence as clearly dependent of the previous requirements. other alternative is to have just one paragraph instead of two in the item 3.

anyway, right now the text may confuse user, a very small and cosmetic change can fix it. if it was in the wiki, i would already fix it. i already know the answer, other may not, this "fix" is for other (new) users.

[Klaus Espenlaub]

I think it's a bit silly to start numbering each paragraph (if in that place why not everywhere else?). The indentation already conveys this information - we use proper document markup to reflect the logical structure (two paragraphs in item 3). This is the usual convention for text, so I think this is already the way it should be.

If you have a real suggestion how to improve the readability please don't hesitate.

[higuita]

Ok, i understand you don't want to add new numbering, but it was the simplest and easier solution, others solutions might need a little tune up text.

so a new suggestion... swap the paragraphs, 64bit case first, then the 32bit... this will also solve any source of confusion as the 64bit part is clearly on item 3 and the 32bit doesn't have any chance of being confused as isolated from the previous list.

probably the 64bit text need a little change because of the changed order:

"3 On 64-bit hosts, all VMs have 64bit guests support, so you can simply install a 64-bit operating system in any of the guests.

If you want to use 64-bit guest support on a 32-bit host operating system, you must also select a 64-bit operating system for the particular VM. Since supporting 64 bits on 32-bit hosts incurs additional overhead, VirtualBox only enables this support upon explicit request."

ps: not sure if i you read this without reopening the bug... lets test and wait