I am looking at upgrading from Windows XP to Windows7. I have a lot of development programs that would take 2-3 days to set-up configure etc. etc. when I get my new machine. What I want to do is create a VHD of my physical XP machine install Windows 7 and then operate out of my Virtual PC while I take the time to configure Windows 7. Is this possible to do? If so how do you do it?
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You should use the free Disk2VHD tool which will create a VHD from a disk, even if currently running. It also neatens up the device listings so the VHD will boot correctly under VirtualPC/Hyper-V/Windows Virtual
This tool was written by Mark Russinovich and the gang at SysInternals. It runs perfectly.
IDisposable
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You could use VMWare converter and VMware server. Both of which are free.
geeklin
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Could I use Virtual PC with the image created by VMWare converter? – runxc1 Bret Ferrier Sep 29 '09 at 14:43
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No, but if you NEED to use Virtual PC follow these steps http://support.microsoft.com/kb/912826 – geeklin Sep 29 '09 at 17:54
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There should be an easy way to do it. I don't have direct experice with the VM capibilities of Windows 7 (yet, no time to try it out), but the long way around it would be to convert physical to VMWare HD, then use a tool to convert to Virtual PC. http://vmtoolkit.com/files/folders/converters/entry8.aspx
Not very clean, but could work.
The other way that might work is to use an imaging program like Acronis to image the drive, then in Windows 7, create a new VHD, restore your image to that VHD. http:/ /www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/566-virtual-hard-disk-create-attach-vhd.html
Just thoughts, haven't tested it out or anything.
Good luck!
JBickford
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I tried the vmtoolkit tool and could not boot the VHD image that it created. – runxc1 Bret Ferrier Oct 05 '09 at 15:49