Can I load up my linux partition in Virtual Box or any Virtual Machine

Hi, I am new to virtual machine.

I have Windows 7 and Ubuntu dual boot on my single harddisk right now.

Windows 7 on sda1, ubuntu on sda2.

Just wondering, could I use any virtual machine software, virtualbox or virtual PC or vmware, to run my ubuntu on sda2 under windows 7 or to run my windows 7 on sda1 under ubuntu?

I know that it usually needs the guess OS install to as a "file". Can this "file" be my sda2 partition? Because I want to run ubuntu while I am running windows 7, at the same time. And don't want to reinstall my ubuntu.

Thanks!

You need a tool to convert an existing partition into a VM.

Then you can run the VM, but no, partitions cannot be run directly as a VM.

Google "Converting an OS partition to a VM" to see how. (I don't think you can convet back, atleast I've never heard of anyone doing so)

Thank you very much for your reply. Now, I have a direction, VMware vCenter Converter! Thanks!