Is this possible? My copy of Win7 installed as a guest.

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apophus

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I've looked all over for an answer to this question.

I'm running Win7 Home Premium. Can I install that same copy of Win7 from the retail DVD in a virtual machine without experiencing license or activation issues (like invalidating my host OS license :mad:)?

I frequently experiment with software trials and I'd like to do that in a VM on the same OS that acts as the host.

I created a vhd with Disk2VHD from my OS partition and tried booting from it in Virtual Box, but it went in to a loop - "Loading Windows files", so that method doesn't work.

Thank you.
 

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Hello apophus,

Welcome to 7 Forums.

When you created the VHD, did you be sure to get the MBR? I have successfully done this by using Seven's create disk image function. Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Backup and Restore\Create a system image.
When you get to creating a HDD, select use existing and navigate to the VHD. If your dual booting you will get the dual boot window even though the other os is not installed.

Hope this helps.

Gary
 

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Hi Gary,

Thanks for your response. I created the system image as you suggested. When I tried to boot from it with Virtual Box, I encountered the following:

FATAL: INIT18: BOOT FAILURE

Even if I got this to work, the question about potential license or activation issues is still unanswered. Remember, I'm trying to use my host OS as a guest as well.

Thanks again.
 

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you can use VMLite to install from your CD/DVD to create a win7 vm. VMLite tries to share hardware info from your host machine, so most likely your guest win7 won't need to be re-activated.

We will actually release a new feature in the future, to run the same host OS as a guest, i.e., xp in xp, vista in vista, 7 in 7, etc. But this feature is not supported yet at the moment.

Free download is available here:

http://www.vmlite.com
 

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windows 7
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apophus said:
Hi Gary,

Thanks for your response. I created the system image as you suggested. When I tried to boot from it with Virtual Box, I encountered the following:

FATAL: INIT18: BOOT FAILURE

Even if I got this to work, the question about potential license or activation issues is still unanswered. Remember, I'm trying to use my host OS as a guest as well.

Thanks again.
Click to expand...

I really don't know about the license issue. I have a Technet subscription so haven't had a reason for concern. It is after all still on one computer although it might not appear so to the activation server.

Odd that it would not boot as it should get all of the boot files by default. You could try mounting the 7 DVD and booting from it to do a repair install to repair the boot files. Might take 2 or 3 runs to get it working.

Gary
 

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From the help files.

vhd.PNG

I have done this before. I imaged both the sys reserved and C partitions. Had no choice as those were both selected and grayed in the select what to back up. I am in the process of doing it again. Didn't check to see if it was activated, but it never gave any warning.

You get a vdi if you create the hard disc in Vbox. That is the native format.
 

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Vista Ult 64 bit Seven Ult RTM x64
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NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GTS 256 MB
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Creative SB X-Fi audio
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HP w2207 + HPvs15
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OK , thanks , gary - I haven't tried that with Vbox.

You can create a Win sys image of any partition you choose using the command line:

e.g.

WBADMIN START BACKUP -BACKUPTARGET:G: -INCLUDE:C: -QUIET

That creates a.vhd on G of only partition C.

You will need the system partition as well as the boot partition - as you have them separate.

Win Sys img is quicker at creating microsoft .vhd's than any 3rd party app. I tried - and it makes a smaller file. So it's good for that purpose.
 

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    7 X64
    CPU
    i5 8400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
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Hmm was just trying to set this up again and it didn't work for me either. Won't boot. The image in back up is in 2 vhd's one for each partition. So how'd I do that??? :o
 

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Vista Ult 64 bit Seven Ult RTM x64Intel Core2 Quad Q6600 2.40 gigahertzCrucial Ballistix 4x2GB PC2 6400NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GTS 256 MB
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Dell XPS420
OS
Vista Ult 64 bit Seven Ult RTM x64
CPU
Intel Core2 Quad Q6600 2.40 gigahertz
Memory
Crucial Ballistix 4x2GB PC2 6400
Graphics Card(s)
NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GTS 256 MB
Sound Card
Creative SB X-Fi audio
Monitor(s) Displays
HP w2207 + HPvs15
Screen Resolution
1680x1050 + 1024x768
Hard Drives
2-WD5000AAKS-500 GB
WD5000AAV-500 GB external
Keyboard
Microsoft Comfort Curve
Mouse
MX Revolution
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Wacom Intuos 2 Graphics Tablet
Experience Index=5.5
Can I use that to create one VHD that contains both partitions. Maybe I created the VHD with another program.
Can't remember for sure atm.

Edit: If I can will I have to give the sys. reserved a letter first.
 

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Vista Ult 64 bit Seven Ult RTM x64Intel Core2 Quad Q6600 2.40 gigahertzCrucial Ballistix 4x2GB PC2 6400NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GTS 256 MB
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Dell XPS420
OS
Vista Ult 64 bit Seven Ult RTM x64
CPU
Intel Core2 Quad Q6600 2.40 gigahertz
Memory
Crucial Ballistix 4x2GB PC2 6400
Graphics Card(s)
NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GTS 256 MB
Sound Card
Creative SB X-Fi audio
Monitor(s) Displays
HP w2207 + HPvs15
Screen Resolution
1680x1050 + 1024x768
Hard Drives
2-WD5000AAKS-500 GB
WD5000AAV-500 GB external
Keyboard
Microsoft Comfort Curve
Mouse
MX Revolution
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Wacom Intuos 2 Graphics Tablet
Experience Index=5.5
You could - but why not make the boot partition also the ( potential ) system partition. I do it on all my o/s installations.

Create the boot critical files on each o/s partition.

Then, just choose which to use as the system partition by handing the Active flag to whichever you want.

To include more than one volume, e.g. C and S

WBADMIN START BACKUP -BACKUPTARGET:G: -INCLUDE:C: ,S: -QUIET

You could use a volume name - but it is easier to give the system volume drive letter S.
 

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    7 X64i5 84002x8gb 3200mhz
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    7 X64
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    i5 8400
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    gigabyte b365m ds3h
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    ga b365m ds3h
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Thanks. Will give that a try in a bit. I'm not dual booting at this time. Running Vista, et al in VM's.
 

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Vista Ult 64 bit Seven Ult RTM x64Intel Core2 Quad Q6600 2.40 gigahertzCrucial Ballistix 4x2GB PC2 6400NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GTS 256 MB
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Dell XPS420
OS
Vista Ult 64 bit Seven Ult RTM x64
CPU
Intel Core2 Quad Q6600 2.40 gigahertz
Memory
Crucial Ballistix 4x2GB PC2 6400
Graphics Card(s)
NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GTS 256 MB
Sound Card
Creative SB X-Fi audio
Monitor(s) Displays
HP w2207 + HPvs15
Screen Resolution
1680x1050 + 1024x768
Hard Drives
2-WD5000AAKS-500 GB
WD5000AAV-500 GB external
Keyboard
Microsoft Comfort Curve
Mouse
MX Revolution
Other Info
Wacom Intuos 2 Graphics Tablet
Experience Index=5.5
Hi SIW,

This is not working for me. I used the admin cmd prompt to run. Ran it once with the quiet modifier and it completed (fast) but when I went to the F drive, there was nothing there, hidden or otherwise. Tried it again without the quiet modifier just to see what happened. This is what I got.

cmdimage.PNG

Still nothing on F:
 

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Vista Ult 64 bit Seven Ult RTM x64Intel Core2 Quad Q6600 2.40 gigahertzCrucial Ballistix 4x2GB PC2 6400NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GTS 256 MB
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Dell XPS420
OS
Vista Ult 64 bit Seven Ult RTM x64
CPU
Intel Core2 Quad Q6600 2.40 gigahertz
Memory
Crucial Ballistix 4x2GB PC2 6400
Graphics Card(s)
NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GTS 256 MB
Sound Card
Creative SB X-Fi audio
Monitor(s) Displays
HP w2207 + HPvs15
Screen Resolution
1680x1050 + 1024x768
Hard Drives
2-WD5000AAKS-500 GB
WD5000AAV-500 GB external
Keyboard
Microsoft Comfort Curve
Mouse
MX Revolution
Other Info
Wacom Intuos 2 Graphics Tablet
Experience Index=5.5
I am certaing that if you create a VM product out of a Physical product (ie convert the w7 to a VM), you it will require activation. VM OS and physical OS are two different types of OSs. I don't know if MS has licenses for VM OS. Someting to check i suppose.

I had managed to Virtualise my live dual boot of Xp/W7, and from memory, w7 had non-genuine message comes up soon after i boot into it (or after a few boots, can't remember).
 

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Very weird - works great for me.

It should have used up several gb on F.

Check and see if you have less space on F.

Also check for backup images like this:

wbadmin get versions -backupTarget:f:
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    7 X64i5 84002x8gb 3200mhz
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    OS
    7 X64
    CPU
    i5 8400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    2x8gb 3200mhz
    Hard Drives
    various
    PSU
    pure power 11 400w cm
    Case
    Coolermaster
    Cooling
    cryorig m9i

  • At a glance

    7x64g54008gb ddr4 2400
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    OS
    7x64
    CPU
    g5400
    Motherboard
    ga b365m ds3h
    Memory
    8gb ddr4 2400
    PSU
    xfx pro 450w
Sorry, had to take a break. Space is not the problem. 200GB free. 112 used seems about right.

When I run the check, I get this,

cmd2.PNG

but still nothing on the F drive. If I search Computer, *.vhd, I get only those that already existed???

Will have to play with this some more tomorrow.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Vista Ult 64 bit Seven Ult RTM x64Intel Core2 Quad Q6600 2.40 gigahertzCrucial Ballistix 4x2GB PC2 6400NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GTS 256 MB
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Dell XPS420
OS
Vista Ult 64 bit Seven Ult RTM x64
CPU
Intel Core2 Quad Q6600 2.40 gigahertz
Memory
Crucial Ballistix 4x2GB PC2 6400
Graphics Card(s)
NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GTS 256 MB
Sound Card
Creative SB X-Fi audio
Monitor(s) Displays
HP w2207 + HPvs15
Screen Resolution
1680x1050 + 1024x768
Hard Drives
2-WD5000AAKS-500 GB
WD5000AAV-500 GB external
Keyboard
Microsoft Comfort Curve
Mouse
MX Revolution
Other Info
Wacom Intuos 2 Graphics Tablet
Experience Index=5.5
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