Windows 7: how to I make a vi. machine of my laptop for Virtualbox

How can I make a Virtual Machiner of my laptop (runnin winXp) for Virtualbox .

I am using vmware converter to use it in my vmware workstation, but I would like to try Virtualbox

Thanks,

Najef

Come on guys, knowbody knows how to do it?

As far as I know, this cannot be done. Virtual machines are created within a host. You are asking to take a host (laptop) and turn it into a Virtual machine.

If it can be done, you will find more knowledge at VBox forums.

it actually can be done but it would be so much easier to do it in the actual host...
if you are able to get the vmdk (the VMware disk image) or create one it is possible
this should contain more info...
Migrate_Windows - VirtualBox

Thank you, dimensional interloper (interdimensional loper?). I have an install of XP that is highly customized and stable. That install has been intact for three years and I have no intention of trying to recreate it, but I am willing to port it to a vBox for Windows 7. I don't know why really. It only does one thing that I can't do in 7 - and I haven't had a customer for that in two years.

I just want to, now that I know I can.

Hi there
You actually can do it by a number of methods (at least by VMWARE).

One of the most normal methods of doing this is to use P2V conversion software (Physical to Virtual) which will take your Real Windows XP (or other OS) system and create a Virtual machine out of it.

Another method is to

1) backup your REAL OS with imaging software like Acronis True Image.

2) Start your Virtual machine software

3) use the Stand Alone bootable restore True Image software to restore your OS inside the virtual environment -- use Universal Restore option

After bootup you'll get loads of Hardware messages -- just ignore all those.

If this BSOD's on startup the create a simple windows XP virtual machine from scratch and install vmware tools. DON'T INSTALL ANY OTHER APPS.

Install the Acronis True Image product

Now resture your old XP image from within the Virtual Machine environment with the Universal Restore option -- this should work since some of the VM drivers it will use from the exiting Virtual machine just created.

Note on your XP virtual machine you will find some apps that make direct use of specialized hardware like DIRECT X won't work so you won't have video streaming or much multi-media such as DVD playing (audio apps are fine).

(The same method SHOULD work on Virtual Box -- I just use vmware)

I have some minidisc applications which will ONLY run on XP. I have some others as well but I use the MD recorders a lot so I'm keeping XP around for a while yet.

I built my XP VM as above and its fine. Even things like Photoshop work 100%.

Cheers
jimbo

Haven't tried it yet, but I think you could create and mount a vhd and copy the backup image there. Then in Vbox, File/import appliance to use the vhd in Vbox. Don't know if you may have to unmount the vhd or not to use in Vbox. Info on creating vhd here if needed. Virtual Hard Disk - Create and Attach VHD

May give this a try later just for fun.

Gary