Windows 7 - vmware converter - create Virtual Machine from existing OS etc

Hi all
If you want to convert an EXISTING system (or it's backup) into a VM that vmware player / workstation / server or esXi wil run download the FREE vmware converter from their site (VMware Virtualization Software for Desktops, Servers & Virtual Machines for Public and Private Cloud Solutions).

Machines can ve converted from the following

Screenshot enclosed.

Cheers
jimbo

Does this mean that if I install Windows 7 on an XP machine so that it will dual boot into either Seven or XP, that I can then install VWWare and convert the XP Os into a VM and then delete or discontinue the dual boot?

I am on the verge of upgrading to Windows 7 on my old workhorse and I really would like to avoid having to reinstall and reconfigure everything

Hi there
You can CLONE an entire PHYSICAL OS (process is known as P2V Physical to Virtual).

Note however that some programs that make direct calls to the real hardware won't run on the VM -- these are usually modern games and DVD playing.

Video via the Internet is perfectly ok on a VM now as is some limited 3-D support.

The main use is that if you have a load of apps like say Office on an XP machine you don't have to go to all the hassle of re-installing on the VM.

Also note you *May* have to re-activate -- although if you target the vm conversion on the SAME PHYSICAL machine generally no re-activation is required.

In VMWARE workstation you can then clone this vm again (V2V == Virtual to Virtual) which will probably run on a totally different machine without requesting activation either -- since the Virtual Hardware should be identical the activation process shouldn't come into play.

I've done zillions of these and only very rarely have I been asked to re-activate and it's been 100% successful.

Note when using vmware converter run in ADMINISTRATOR MODE when doing a P2V conversion or it will fail right at the END of the process !!!!.

BTW an EASIER way is to backup your XP system via acronis to a *.tib file, load up your Windows 7 OS and then convert the *.tib acronis backup to a VM using the vmware converter.

screen shot shows the types of files that can be converted to a VM.





Cheers
jimbo

Tell me more about how to go about this using acronis (or can you provide a link?).

Do you make the acronis backup to an external harddrive or a DVD disk or what? How do you transfer it from one system to another?

Have you tested your old workhorse to be sure it is capable of running Win 7? You may already know this, but just in case:

Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor - Download - Microsoft Windows

Plus - Your old machine must have a CPU that will support virtualization.

If it passes, then you could perform a backup - as jimbo said - using Acronis True Image 2011 -

Complete hard disk recovery solution, backup, drive copy, clone and image computer software

You can backup to any drive you instruct Acronis to do. It will create a the .tib file that should be convertible to the Virtual Disc image.

Hi there

Please note that to run Vmware player or vmware workstation with a 32 bit GUEST OS YOU DO NOT NEED VIRTUALISATION IN THE CPU -- SO OLDER MACHINES CAN RUN VM'S ON VMWARE.

VMWARE has been creating vm software for years now long before "Virtualisation" was incorporated into modern CPU's -- I ran a lot of W98 and W2000 VM's on an old Pentium III machine.

The feature IS required to run a 64 bit GUEST OS and is OPTIONAL for running a 32 bit guest (unless you are using MS's XP MODE).

Of course if you have it -- do turn it on as it makes running the VM a lot more efficient -- up to 90% in some cases or even up to 95 % when using software like ESXI (another issue).

otherwise just back the vm up with acronis -- a trial I think is available and the image can be on any device the host can read whether locally attached or on a network.


A lot of people think there machine can't run a virtual machine because it doesn't have the Virtual machine feature in the BIOS. Not true for running 32 bit Guests.

Cheers
jimbo

Thanks for clearing that up, jimbo45. I stand corrected.