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

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  1. Posts : 3
    Windows 7
       #1

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


    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 )?

    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.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 3,141
    Vista Ult 64 bit Seven Ult RTM x64
       #2

    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
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 3
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #3

    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.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 262
    windows 7
       #4

    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
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 3,141
    Vista Ult 64 bit Seven Ult RTM x64
       #5

    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.
    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
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 16,119
    7 X64
       #6

    I think you need to create to a different virtual hard disk for Sun Virtual box .vdi - not a microsoft .vhd.


    Is this possible? My copy of Win7 installed as a guest.-pargon-vm-sunvbox-2010-01-03_183606.jpg

    http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Migrate_Windows
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 3,141
    Vista Ult 64 bit Seven Ult RTM x64
       #7

    From the help files.

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


  8. Posts : 16,119
    7 X64
       #8

    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.
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 3,141
    Vista Ult 64 bit Seven Ult RTM x64
       #9

    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???
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 3,141
    Vista Ult 64 bit Seven Ult RTM x64
       #10

    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.
      My Computer


 
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