Is it possible to run a preexisting copy of xp throug

Uruso · 15 Mar 2010

My old copy of window's xp still works fine, so I was wondering if it was possible to load up my old copy of windows through xp mode instead of starting a fresh copy of xp.

FZ21Z · 15 Mar 2010

Hi.

This may help - Windows XP Mode - Install and Setup

Uruso · 16 Mar 2010

FZ21Z said:

Hi.

This may help - Windows XP Mode - Install and Setup

I appreciate the thought, but I already know how to install it. I'm asking if its possible for it to pull up my preexisting copy rather than a fresh new one. You see I have a copy of windows xp still installed on my computer, when I boot up. I have the choice of windows 7 or windows xp. I want to be in windows 7 and run my already existing copy of xp.

Kari · 17 Mar 2010

Hello Uruso, welcome to the Seven Forums.

You can download a free Microsoft tool called Disk2vhd. More information and download: Disk2vhd

With Disk2vhd you can convert your existing XP setup to a virtual hard disk (vhd) file, which you can then mount on Virtual PC. Please notice that Virtual PC has a 127 GB size limit to vhd's, so if your existing XP partition is bigger than that, you should first shrink it.

Kari

Uruso · 17 Mar 2010

Kari said:

Hello Uruso, welcome to the Seven Forums.

You can download a free Microsoft tool called Disk2vhd. More information and download: Disk2vhd

With Disk2vhd you can convert your existing XP setup to a virtual hard disk (vhd) file, which you can then mount on Virtual PC. Please notice that Virtual PC has a 127 GB size limit to vhd's, so if your existing XP partition is bigger than that, you should first shrink it.

Kari

Thanks! I'll go give it a shot!

kittleboy · 17 Mar 2010

In the section, Volumes to include, should i use all of my drives?
I have 4 drives, C,D,E,F and windows XP is installed in Drive C and Windows 7 is installed in Drive D;
does it matter that on which OS i run " Disk2vhd " software and do this ?

Kari · 17 Mar 2010

Kittleboy, IMO you get the best result when booting to XP and then run Disk2vhd from there.

kittleboy · 17 Mar 2010

Kari said:

Kittleboy, IMO you get the best result when booting to XP and then run Disk2vhd from there.

ok,
should i tick all my drives?

Kari · 17 Mar 2010

As long as you remeber this:

TechNet said:

Note: Virtual PC supports a maximum virtual disk size of 127GB. If you create a VHD from a larger disk it will not be accessible from a Virtual PC VM.

(Disk2vhd)

VirtualBox and VMware don't have this limitation, though.

Kari

MilesAhead · 17 Mar 2010

Kari said:

As long as you remeber this:

TechNet said:

Note: Virtual PC supports a maximum virtual disk size of 127GB. If you create a VHD from a larger disk it will not be accessible from a Virtual PC VM.

(Disk2vhd)

VirtualBox and VMware don't have this limitation, though.

Kari

Kari, do you happen to know if there's a free converter to VirtualBox compatible image?
I've looked around the VB forums and P2V doesn't look smooth. I'd rather cheat and do it the easy way. otoh I did set up with VirtualBox a few times and it did install the guest OS so I'd like to start with something I know if I could take a shortcut.

edit: ok, looks like VirtualBox says it can use it, er, out of the box so to speak. :)