Run partition in VM

[cclloyd9785]

Anyone know of a way I can run the second windows 7 partition i have on my hard drive in a VM?

 

[Jonathan_King]

What virtualization program are you using? VirtualBox, VMware, Windows Virtual PC, etc.

I am only familiar with VirtualBox (get well soon Kari!), but it's only a matter of GUI in the others.

Add it as a shared folder, and you should be able to access the partition through the Network locations in the VM.

 

[Lemur]

If I understand correctly, you already have a 2nd partition created for Win 7. Delete partition, merge two partitions together, install the virtual pc software of your choice (VirtualBox or VMWare Player) and install your virtual PC.

 

[Dixon Butz]

I think he has a second win7 install and wants to run it in a VM. I have no idea how. I think it is possible.

 

[cluberti]

Why not make it a VHD and boot from said VHD? The OP doesn't state the reason for running it in a VM versus native VHD boot, so unless there is a need to access both systems at the same time, VHD boot would be my suggestion.

 

[cclloyd9785]

Heres what I have and want:

Main partition; Windows 7
secondary; windows 7

What I want is while running my main partition, to run the secondary one inside a VM. I dont want to turn it into a VHD as I still use it by booting from it directly.

 

[Jonathan_King]

Heres what I have and want:

Main partition; Windows 7
secondary; windows 7

What I want is while running my main partition, to run the secondary one inside a VM. I dont want to turn it into a VHD as I still use it by booting from it directly.

Yep, my post covers that: http://www.sevenforums.com/virtualization/104780-run-partition-vm.html#post904047

 

[joakim]

How you do it highly depends on the virtualization software. VMWare has a well known bug for physical access on nt6.x, for which you will need a workaround. Either way you risk messing it all up when switching in physical vs virtual environment on the same system..