VMLite - an alternative Windows XP Mode impl

HughShaw said:

So VMPlayer can convert my Windows XP virtual hard drive without any additional software?

Yes it can. From within VMWare Player 3.0, just go to File at the top and there will be an option for converting the XP Mode VM. That's all you need to do. Conversion takes just a few minutes.

I'm currently trying out VMLite and I like it so far. Clean interface just like Windows XPM, great integration, and can snap to the left for widescreen multitasking!

My current problem is that it did not import anything over from my old XP Mode. None of my installed programs. However, it doesn't seem to need activation. Still trying to figure it out.

if you need your old vm, you can select the 2nd choice, and specify your .VHD file as input.

By default, it picks the fresh copy in c:\program files\Microsoft XP Mode.

BTW, you can do Control-C/V to copy files between vm and host

next version, we will add 3D DirectX acceleration for playing games, etc.

HughShaw said:

I'm currently trying out VMLite and I like it so far. Clean interface just like Windows XPM, great integration, and can snap to the left for widescreen multitasking!

My current problem is that it did not import anything over from my old XP Mode. None of my installed programs. However, it doesn't seem to need activation. Still trying to figure it out.

Uh oh, first I clicked the first option and installed. Then then ran the VMLite Wizard and clicked the second option, but installation failed. I have a few questions:

1. How come now when I click the second option in the Wizard, the installation failed?
2. Where is the new virtual hard drive stored? Or is it just using the vhd file from XPM? (I'd like to uninstall Windows XPM if all goes well)

The error message I'm getting when trying to get my old VM transferred over is below. I've erased the fresh copy and it still fails.

Virtual disk failed to prepare, click Cancel to quit: Preparing virtual disk ...

1, most likely, your VHD file is a differencing disk, vmlite does not support diff disk yet. Does Microsoft XPM provide a function to merge the diff to the base disk? If so, you can first create a whole disk, then use 2nd option. We will do more testing.

2, vmlite clones the xpm vhd, and stores it in c:\users\%useid%\vmlites\harddisks dir

you can uninstall xpm, it won't affect vmlite

HughShaw said:

Uh oh, first I clicked the first option and installed. Then then ran the VMLite Wizard and clicked the second option, but installation failed. I have a few questions:

1. How come now when I click the second option in the Wizard, the installation failed?
2. Where is the new virtual hard drive stored? Or is it just using the vhd file from XPM? (I'd like to uninstall Windows XPM if all goes well)

Yes, I am able to merge both files after your suggestion. I'm currently doing so and will report back. VMLite looks a lot better than VMware in my opinion...

Howcome VMLite puts 4 files in the HardDisks folder totaling 16.2GB? My original file was only 5.56GB! Here's the 4 files which it won't let me erase:

1. VMLite XP Mode 1.vhd - 5.33GB
2. VMLite XP Mode 1vhd - 5.33GB
3. VMLite XP Mode 2vhd - 5.62GB (Seems to be the one I'm using)
4. VMLite XP Modevhd - 1.44GB