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convert existing installation to Virtual machine

Source: microsoft.public.virtualpc
Sent: 05/24/2007
From: Alex K.
Message:

Hi all

Is there any way to convert existing installation to a virtual machine?
I have windows 2000 with lot of old junk installed in it which I need from
time to time - like third party conrols, libraries, applications etc. I am
going to upgrade to windows XP pro and I'd like to re-format the hard drive
to make a clear new installation. I don't want to re-install all this junk
again because I use it only to support production software: if something bad
happens then I re-compile couple of projects, it usually happens 1-2 times
per year or less. Is there any way to convert my current win 2000 environment
with all components installed into a file that I can use later to add as a
virtual machine to my new Win XP system?

Thank you

Post Reply | This is Spam! | Mark as Spam

Related Messages

Re: convert existing installation to Virtual machine

Sent: 05/24/2007
From: "Colin Barnhorst" <(email address - cut out)>
Message:

You can use imaging software but you will run into some hardware issues.
Virtual machines have a single set of emulated hardware and do not use the
hardware in the host computer. Also, if W2k came preinstalled on the
computer then you may not transfer it to a virtual machine anyway. My
suggestion is that if you have a retail copy of W2k that you use the XP
Files and Settings Transfer wizard on the XP cd to move your files and
settings to intermediate storage, install XP clean, set up the W2k virtual
machine, use FAST to restore the files and settings in the W2k guest and
reinstall your apps in the guest.

"Alex K." <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
news:(email address - cut out)...

Show quoted text

> Hi all
>
> Is there any way to convert existing installation to a virtual machine?
> I have windows 2000 with lot of old junk installed in it which I need from
> time to time - like third party conrols, libraries, applications etc. I am
> going to upgrade to windows XP pro and I'd like to re-format the hard
> drive
> to make a clear new installation. I don't want to re-install all this junk
> again because I use it only to support production software: if something
> bad
> happens then I re-compile couple of projects, it usually happens 1-2 times
> per year or less. Is there any way to convert my current win 2000
> environment
> with all components installed into a file that I can use later to add as a
> virtual machine to my new Win XP system?
>
> Thank you

Re: convert existing installation to Virtual machine

Sent: 05/24/2007
From: Alex K.
Message:

Thanks. One thing is not clear: how do I use FAST from within W2K guest?

"Colin Barnhorst" wrote:

Show quoted text

> You can use imaging software but you will run into some hardware issues.
> Virtual machines have a single set of emulated hardware and do not use the
> hardware in the host computer. Also, if W2k came preinstalled on the
> computer then you may not transfer it to a virtual machine anyway. My
> suggestion is that if you have a retail copy of W2k that you use the XP
> Files and Settings Transfer wizard on the XP cd to move your files and
> settings to intermediate storage, install XP clean, set up the W2k virtual
> machine, use FAST to restore the files and settings in the W2k guest and
> reinstall your apps in the guest.
>
> "Alex K." <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
> news:(email address - cut out)...
> > Hi all
> >
> > Is there any way to convert existing installation to a virtual machine?
> > I have windows 2000 with lot of old junk installed in it which I need from
> > time to time - like third party conrols, libraries, applications etc. I am
> > going to upgrade to windows XP pro and I'd like to re-format the hard
> > drive
> > to make a clear new installation. I don't want to re-install all this junk
> > again because I use it only to support production software: if something
> > bad
> > happens then I re-compile couple of projects, it usually happens 1-2 times
> > per year or less. Is there any way to convert my current win 2000
> > environment
> > with all components installed into a file that I can use later to add as a
> > virtual machine to my new Win XP system?
> >
> > Thank you
>

Re: convert existing installation to Virtual machine

Sent: 05/24/2007
From: "Colin Barnhorst" <(email address - cut out)>
Message:

You insert the XP cd and when the splash screen comes up on your W2k desktop
choose to transfer files instead of choosing Install.

"Alex K." <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
news:(email address - cut out)...

Show quoted text

> Thanks. One thing is not clear: how do I use FAST from within W2K guest?
>
> "Colin Barnhorst" wrote:
>
>> You can use imaging software but you will run into some hardware issues.
>> Virtual machines have a single set of emulated hardware and do not use
>> the
>> hardware in the host computer. Also, if W2k came preinstalled on the
>> computer then you may not transfer it to a virtual machine anyway. My
>> suggestion is that if you have a retail copy of W2k that you use the XP
>> Files and Settings Transfer wizard on the XP cd to move your files and
>> settings to intermediate storage, install XP clean, set up the W2k
>> virtual
>> machine, use FAST to restore the files and settings in the W2k guest and
>> reinstall your apps in the guest.
>>
>> "Alex K." <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
>> news:(email address - cut out)...
>> > Hi all
>> >
>> > Is there any way to convert existing installation to a virtual machine?
>> > I have windows 2000 with lot of old junk installed in it which I need
>> > from
>> > time to time - like third party conrols, libraries, applications etc. I
>> > am
>> > going to upgrade to windows XP pro and I'd like to re-format the hard
>> > drive
>> > to make a clear new installation. I don't want to re-install all this
>> > junk
>> > again because I use it only to support production software: if
>> > something
>> > bad
>> > happens then I re-compile couple of projects, it usually happens 1-2
>> > times
>> > per year or less. Is there any way to convert my current win 2000
>> > environment
>> > with all components installed into a file that I can use later to add
>> > as a
>> > virtual machine to my new Win XP system?
>> >
>> > Thank you
>>

Re: convert existing installation to Virtual machine

Sent: 05/24/2007
From: "Ben Armstrong [MSFT]" <(email address - cut out)>
Message:

Check out: http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy/search.aspx?q=migrating&p=1

--
Cheers,
Benjamin Armstrong
============================
Windows Virtualization Program Manager
Blog: http://blogs.msdn.com/Virtual_PC_Guy
Book:
http://mumblingtomyself.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!64FFB030F5637A64!128.entry

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
You assume all risk for your use.

"Alex K." <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
news:(email address - cut out)...

Show quoted text

Re: convert existing installation to Virtual machine

Sent: 05/24/2007
From: Alex K.
Message:

Bo,
It's very kind of you to take care of your mom's computer.
I wish my daughter some day would do this for me.

"Bo Berglund" wrote:

Show quoted text

> On Thu, 24 May 2007 08:12:02 -0700, Alex K.
> <(email address - cut out)> wrote:
>
> >Hi all
> >
> >Is there any way to convert existing installation to a virtual machine?
> >I have windows 2000 with lot of old junk installed in it which I need from
> >time to time - like third party conrols, libraries, applications etc. I am
> >going to upgrade to windows XP pro and I'd like to re-format the hard drive
> >to make a clear new installation. I don't want to re-install all this junk
> >again because I use it only to support production software: if something bad
> >happens then I re-compile couple of projects, it usually happens 1-2 times
> >per year or less. Is there any way to convert my current win 2000 environment
> >with all components installed into a file that I can use later to add as a
> >virtual machine to my new Win XP system?
> >
>
> I have done a transfer of my mom's W2000Pro machine to VPC in order to
> have a copy if she runs into trouble. I did it using the built-in
> backup utility of the W2000 PC. It was tedious but it worked in the
> end and I recommend it only as a last resort when there is no other
> software available. This is how I did it:
>
> 1) In W2000 I logged on as an administrator and then I use the Backup
> utility (in system tools) to make a full system backup to a disk file.
> If you have one available you should put the destination on a USB
> connected external drive.
>
> 2) Then on my own PC I created a new guest in VPC2007 and set it to
> host Win2000, but with more RAM than the default.
>
> 3) I installed W2000 on this guest just taking the defaults
> evereywhere (because it will be overwritten later).
>
> 4) Once W2000 was up and running on the guest I installed the VM
> Additions so that I could map a drive to the guest. This drive is the
> USB drive containing the backup file from the old PC.
>
> 5) Now I used the Restore function in the built-in Backup utility to
> make a full system restore from the file residing on the mapped drive.
>
> 6) Once this was all done I restarted the guest and found that there
> were a number of hardware related problems (video drivers, USB printer
> etc).
>
> 7) So now I booted up the guest from the Win2000 install CD and let it
> get to the Install page where I selected "Repair existing system".
> The installer chugged away for some time but in the end it all was
> solved and the guest booted up with all of the software intact that my
> mom uses. THe HP printer software I hade to uninstall of course (USB
> only and I don't even have such a printer).
>
> The quicker way (I have used this for 10-15 PC:s)
> -------------------------------------------------
> If you have access to Ghost 2003, Ghost 8 or Acronis True Image then
> the speediest way to get steps 1-6 done is:
>
> 1) Boot up the old PC with the Ghost boot CD (or equivalent).
>
> 2) Create an image of the C drive (in this step you need a second
> drive to put the image on). This takes about 10-15 minutes for a
> reasonable system of a few Gb.
>
> 3) Create the VPC guest as in 3-4 above, but don't install any
> operating system.
>
> 4) Boot up the guest with the Ghost boot CD (best with an iso image in
> this case) and restore C from the image on the shared drive.
>
> In order to be able to share a host folder as a guest disk letter you
> need FSHARE.exe from the VPC2004 DOS additions on your Ghost boot CD.
> Run it after the guest has booted off the CD and then use the settings
> console to create the share to the host folder.
> Now Ghost will see the image you have there and restore from it.
>
> 5) The hardware problems in 7 above will be here as well so you need
> to repair the W2000 install. Possibly Acronis with Universal Restore
> can fix this upon restore, but I have not tried it yet.
>
> HTH
>
> /Bo
>
> Bo Berglund
> bo.berglund(at)nospam.telia.com
>

Re: convert existing installation to Virtual machine

Sent: 05/24/2007
From: Bo Berglund <(email address - cut out)>
Message:

On Thu, 24 May 2007 08:12:02 -0700, Alex K.
<(email address - cut out)> wrote:

I have done a transfer of my mom's W2000Pro machine to VPC in order to
have a copy if she runs into trouble. I did it using the built-in
backup utility of the W2000 PC. It was tedious but it worked in the
end and I recommend it only as a last resort when there is no other
software available. This is how I did it:

1) In W2000 I logged on as an administrator and then I use the Backup
utility (in system tools) to make a full system backup to a disk file.
If you have one available you should put the destination on a USB
connected external drive.

2) Then on my own PC I created a new guest in VPC2007 and set it to
host Win2000, but with more RAM than the default.

3) I installed W2000 on this guest just taking the defaults
evereywhere (because it will be overwritten later).

4) Once W2000 was up and running on the guest I installed the VM
Additions so that I could map a drive to the guest. This drive is the
USB drive containing the backup file from the old PC.

5) Now I used the Restore function in the built-in Backup utility to
make a full system restore from the file residing on the mapped drive.

6) Once this was all done I restarted the guest and found that there
were a number of hardware related problems (video drivers, USB printer
etc).

7) So now I booted up the guest from the Win2000 install CD and let it
get to the Install page where I selected "Repair existing system".
The installer chugged away for some time but in the end it all was
solved and the guest booted up with all of the software intact that my
mom uses. THe HP printer software I hade to uninstall of course (USB
only and I don't even have such a printer).

The quicker way (I have used this for 10-15 PC:s)
-------------------------------------------------
If you have access to Ghost 2003, Ghost 8 or Acronis True Image then
the speediest way to get steps 1-6 done is:

1) Boot up the old PC with the Ghost boot CD (or equivalent).

2) Create an image of the C drive (in this step you need a second
drive to put the image on). This takes about 10-15 minutes for a
reasonable system of a few Gb.

3) Create the VPC guest as in 3-4 above, but don't install any
operating system.

4) Boot up the guest with the Ghost boot CD (best with an iso image in
this case) and restore C from the image on the shared drive.

In order to be able to share a host folder as a guest disk letter you
need FSHARE.exe from the VPC2004 DOS additions on your Ghost boot CD.
Run it after the guest has booted off the CD and then use the settings
console to create the share to the host folder.
Now Ghost will see the image you have there and restore from it.

5) The hardware problems in 7 above will be here as well so you need
to repair the W2000 install. Possibly Acronis with Universal Restore
can fix this upon restore, but I have not tried it yet.

HTH

/Bo

Bo Berglund
bo.berglund(at)nospam.telia.com

Show quoted text

>Hi all
>
>Is there any way to convert existing installation to a virtual machine?
>I have windows 2000 with lot of old junk installed in it which I need from
>time to time - like third party conrols, libraries, applications etc. I am
>going to upgrade to windows XP pro and I'd like to re-format the hard drive
>to make a clear new installation. I don't want to re-install all this junk
>again because I use it only to support production software: if something bad
>happens then I re-compile couple of projects, it usually happens 1-2 times
>per year or less. Is there any way to convert my current win 2000 environment
>with all components installed into a file that I can use later to add as a
>virtual machine to my new Win XP system?
>

Post Reply | This is Spam! | Mark as Spam

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