Transferring Pre-Installed Windows to Virtual Machine

[i.shaun]

Has anyone attempted something like this?

I have Parallels desktop to run virtual machines, but I don't have a copy of XP on CD or DVD because it was pre-installed on my laptop.

I tried following this article on creating a bootable disc from a OEM Version of XP Pro.


Unfortunately it won't run when attempting to open it in the virtual machine. It stops and says "Missing or corrupt INF file txtsetup.sif"



Anyone know a way to fix this, if possible?

 

[steveza]

Have you tried Parallels transporter? I haven't used it but conversion from physical to virtual is a feature of both VMWare and Parallels.

 

[i.shaun]

Have you tried Parallels transporter? I haven't used it but conversion from physical to virtual is a feature of both VMWare and Parallels.

It still requires a Windows XP Install CD/DVD to use the transporter. I thought the transporter would copy the entire installation over by the way it was advertised, but all it appears to do is act as a file & settings transfer wizard to give you your files, account, network settings, maybe even installed applications -- but the XP Install disc must still be in the drive.



Unfortunately, this laptop computer came with it pre-installed, and only has a Recovery DVD which I had to create with ACER tools (from the laptop). The recovery DVD has the entire XP installation but it seems to be protected. I can't get it to install in Parallels, hence the attempt at making a bootable XP DVD.

 

[steveza]

That's bad - I thought Transporter created a Parallels VM in the same way as VMWare's P2V and Converter tools.

 

[i.shaun]

So VMware has the ability to clone an entire XP installation from a pre-installed OEM system without any discs?


You would think Parallels could do so. . I even tried letting it go without having a disc, and it would gather data over the network, and suddenly stop saying there was a power surge or loss of network connection. I thought the laptop went to sleep but when I went to check, it was still on.

 

[-tWv-]

So VMware has the ability to clone an entire XP installation from a pre-installed OEM system without any discs?


You would think Parallels could do so. . I even tried letting it go without having a disc, and it would gather data over the network, and suddenly stop saying there was a power surge or loss of network connection. I thought the laptop went to sleep but when I went to check, it was still on.

Yes VM fusion can clone entire pre-installed windows systems without any disks. There are video guides on there website to show you how to do it and it looks very easy.

 

[steveza]

Yes VM fusion can clone entire pre-installed windows systems without any disks. There are video guides on there website to show you how to do it and it looks very easy.

Indeed - I use the enterprise version of Converter to migrate servers from physical machines on to VMware 3.5 and they use the same technology in their Workstation and Fusion products.

 

[Dushybushy]

I am having the exact same problem