Put Current Vista Install Into a Virtual Machine to be Hosted in a New Windows 7 Install
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So my laptop currently has Vista installed, but I want to upgrade to Windows 7. However, I don't want to erase my current Vista install. I'm thinking it would be neat if I could install Windows 7 (perhaps onto the alternate partition I currently use to store data), then create a virtual machine out of my Vista install, and then host that VM inside of Windows 7 (after I have confirmed that works, I'd erase the "real" Vista install). One possible hiccup is that my laptop is 64-bit capable, but is running Vista 32-bit and I plan on installing Windows 7 64-bit. So any VM software would have to be capable of handling that scenario. Having never used a virtual machine before, I have no idea if this is even possible. Do any of you have recommendations for VM software that might be able to tackle this scenario?
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So my laptop currently has Vista installed, but I want to upgrade to Windows 7. However, I don't want to erase my current Vista install. I'm thinking it would be neat if I could install Windows 7 (perhaps onto the alternate partition I currently use to store data), then create a virtual machine out of my Vista install, and then host that VM inside of Windows 7 (after I have confirmed that works, I'd erase the "real" Vista install). One possible hiccup is that my laptop is 64-bit capable, but is running Vista 32-bit and I plan on installing Windows 7 64-bit. So any VM software would have to be capable of handling that scenario. Having never used a virtual machine before, I have no idea if this is even possible. Do any of you have recommendations for VM software that might be able to tackle this scenario?
I've used VMware Converter[^] in the past to convert Server 2003 installs to virtual machines, I haven't tried it with Vista yet.
People are more violently opposed to fur than leather because it's safer to harass rich women than motorcycle gangs
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I've used VMware Converter[^] in the past to convert Server 2003 installs to virtual machines, I haven't tried it with Vista yet.
People are more violently opposed to fur than leather because it's safer to harass rich women than motorcycle gangs
Fantastic, I did some reading and this may be exactly what I'm looking for. One thing I noted, though, was this:
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Source physical machines running 64-bit Windows XP/2003, Windows XP, Windows 2003, Windows Server 2008, and Linux (RHEL, SUSE and Ubuntu)
Vista isn't listed. However, there is also this...
Quote:
Source third party images: Microsoft Hyper-V, Microsoft Virtual Server, Microsoft Virtual PC, Parallels Desktop, Symantec Backup Exec System Recovery (formerly called Live State Recovery), Norton Ghost, Acronis, and StorageCraft
So I guess I could use, say, Norton Ghost to create an image of my Vista installation. Then I could use VMware Converter to convert that image to a virtual machine file. Then I can install VMware Player inside my Windows 7 install and have it run the virtual machine file. Lots of moving parts. Hopefully that works. Regardless, thanks for the info. :)
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Fantastic, I did some reading and this may be exactly what I'm looking for. One thing I noted, though, was this:
Quote:
Source physical machines running 64-bit Windows XP/2003, Windows XP, Windows 2003, Windows Server 2008, and Linux (RHEL, SUSE and Ubuntu)
Vista isn't listed. However, there is also this...
Quote:
Source third party images: Microsoft Hyper-V, Microsoft Virtual Server, Microsoft Virtual PC, Parallels Desktop, Symantec Backup Exec System Recovery (formerly called Live State Recovery), Norton Ghost, Acronis, and StorageCraft
So I guess I could use, say, Norton Ghost to create an image of my Vista installation. Then I could use VMware Converter to convert that image to a virtual machine file. Then I can install VMware Player inside my Windows 7 install and have it run the virtual machine file. Lots of moving parts. Hopefully that works. Regardless, thanks for the info. :)
According to this (released in 2008), VMware Player supports Vista as the virtual OS. Assuming this feature has been retained in the 2 major versions that have since been released, this should work nicely. :jig:
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I've used VMware Converter[^] in the past to convert Server 2003 installs to virtual machines, I haven't tried it with Vista yet.
People are more violently opposed to fur than leather because it's safer to harass rich women than motorcycle gangs
Norton Ghost should be arriving in a couple days (just bought it online). I'm going to give this a try as soon as I can. Thanks again. :thumbsup:
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Norton Ghost should be arriving in a couple days (just bought it online). I'm going to give this a try as soon as I can. Thanks again. :thumbsup:
If you wanted to you could try to update the Vista bootloader[^] to the Win 7 version then create the VMware VMDK image and convert this to the MS VHD format[^] then see if you can do a native boot into the VHD.
People are more violently opposed to fur than leather because it's safer to harass rich women than motorcycle gangs
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Norton Ghost should be arriving in a couple days (just bought it online). I'm going to give this a try as soon as I can. Thanks again. :thumbsup:
AspDotNetDev wrote:
Norton Ghost should be arriving in a couple days (just bought it online). I'm going to give this a try as soon as I can. Thanks again. :thumbsup:
Why wouldn't you have bought something better like Acronis True image Home? You get the key in minutes and can download immediately.
Michael Martin Australia "I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So I had to leave the place as soon as possible." - Mr.Prakash One Fine Saturday. 24/04/2004
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AspDotNetDev wrote:
Norton Ghost should be arriving in a couple days (just bought it online). I'm going to give this a try as soon as I can. Thanks again. :thumbsup:
Why wouldn't you have bought something better like Acronis True image Home? You get the key in minutes and can download immediately.
Michael Martin Australia "I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So I had to leave the place as soon as possible." - Mr.Prakash One Fine Saturday. 24/04/2004
I've never used any of this software, so I picked a cheap one ($25). Though, the Acronis one has only 2 stars on Amazon with hundreds of reviews... doesn't sound good to me.
Michael Martin wrote:
You get the key in minutes and can download immediately
I also ordered a blu-ray burner, and that won't arrive in several days. And I'm a fan of physical media rather than downloaded software.
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According to this (released in 2008), VMware Player supports Vista as the virtual OS. Assuming this feature has been retained in the 2 major versions that have since been released, this should work nicely. :jig:
I have never had any problems (apart from those that come prebundled with Windows Virus) running Vista in VM Ware. I just don't understand why anybody would continue to run Vista... :laugh: [EDIT] I have also used VM Ware Converter to convert a Vista machine to a VM, and it worked perfectly [/EDIT]
Why can't I be applicable like John? - Me, April 2011
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Beidh ceol, caint agus craic againn - Seán Bán Breathnach
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Da mihi sis crustum Etruscum cum omnibus in eo!
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Just because a thing is new don’t mean that it’s better - Will Rogers, September 4, 1932 -
I have never had any problems (apart from those that come prebundled with Windows Virus) running Vista in VM Ware. I just don't understand why anybody would continue to run Vista... :laugh: [EDIT] I have also used VM Ware Converter to convert a Vista machine to a VM, and it worked perfectly [/EDIT]
Why can't I be applicable like John? - Me, April 2011
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Beidh ceol, caint agus craic againn - Seán Bán Breathnach
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Da mihi sis crustum Etruscum cum omnibus in eo!
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Just because a thing is new don’t mean that it’s better - Will Rogers, September 4, 1932Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to Windows 7. Not that I'm a chicken... uh... damn. :rolleyes:
Johnny J. wrote:
I have also used VM Ware Converter to convert a Vista machine to a VM, and it worked perfectly
Did you have to do anything fancy (e.g., create an image using something like Norton Ghost), or did it just work without intermediate steps?
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I've never used any of this software, so I picked a cheap one ($25). Though, the Acronis one has only 2 stars on Amazon with hundreds of reviews... doesn't sound good to me.
Michael Martin wrote:
You get the key in minutes and can download immediately
I also ordered a blu-ray burner, and that won't arrive in several days. And I'm a fan of physical media rather than downloaded software.
AspDotNetDev wrote:
I've never used any of this software, so I picked a cheap one ($25). Though, the Acronis one has only 2 stars on Amazon with hundreds of reviews... doesn't sound good to me.
Been years since I've had to use Ghost but it sucked arse compared to Acronis True Image Home. Them Amazon reviewers are probably Gen Y and wouldn't know good if it smacked them in the head and introduced itself.
AspDotNetDev wrote:
I also ordered a blu-ray burner, and that won't arrive in several days. And I'm a fan of physical media rather than downloaded software.
As one of said Gen Y peoples, I'm surprised you'd have the patience to wait for anything. Aren't you lot all instant gratification like?
Michael Martin Australia "I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So I had to leave the place as soon as possible." - Mr.Prakash One Fine Saturday. 24/04/2004
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So my laptop currently has Vista installed, but I want to upgrade to Windows 7. However, I don't want to erase my current Vista install. I'm thinking it would be neat if I could install Windows 7 (perhaps onto the alternate partition I currently use to store data), then create a virtual machine out of my Vista install, and then host that VM inside of Windows 7 (after I have confirmed that works, I'd erase the "real" Vista install). One possible hiccup is that my laptop is 64-bit capable, but is running Vista 32-bit and I plan on installing Windows 7 64-bit. So any VM software would have to be capable of handling that scenario. Having never used a virtual machine before, I have no idea if this is even possible. Do any of you have recommendations for VM software that might be able to tackle this scenario?
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Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to Windows 7. Not that I'm a chicken... uh... damn. :rolleyes:
Johnny J. wrote:
I have also used VM Ware Converter to convert a Vista machine to a VM, and it worked perfectly
Did you have to do anything fancy (e.g., create an image using something like Norton Ghost), or did it just work without intermediate steps?
Nope, nothing fancy - very easy - even you should be able to do it... ;P
Why can't I be applicable like John? - Me, April 2011
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Beidh ceol, caint agus craic againn - Seán Bán Breathnach
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Da mihi sis crustum Etruscum cum omnibus in eo!
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Just because a thing is new don’t mean that it’s better - Will Rogers, September 4, 1932