Problem with expanding virtual HD

This is my objective:

Move a copy of a XP Acronis image onto the virtual XP I now have running. Then use a CD to "restore the image to the virtual XP". I went into the V-disk manager and set the virtual HD max size to 300 GB.

Next I mount the virtual and try to copy the image into a pre-made folder, but there is not enough room: just the original ~125 GB; not the 300 GB.

Probably I am trying to do something either in the wrong way or it cannot be done.

Suggestions welcomed....

Todd

Hi there
Do it this way

1) Create New Virtual Machine -- BUT DON'T INSTALL THE OS.
2) define the size of your VHD's for the Virtual machine.
3) set the Virtual machine to boot from a bootable ACRONIS recovery program (either via physical DVD /CD or an ISO image)
4) Power on the VM
5) at the Acronis boot point to your acronis image and follow the on screen instructions to restore the image. The smaller image will simply install into the large image.
6) now simply re-boot the VM

However I have a better solution -- I'm not sure why an XP system would need 300GB HDD space -- you should once you've got the machine up and running try and split the OS away from the DATA -- an XP OS partition shouldn't be more than 20 GB at the most. Then your data could go on to its own partition -- and if you decide to scrap / upgrade the XP system you've still got all your DATA intact.

Cheers
jimbo

Jim -

Thank you for your suggestions, however I do have a couple questions. First, I am not sure how to do this:

3) set the Virtual machine to boot from a bootable ACRONIS recovery program (either via physical DVD /CD or an ISO image)

Click to expand...

Next is the challenge of getting the 65 GB image into the virtual XP. I have it on an external USB drive.

I just picked 300 GB as a starting size just to be safe...yes...over kill!

Todd

Hi there
What program are you using for your virtual machine -- vcmware plyer/workstation, vbox or Windows HYPER-V

For VBOX / VMware products you can in the Virtual machine configuration set the boot device -- just set it to either the physical DVD/CD or an ISO image copied to your local HDD.

You might also be able to get into the Virtual BIOS at boot time.

Don't forget in the Virtual Machines configuration to add the USB device too -- when ACRONIS boots it will then be able to access the USB drive containing your image to restore from

The BIOS will give you the boot device option for the VM

Cheers
jimbo