Used Disk2vhd on my XP, can't virtually boot it in 8.1

Hi folks one and all I think that's a happy elephant

Was able to make excellent VDH file with Disk2vhd of my XP homeuser computer.

I can access the XP files on 8.1 - which is very interesting indeed!

Is it possible to boot my Virtual XP machine on my 8.1 and use it as needed?

Thank you, all and any advice will be gobbled up

Sincerely,
Brother Frank

Hi Frank,

There's only one way to find out: try it. Do that by creating a new VM with specs close enough to the host (your XP PC). You can give it less RAM and CPU + graphics but it should boot up fine. The first boot will be slower and you'll notice the install of a lot of drivers when getting to the desktop. Restart a few times will be required. Afterwards it should work fine.
Assign the VHD to the VM and start it up. Sometimes this kind of operation will require re-activation of the OS license since the VM is regarded as a new computer.

Good luck.

Hi Hopachi , thanks for the info...I made a vhd of my entire computer, so it's not a clean install,,,I'm getting failed errors when using VMware or Virtual box to try and boot it....Should I make some screen shots and show you these things?
Thank you mighty kind of you to try and help

edit...After reading the article below that I added as a link - I surely did a lot of things wrong, so the errors were well warranted

what do you think?

Run your Windows XP system in Windows 8 with VMware - TechRepublic



Update...I think I have an OEM pre-installed XP system so I may be in for an up hill climb to get this done and actually working... I do have a CD too that came with it - Actually it has been so long since I have had this machine like 13 years I may have used the Cd to activate XP on the Machine?

come to think of it, I think the CD is just for recovery, not installation of XP, i'll check when I get a chance

If it is OEM - do I have a wing and a prayer to do the virtualization? Or is it a fact that > You can't use an XP OEM license in a virtual machine on your new windows 8.1 computer!
Windows XP - OEM, Retail, or upgrade - how to tell which one you have - Microsoft Community


My intentions are to virtually run my current XP machine as is on my new 8.1 computer and disregard the old xp 100 pound non-virtual machine.

Don't look good, read below, Is there any hope left...Please say it ain't so

There is no solution listed as there isn't one. OEM XP cannot be virtualized unless it is only on the same hardware (and what is the point of that?) and if it is OEM XP from a vendor like Dell or HP then it simply isn't possible regardless of the license limitations since it is not just tied to the original hardware but specifically tied to the original manufacture's hardware. :shock:

Hi Frank,

Yes some screenshots might help. The VHD has to be bootable and in that case some error must be visible on the VM screen.

Clean install:
If the CD is installable/bootable then you can try installing XP from scratch in the VM, it will also be way faster than the 13 years old install.

The VCenter Converter is another tool to convert the XP host to a VM, that is similar to what you did with Disk2VHD.

A way to install XP from scratch is with the steps below:
TechTips - How to Install and Run Windows XP in Windows 7 for Free with VMware Player - Yahoo Voices - voices.yahoo.com
(Assuming you use the free VM Player).

Regards,
Hopachi

Thanks buddy, thats sorta what this was saying Run your Windows XP system in Windows 8 with VMware - TechRepublic it shows how to use the The VCenter Converter amoung other things

I may have the wrong understanding of this...I'm not sure a clean install will help me, because then I'm left a blank slate...
:huh:

I want to be able to use the Xp machine with the way I have it set up after all that time, all the programs tweeks etc. etc. that I accumulated over 13 years and virtually use it on 8.1 if ever needed.


Is that possible?

Thanks again for trying to solve this problem - i'll get some screen shots ASAP

Hi there
If you have the VHD simply convert it using the VMware converter tool -- then simply create the VM with VMware workstation / player and boot it up. (simply open the vmdk file created by the conversion process).

You can change settings / add hardware etc in the VM settings too.

(You can use WINIMAGE -- Free for 90 days) as per here :

How to Convert and Import VHD to VMDK (VMWare) « My Digital Life )

Cheers
jimbo

frank52 said:

I want to be able to use the Xp machine with the way I have it set up after all that time, all the programs tweeks etc. etc. that I accumulated over 13 years and virtually use it on 8.1 if ever needed.


Is that possible?

Click to expand...

I understand, using all programs with it.

That should work, as long as the VHD is not corrupted. If you can open it with 7-Zip or VMware Player / VirtualBox can see its size when assigned to a VM then the VHD is OK.

Does it boot when starting the VM?
The error/issue screenshots would help.