I would like to install Win8.1 Pro on my computer. However, I have a licensed and legal version of Win7Ultimate on that computer which has certain apps I need but can't reinstall on Win8 because they were free offers limited to one time activation on the day of installation. My research indicates I could run the Win7 OS as a virtual machine on Win8.
So, I was hoping for some help on the following:
1. Which is the best way to convert my win7ultimate to a virtual disk? I have found some guidance on 1 - sysinternals Disk2VHD. Is that the best free tool to create a virtual disk of an existing hard drive/OS?
2. Although I have reduced my win7 installation to under 60GB, I would need to store it on an external drive and I read somewhere that a virtual disk on an external USB drive could be an issue, but not sure what or why.
3. Is there a step by step guide for setting up and running a virtual disk on win8? The only guidance on #3 I have found has been to install the win7 OS on a new virtual disk created on the win8 machine, which I can't do because while I would be able to reinstall the win7 OS (it is a legal standalone license), I can't reinstall the apps as they were giveaway apps only to be installed once.
Can anyone help me? And I apologize in advance if there is a simple solution but I am a n00b at this and probably need some really basic and simple guidance. Thank you.
So, I was hoping for some help on the following:
1. Which is the best way to convert my win7ultimate to a virtual disk? I have found some guidance on 1 - sysinternals Disk2VHD. Is that the best free tool to create a virtual disk of an existing hard drive/OS?
2. Although I have reduced my win7 installation to under 60GB, I would need to store it on an external drive and I read somewhere that a virtual disk on an external USB drive could be an issue, but not sure what or why.
3. Is there a step by step guide for setting up and running a virtual disk on win8? The only guidance on #3 I have found has been to install the win7 OS on a new virtual disk created on the win8 machine, which I can't do because while I would be able to reinstall the win7 OS (it is a legal standalone license), I can't reinstall the apps as they were giveaway apps only to be installed once.
Can anyone help me? And I apologize in advance if there is a simple solution but I am a n00b at this and probably need some really basic and simple guidance. Thank you.
My Computer
System One
-
- OS
- Win8.1Pro
- Computer type
- PC/Desktop
- System Manufacturer/Model
- AMD
- CPU
- Unknown
- Motherboard
- Unknoown
- Memory
- 6GB
- Graphics Card(s)
- Unknown
- Browser
- Chrome
- Antivirus
- AVG