Solved How do I run Win7Ultimate vitrual OS on Win8.1 Pro

JusLrning

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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. :confused:
 

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
Hello there justlearning and welcome to eightforums.
Disk2VHD
will do just fine,am using it personally and works smooth like a baby's cheek.Just check MBR partition (if any) alongside OS containing partition and follow prompts.Must admit,I am running it from an internal drive,so I dont really know about issues,when running it from an enclosure.
Will you be using Oracle VBox or VMware?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W8 Pro 64bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home...made ®
    CPU
    Intel i7 2600k
    Motherboard
    GA-Z68X-UD3P-B3
    Memory
    Corsair Vengeance 4x4Gb 1600 Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS GTX 680 DirectCU II SLI
    Sound Card
    onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG Flatron W2240S PN
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1080
    Hard Drives
    SanDisk Ultra Plus SATA 3 128GB X2

    Western Digital Caviar Blue 2x1TB + WD Caviar Black 1TB
    PSU
    Corsair RM 850 X
    Case
    Chieftec Dragon
    Cooling
    Thermalright Macho HR-02
    Keyboard
    Ivation mechanical backlit
    Mouse
    MS Optical 6000
    Internet Speed
    24 Mbps
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    ESET NOD32 8.0.312.0
With the Pro edition of Windows 8.1 you get Hyper-V virtualization. See this tutorial at our sister site to see how you can create a VHD of your current Windows 7 installation and use it as a virtual machine in Windows 8.1 Pro Hyper-V: Hyper-V - Create and Use VHD of Windows 10 with Disk2VHD

Notice that even the tut is made to show how to virtualize your existing Windows 10 installation (Part One), Disk2VHD works exactly the same way in Windows 7. The same with Part Two of the tutorial, you create the Windows 7 virtual machine exactly the same way you create a Windows 10 vm. In addition, Hyper-V virtualization in Windows 8.1 Pro works exactly as it works in Windows 10 so the tutorial can be used as it is in your situation.

Kari
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP ENVY 17-1150eg
    CPU
    1.6 GHz Intel Core i7-720QM Processor
    Memory
    6 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5850 Graphics
    Sound Card
    Beats sound system with integrated subwoofer
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17" laptop display, 22" LED and 32" Full HD TV through HDMI
    Screen Resolution
    1600*900 (1), 1920*1080 (2&3)
    Hard Drives
    Internal: 2 x 500 GB SATA Hard Disk Drive 7200 rpm
    External: 2TB for backups, 3TB USB3 network drive for media
    Cooling
    As Envy runs a bit warm, I have it on a Cooler Master pad
    Keyboard
    Logitech diNovo Media Desktop Laser (bluetooth)
    Mouse
    Logitech MX1000 Laser (Bluetooth)
    Internet Speed
    50 MB VDSL
    Browser
    Maxthon 3.5.2., IE11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender 4.3.9431.0
    Other Info
    Windows in English, additional user accounts in Finnish, German and Swedish.
@proudtobegreek - not sure about oracle or vmware....I have read good about both, but running the virtual machine from an external HD seems to be an issue with both...so not sure what to use but the posting by Kari mentioned the Hyper-V functionality in win8, so I am going to give that a try first. Thank you (efkaisto...forgive the phonetic spelling).

@Kari...I had not seen the win10 tutorial. I think that is what I need so I will using it this week-end. I went ahead and installed win8.1 on a separate HD which I have attached to my workstation. I had disconnect the HD with Win7Ultimate but will reconnect it and create the VHD as the tutorial instructs. Thank you for your guidance.

I will report back on my progress once I get the VHD created and connected using Hyper-V.
 

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
In Windows 8.1, when you have enabled hardware virtualization in BIOS you can start with this tutorial: http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2493-hyper-v-how-use-windows-8-a.html

More about virtual switches in Hyper-V (to connect vm to network): http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/19359-hyper-v-virtual-switch-manager.html

Both above tutorials in one complete step-by-step walkthrough at Ten Forums: Hyper-V virtualization - Setup and Use in Windows 10 (as I mentioned in my previous post Hyper-V works exactly the same way in Windows 8.1 and Windows 10, the Ten Forums Hyper-V tutorials can be used as such without any modifications in Windows 8.1 Pro).
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP ENVY 17-1150eg
    CPU
    1.6 GHz Intel Core i7-720QM Processor
    Memory
    6 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5850 Graphics
    Sound Card
    Beats sound system with integrated subwoofer
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17" laptop display, 22" LED and 32" Full HD TV through HDMI
    Screen Resolution
    1600*900 (1), 1920*1080 (2&3)
    Hard Drives
    Internal: 2 x 500 GB SATA Hard Disk Drive 7200 rpm
    External: 2TB for backups, 3TB USB3 network drive for media
    Cooling
    As Envy runs a bit warm, I have it on a Cooler Master pad
    Keyboard
    Logitech diNovo Media Desktop Laser (bluetooth)
    Mouse
    Logitech MX1000 Laser (Bluetooth)
    Internet Speed
    50 MB VDSL
    Browser
    Maxthon 3.5.2., IE11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender 4.3.9431.0
    Other Info
    Windows in English, additional user accounts in Finnish, German and Swedish.
Finally had success. Used Disc2VHD to create my VM image and used Win8 Hyper-V.

However, when I first started the VM I could not boot to it (windows loader not found) so after some research, I discovered I had not copied all my partitions (I had a hidden system partition). Once I had that partition, I was able to boot to the VM. However, I received the M$ popup notification that I had to reactivate. After research, I found a USB device not found and research indicated that constituted "new" hardware and therefore required Win7 license reactivation. After searching through my folders, files and old discs, I found my original Win7 key and was able to reactivate. The VM is now running smoothly (still missing the USB device though but that does not seem to be an issue).

Thank you for the guidance provided. I will mark this as solved.
 

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
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