How To Migrate Your Live Windows System To VirtualBox
Hey!
Ever regret that Sun didn't include something like a migration assistant for your live Windows system in VirtualBox?
My method concentrates on these basic steps:
- Create a backup of your whole system partition
- Create a new VirtualBox Hard Disk
- Install Windows onto the VirtualBox Hard Disk to create a function MBR (Master Boot Record)
- Apply the backup onto your VirtualBox Hard Disk
Done!
What you need:
- Sun VirtualBox
- Acronis TrueImage Home 2009 (or an equivalent backup program)
- File-to-ISO converter (like a CD/DVD burning program, e.g. Ahead Nero or Alcohol 120%)
- The Windows installation disc
Process:
- Start Acronis TrueImage and create a backup of your whole system partition. For version 2009 doesn't mean System State but My Computer => Disk 1 => C:. Leave Back up sector-by-sector unchecked. Adjust the other settings to your liking and start the backup process.
- Go to Tools => Create Bootable Rescue Media and create the image as an ISO file.
- Use your File-to-ISO converter or burning software to convert your .tbi backup file to an ISO that you will be able to mount it as a CD/DVD later on. (Reason being that I had problems selecting the right partition to be replaced by the backup when I had two partitions mounted to the virtual machine - the other one included the backup file. Also you won't be able to install the Guest Additions, so you can't mount folders over the VirtualBox shared folders.)
- Start VirtualBox and create a new Machine. Choose your current OS and name it as you like.
- During the process create a new Boot Hard Disk and give it the same size as your current system partition (maybe less if you know the size will be enough).
- Adjust the settings of your new machine and start it.
- Mount the Windows installation disc and install Windows. This is so that a proper MBR (Master Boot Record) is created because we will need one in order to boot from the final system.
- After the Windows installation (as soon as you see the Windows Start Menu and stuff), mount the Acronis Bootable Rescue Media ISO as a CD/DVD and boot from it.
- Select Acronis True Image Home (Full Version) and you'll see the TrueImage program like you did in Windows.
- Dismount the current CD/DVD image.
- Mount your the ISO with your backup file.
- Click on Manage and Restore => Browse for backup... and open the CD/DVD Drive which should have the backup image file right there. If it doesn't, try unmounting and remounting it again.
- Right-click on the backup in the list and select Restore.
- Select the hard disk (partition) you just created and continue. Make sure that the Restore MBR (Master Boot Recover) / Track 0 checkbox is unchecked.
- Let it run through.
- Now reboot your machine.
- Congratulations! You should have a working copy of your live system in VirtualBox!
I guess there are a couple of kinks here and there because I didn't actually do it like that (I installed Windows on the virtual machine before I attempted to restore via Acronis Bootable Rescue Media ... yeah, silly me 😀 ) and it was about 3 days ago, so I'm writing off the top of my head.
Please give me feedback if it worked! (And also if it didn't!) 🙂
In the case of Windows XP (and probably Vista and 7) because of the major change of hardware (actual drivers replaced by virtual drivers) you will be required to re-activate your Windows copy. XP gives you a maximum of 3 days for that.
Just thought I'd mention it for clarity's sake 🙂
Good luck and have fun!