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Run Existing Windows Hard drive as Virtual Machine

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3 replies

by chase.s.christensen

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Hey all, i have setup my machine as a dual boot between windows XP and Linux (Ubuntu 8.04). When i boot to my linux i downloaded both vmware player and vmworkstation to be able to run windows only programs under the virtual machine. I was told that i could boot my existing windows hard drive as a virtual machine so that i can access all my windows drives, and docs without having to switch back and forth. Is this possible and if it is not is there a way to mount my windows hard drive so it can be accessesed through my virtual machine?

3 replies

by shasca

To run a virtual XP you have to create a virtual workstation with a new XP install through the Vmware software.
To the best of my knowledge you can't use the existing real PC/hardrive as it is not a virtual install.

If I'm miss informed hopefully someone will chime in.

by seanferd

but it won't be like running XP. You'll just have access to the files. Or you could re-install XP as a VM, and give it it's own disk.

If you just want access to the files, Ubuntu should have a mount utility in the applications menu, just pick the NTFS partition (XP).

edit: To mount the drive to an XP VM, install the VMWare tools when creating the XP VM in Workstation. Then add the drive to the Shared Folders when you start the VM in VMWare player. I believe you will also need to share the folders (or whole disk, if that's what you want) from the XP installation on the hard drive. See "Sharing Files and Folders Overview" in Help, or search "share" or "Sharing" in Help.

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