Take a look at our
ThinkPads.com HOME PAGE
For those who might want to contribute to the blog, start here: Editors Alley Topic
Then contact Bill with a Private Message
ThinkPads.com HOME PAGE
For those who might want to contribute to the blog, start here: Editors Alley Topic
Then contact Bill with a Private Message
Can I transfer Windows from bare metal to a virtual machine?
-
- Freshman Member
- Posts: 113
- Joined: Mon Jan 28, 2008 6:29 am
- Location: Istanbul, Turkey ex.St.-Petersburg, Rus.
- Contact:
Can I transfer Windows from bare metal to a virtual machine?
I'm buying a used ThinkPad with a Windows license. I will be using a computer with Linux and run Windows in a virtual machine (I'd like to try QEMU/KVM with video pass-through, to try to achieve near 100% video performance) Can I transfer my licensed Windows from bare metal to a virtual machine?
ThinkPad X61s 12.1 1024x768 | CD 1.60 LV | 4GB | 120GB Samsung SSD
sold: ThinkPad X200s (7470-A22) 12.1 1440x900 | CD 1.86 LV | 8 GB | 120GB Intel 520 SSD | BT+abg | Ubuntu
sold: ThinkPad X200 (7459W4T) 12.1 1280x800 | CD 2.26 MV | Ubuntu, IBM X60s (1702-64M) 12.1 1024x768 | CD 1.66LV | Ubuntu
sold: ThinkPad X200s (7470-A22) 12.1 1440x900 | CD 1.86 LV | 8 GB | 120GB Intel 520 SSD | BT+abg | Ubuntu
sold: ThinkPad X200 (7459W4T) 12.1 1280x800 | CD 2.26 MV | Ubuntu, IBM X60s (1702-64M) 12.1 1024x768 | CD 1.66LV | Ubuntu
-
- ThinkPadder
- Posts: 1451
- Joined: Fri Oct 11, 2013 7:45 pm
- Location: North Ridgeville, Ohio, United States
- Contact:
Re: Can I transfer Windows from bare metal to a virtual mach
The only thing I can think of to try would be to use imaging software (Ghost, FOG, etc) to create an image of the physical disk, then image the virtual machine from that created image.
T480 with T25 keyboard | T25 | W520 i7-2860QM·Quadro 2000m·IPS FHD | T601F T9900·NVS 140m·LED AFFS UXGA
T420 IPS FHD | X220 IPS FHD | T61p·T61·43·42p|X13 Yoga G3·220T·301·41T·24·23·22|G41|A31p·22m|i1200|TransNote
600|770Z|770|760XD|760EL|701C|755C
T420 IPS FHD | X220 IPS FHD | T61p·T61·43·42p|X13 Yoga G3·220T·301·41T·24·23·22|G41|A31p·22m|i1200|TransNote
600|770Z|770|760XD|760EL|701C|755C
-
- Freshman Member
- Posts: 113
- Joined: Mon Jan 28, 2008 6:29 am
- Location: Istanbul, Turkey ex.St.-Petersburg, Rus.
- Contact:
Re: Can I transfer Windows from bare metal to a virtual mach
Yes, there certainly should be some imaging software involved, though I must figure out which one will support the format needed for QEMU-KVM. Maybe I'll have to use QEMU's own qemu-img, but can it read physical disks? Maybe I'll have to use another imaging software first, and then convert an image with qemu-kvm.
Unless I'll reinstall OS from scratch: it's nice to have such an option. Should I be generally able to reinstall Windows from scratch and still use the license I'm given with the laptop?
Unless I'll reinstall OS from scratch: it's nice to have such an option. Should I be generally able to reinstall Windows from scratch and still use the license I'm given with the laptop?
ThinkPad X61s 12.1 1024x768 | CD 1.60 LV | 4GB | 120GB Samsung SSD
sold: ThinkPad X200s (7470-A22) 12.1 1440x900 | CD 1.86 LV | 8 GB | 120GB Intel 520 SSD | BT+abg | Ubuntu
sold: ThinkPad X200 (7459W4T) 12.1 1280x800 | CD 2.26 MV | Ubuntu, IBM X60s (1702-64M) 12.1 1024x768 | CD 1.66LV | Ubuntu
sold: ThinkPad X200s (7470-A22) 12.1 1440x900 | CD 1.86 LV | 8 GB | 120GB Intel 520 SSD | BT+abg | Ubuntu
sold: ThinkPad X200 (7459W4T) 12.1 1280x800 | CD 2.26 MV | Ubuntu, IBM X60s (1702-64M) 12.1 1024x768 | CD 1.66LV | Ubuntu
Re: Can I transfer Windows from bare metal to a virtual mach
I'd suggest to create a standard VHD using disk2vhd and use this as a basis for further conversions or transfers. Did that once to convert an existing Windows Vista system to use it with qemu-kvm. Still works fine.
A few 14.1" and 15" T61+ Frankenpads and one T480
-
- ThinkPadder
- Posts: 1451
- Joined: Fri Oct 11, 2013 7:45 pm
- Location: North Ridgeville, Ohio, United States
- Contact:
Re: Can I transfer Windows from bare metal to a virtual mach
In general, no - the key is matched to the hardware detected by the OS. If more than a couple key hardware components change, the key won't activate the OS. However - if the license key on the sticker on the laptop hasn't been used to activate the software before (a generic key is used on laptops shipped from the factory), you can probably do it.Nickolai wrote:Unless I'll reinstall OS from scratch: it's nice to have such an option. Should I be generally able to reinstall Windows from scratch and still use the license I'm given with the laptop?
T480 with T25 keyboard | T25 | W520 i7-2860QM·Quadro 2000m·IPS FHD | T601F T9900·NVS 140m·LED AFFS UXGA
T420 IPS FHD | X220 IPS FHD | T61p·T61·43·42p|X13 Yoga G3·220T·301·41T·24·23·22|G41|A31p·22m|i1200|TransNote
600|770Z|770|760XD|760EL|701C|755C
T420 IPS FHD | X220 IPS FHD | T61p·T61·43·42p|X13 Yoga G3·220T·301·41T·24·23·22|G41|A31p·22m|i1200|TransNote
600|770Z|770|760XD|760EL|701C|755C
-
- Similar Topics
- Replies
- Views
- Last post
-
-
Using a Virtual Machine for software
by ThinkPad560X » Wed Nov 01, 2023 12:57 pm » in Off-Topic Stuff - 0 Replies
- 2472 Views
-
Last post by ThinkPad560X
Wed Nov 01, 2023 12:57 pm
-
-
-
Bios messages being displayed at startup - "Machine Type is invalid" etc.
by axiomcs78 » Thu Jan 11, 2024 10:27 am » in ThinkPad X1 / X1-Carbon / X1-Extreme and later Series - 4 Replies
- 1251 Views
-
Last post by RealBlackStuff
Fri Jan 12, 2024 3:10 am
-
-
-
Can't install Windows XP
by Gonzaleitor » Thu Jan 25, 2024 1:24 pm » in ThinkPad T40/T41/T42/T43 Series - 12 Replies
- 1212 Views
-
Last post by Gonzaleitor
Sat Jan 27, 2024 1:18 pm
-
-
-
You can no longer install Windows 10 with a 7/8 key
by mikemex » Fri Feb 02, 2024 11:14 pm » in Windows 10/11/etc. - 1 Replies
- 580 Views
-
Last post by RealBlackStuff
Sat Feb 03, 2024 1:14 am
-
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 18 guests