This article explains how you can do VirtualBox P2V convert physical machine to virtual machine in Sun VirtualBox. It’s not straight forward method since there no tools available for VirtualBox P2V Physical to Virtual conversion. But still it’s possible with free VMware tool.
Before start the procedures, let me tell you how it’s going to work.
We will use a free VMware converter tool to convert physical to virtual machine which will create VMX and VMDK files according to physical computer and disks configuration.
Then import the created VMDK file to VirtualBox as hard disk, create a virtual machine and boot from VMDK file hard disk. That’s it. It will work fine.
Don’t waste your time to search a tool VirtualBox P2V convert Physical to Virtual in VirtualBox directl, its not available till today if I’m not wrong. If you are a VirtualBox fan and you want to try P2V and run in Sun VirtualBox, then this is the only VirtualBox P2V option available.
Physical to Virtual in VirtualBox – VirtualBox P2V – Step by step methods
1) Download VMware Converter here
2) Convert your physical computer to virtual using free VMware vCentre converter as mentioned here. Make sure you select correct physical partitions, processors and memory size for new virtual machine. Don’t split the virtual disks during the conversion.
3) Once successfully created, locate the VMX and VMDK files. Don’t bother about VMX files.
4) Now add the newly created vmdk file to VirtualBox media manager as shown below.
5) Read more about adding and accessing vmdk disk files in sun VirtualBox here. This article explains how you can access vmdk disk file as partition in side virtual machine in sun VirtualBox. We don’t require that much now. Just to know how to add vmdk file to sun VirtualBox media manger.
6) After successfully added vmdk disk file, create a new virtual machine in VirtualBox. Select the correct guest OS, processor type and memory size. In virtual hard disk box select ‘Use existing Hard Disk’ and browse the disk you added by vmdk file in VirtualBox media manager. So your new virtual machine will boot from vmdk disk which we converted from physical to virtual.
7) That’s it. Boot the virtual machine now. It will be booting and working fine. Sometimes it may install additional required drivers on sun virtual machine. Let it complete and install the Sun guest additions to get better display performance with additional features.
8) You must see your physical computer on Sun VirtualBox as virtual machine now. This is the easiest method to convert Physical to Virtual in VirtualBox – VirtualBox P2V with free tool.
9) If you are still interested in running pure sun VirtualBox machine with VDI files, you can convert your newly created VMDK files to VDI format with free tool as mentioned here. After created vdi file add it to media manager and boot virtual machine from vdi files.
If you face any problem let me know, we can solve it together. if I’m wrong about VirtualBox P2V tools tell me where I can download it and do P2V in Sun VirtualBox in one shot.
Physical to Virtual VirtualBox P2V
Hi, great article and simple. All was going well until I booted and then it simply blue screens for a few seconds and goes back to the boot page.
Any ideas?
Alan
Go to VM’s Settings, Click the System button and check the “Enable IO APIC” option. Click OK to save the settings.Try.
Let me know. Sorry for delay reply
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The converter seems to require VMWare to be installed and working. Is there any way around this requirement? I really do NOT want to have to install an entire VMWare system just to convert stuff.
@Karl,
VMware converter tool does not require entire package. Anyhow, here is the tool from Microsoft disk2vhd which will convert your physical disk to VHD ( Virtual Hard Disk) format. Then attach it to VirtualBox.
Download disk2vhd
Thanks Dinesh.
I’m using the Linux standalone converter. I don’t use Windows of any variety, so cannot run the Microsoft utility, but thanks anyway
When I run the converter, there is no problem accessing the remote host and obtaining disk information etc. The second stage is to define a destination. That dialogue appears to require an existing VMWare host. If not, could you tell me what I should put into the dialogue? It asks for a server name, user name and password…
@Karl, then no use by disk2vhd.
Are you trying to convert local machine or remote computer?
Make sure to follow the settings here.
http://www.sysprobs.com/physical-virtual-machine-vmware-vcenter-converter
Check step 4. It should not be an issue.
Hi
first thank you for your work.
I made the .vmdk successfully, but when I run it with “Enable IO APIC” checked, i have a Blue screen with 0x0000007B error. When it’s unchecked the screen remains black with a fixed cursor on the top left corner.
Have you got any idea ?
Thank’s in advance
Molive
@Molive,
Try to attach the vmdk disk file to SATA port as mentioned here
http://www.sysprobs.com/add-sata-hard-disk-virtual-machine-virtualbox
Or while booting, press F8 and Go to safe mode ( if you are using Windows OS), then remove all drivers and try.
Thank you, Dinesh, for your reply.
- I’ve tried the safe mode with no success (same BSOD)
- not tried with SATA port because physical install is on IDE
- Tried this method too : http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Migrate_Windows (this link is very interesting) which did not work for me
- Finally what worked for me is the disk2vhd tool from Sysinternals (see http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/ee656415.aspx) without anymore manipulation, as virtualbox recognizes vhd files
Thank you again and I hope my contribution will be helpful for somebody.
Molive
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Thanks for this post. I tried using this on a Vista Business edition, but when I try to boot the VM in VirtualBox I get a black screen. I did try enabling the IO APIC, but that didn’t help.
Any ideas?
Hi Carlton,
Have you tried with disk2vhd (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/ee656415.aspx) ? it worked for me at first shot.
good luck
Molive
Molive,
I got it working. I had previously using the disk2vhd, but that didn’t work either. Turns out upgrading my VirtualBox fixed the issue.
thanks again for your post. Very nice to have both systems while I migrate everything to Windows 7.
@Carlton, @molive,
Thanks for your comments and suggestion. One more user also reported same black screen error while booting converted VMDK. I suggested to use Windows installation CD to repair the disk.
I had the same issue once and this method helped me.
Anyhow, disk2vhd is a good solution for P2V for two reasons.
Its from Microsoft ( so OS related boot sectors and architecture will be take care)
VHD is supported by VirtualBox.