Arch Linux

varl

Member

Registered: 2007-06-07

Posts: 51

Virtualizing an existing Windows-partition.

The last couple of weeks I've been trying in vain to be able to virtualize my existing Windows partition in Arch64 using kvm and qemu without success. I have deducted (inaccurately perhaps...) that KVM does not allow me to do what I wish, instead it would require me to set up an Windows-image.

I have been looking into Virtualbox, but it doesn't seem to have a 64-bit version.
Is what I'm trying to accomplish (boot up my existing Windows installation on sda3 in a virtual machine) even possible at the moment? I'm stuck, and searching has been unsuccessful. Primarily because I can't express what I'm trying to do in a concise manor.

I'm on an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, which might be of interest.

Please help.

thisllub

Member

From: Northern NSW Australia

Registered: 2007-12-28

Posts: 231

Re: Virtualizing an existing Windows-partition.

Qemu seems painfully slow.

I am running VirtualBox on Arch 64 with no trouble.
You might be able to use a cd based distro like SystemRescue or Parted Magic and  partimage to backup your Windows partition then restore it into a Virtual Disk.
I haven't tried it but it might work.

varl

Member

Registered: 2007-06-07

Posts: 51

Re: Virtualizing an existing Windows-partition.

Ok. I appreciate your response and will give it a whirl.

briest

Member

From: Katowice, PL

Registered: 2006-05-04

Posts: 468

Re: Virtualizing an existing Windows-partition.

With VirtualBox there is no need to copy partition into virtual disk -- see chapter 9.9 "Using a raw host hard disk from a guest" in VB manual