Convert Physical to Virtual Machine with Disk2vhd | Guide

Simplifying Physical to Virtual Machine Migration with Disk2VHD

Is a streamlined process for converting physical machines into virtual machines (VMs) for testing or consolidation something you've been seeking? We will explore Disk2VHD, a utility from Sysinternals, which offers a straightforward solution for transforming physical Windows computers into VMs – even while they are actively running.

Utilizing Disk2VHD

Disk2vhd empowers the creation of a Virtual Hard Drive (VHD) from a physical machine, leveraging volume snapshot technology, all while the system remains operational. This compact utility requires no installation and can be executed directly from a portable storage device, such as a flash drive.

Simply access the Disk2vhd directory and initiate the executable. Acceptance of the End User License Agreement (EULA) is required to proceed.

Next, designate the physical drive you intend to convert into a VHD. Provide a name and specify a location for the creation and storage of the VHD file. Ensure the chosen location possesses sufficient storage capacity to accommodate the resulting VHD.

In this instance, a VHD is being generated from an IBM ThinkPad operating Windows XP. The "Space required" indicator within the "Volumes to include" section displays 6.48GB, while the E:\ drive is an 8GB portable drive. If you are creating a VHD from Windows XP or Server 2003 for use with Microsoft Virtual PC, it is recommended to check the "Fix up HAL for Virtual PC" option. Confirm all settings are correct, then click the "Create" button.

A progress bar will be displayed during the VHD creation process. The creation of the XP VHD from the test IBM ThinkPad G40 took approximately one hour. The duration of VHD creation will vary depending on the system's specifications.

Configuration within Windows Virtual PC

Now, we will demonstrate running the newly created VHD within Windows Virtual PC on a Windows 7 system. First, a new virtual machine must be created by opening Windows Virtual PC from the Start Menu.

Within the Virtual Machine folder, select "Create virtual machine" to launch the wizard.

Assign a descriptive name to the virtual machine, reflecting its origin – in this case, the name of the physical machine it was created from.

Specify the amount of memory to allocate to the virtual machine and configure the network settings.

In the subsequent step of the wizard, indicate the location of the VHD file and click "Create".

The newly created virtual machine will be located within the Virtual Machines folder.

Several points should be noted regarding this XP virtual machine. Since it was migrated from another computer, the XP license will require reactivation.

The new hardware wizard will appear upon XP startup, identifying the different hardware detected within the virtual machine. Cancelling these wizards proved to be the most effective approach.

Subsequently, "Enable Integration Features" was selected from the Tools menu within Virtual PC.

A wizard will initiate on the virtual computer; simply follow each step until completion, then restart the VM.

Following the reboot and machine launch, the virtual machine is ready for use. This process is particularly useful for preserving older systems, such as this ThinkPad, and making them accessible on other machines.

Conclusion

Disk2VHD is also compatible with Microsoft Hyper-V virtual machines on Server 2008, and has been successfully tested with VirtualBox. This tool proves invaluable in numerous scenarios, particularly for consolidating older machines. It can be employed to create images of systems for testing purposes, without risking damage to the original. Furthermore, it serves as a convenient method for backing up your computer. It is entirely free, requires no installation, and creates the VHD while the computer is running. It supports Windows XP SP2 and later versions. Download Disk2vhd