Boot an existing XP (Physical HD) install with VirtualBox

[Ng Oon-Ee]

Terrific guide, works like a charm.

An additional note, I had to enable IO APIC or my Windows XP would hang on booting (gave me a small heartattack the first time that happened, but could still boot into it normally by dual-boot).

Otherwise, this means I now have no real reason to dual-boot except for games (and when I do want to dual-boot, no problem!)

Thank you!

[taffypride]

I've tried various options in attempting to run XP via VirtualBox but I am still having problems.

My system is configured with 2x80Gb HDD's.

XP is installed on the Primary HDD.
Ubuntu is installed on the Secondary HDD which is set as a SLAVE (grub setup on Primary HDD (HD0) )

I've used the command

VBoxManage internalcommands createrawvmdk -filename ~/.VirBox/WinXP.vmdk -rawdisk /dev/sda -partitions 1 -mbr ~/.VirtualBox/WinXP.mbr -relative -register

and it will create the file.

Setup a new virtual machine in VirtualBox, using the WinXP.vmdk and configured extra settings.

Went to run the Virtual Machine and it stops short with a message

MBR 2FA

Can't get any further. Any help?

Edit: Don't know if it makes a difference but I have XP Home Service Pack 3 installed.

[rdiaztushman]

Hello!

Thanks for the terrific tutorial!

I'm having a problem logging all the way back into the existing WinXP installation, though. I get to the WinXP login screen, enter my name and password, but when I get the "Loading Personal Settings" windows, WinXP hangs and I have to manually close it with VirtualBox.

Any ideas?

Here are the relevant specs (and if I haven't listed something, let me know)

Sony Vaio VGN-SZ160P
WinXP SP2
Ubuntu 8.04 LTS
Virtual Box (binary, not OSE)

Yes, I uncommented the lines for USB support.
Yes, I created the hardware profile in WinXP.

VirtualBox WindowsXP configuration:
------------------------------------
General
Name
WindowsXP
OS Type
Windows XP
Base Memory
192 MB
Video Memory
8 MB
Boot Order
Floppy, CD/DVD-ROM, Hard Disk
ACPI
Enabled
IO APIC
Enabled
VT-x/AMD-V
Disabled
PAE/NX
Disabled


Hard Disks
IDE Primary Master
WindowsXP.vmdk [Writethrough, 93.16 GB]


CD/DVD-ROM
Host Drive
MATSHITA UJ-832D (/dev/scd0)


Floppy
Not mounted



Audio
Disabled



Network
Adapter 0
PCnet-FAST III (NAT)


Serial Ports
Disabled



USB
Disabled



Shared Folders
None



Remote Display
Disabled
------------------------------------

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!!

[Sand Lee]

Thanks for the compliments Ng Oon-Ee! I really appreciate it! and just fyi, the IO APIC option was mentioned in the tutorial

@ taffypride
I don't know if you have, but have you tried alt. Step 1/2? If not, can you open gnome-system-monitor and tell me the name of the device where "/" is mounted?

@ rdiaztushman
I've recently encountered the same problem with the newer VBox versions, and so have other people on the Vbox mailing list (though, with general performance issues). What you can do instead is install VBox OSE, after removing the closed-source version (I'm not sure how the modules will react). And what's great, is that you can use reuse the .vmdk you created with this tutorial, you'll probably also have to use alt. Step 1/2.

[Sand Lee]

I was wondering. Since I don't believe anyone would use WinXP SP2 over SP3 (and removing SP3 for this tutorial doesn't work!), and I am unsure if the WPA backup method still works, should I remove the related sections from the tutorial? This would shorten the tutorial from 8 to 5 steps! On the other hand however, it would stop people from being able to bypass WPA if switching back and forth from native to virtual.

I was thinking of adding a poll, but I didn't want to make the change and have a permanent and possibly irrelevant poll on top of the tutorial..

[benner]

I have tried a million times and must be missing something. I get

MBR

NTLDR is missing
press any key to restart

(I am using the closed source version of virtualbox, Hardy Heron, IBM T43 laptop, XP sp3)

any help is appreciated.

[Sand Lee]

I have tried a million times and must be missing something. I get

MBR

NTLDR is missing
press any key to restart

(I am using the closed source version of virtualbox, Hardy Heron, IBM T43 laptop, XP sp3)

any help is appreciated.

I'm guessing you've already tried the troubleshooting section?

[andrew_awp]

I assume this same strategy would work with Xen? I will try it now....

[andrew_awp]

See, why I think this wouldnt work is, every time i have significantly changed video cards, windows 2000 and up hangs on bootup with a black screen, and you must reinstall windows or at least do a full repair. the same goes for a virtual video card, i would guess.

[Sand Lee]

I have personally confirmed this to work however in Windows XP and Vista.
And I don't know a thing about Xen, I would look for guides online...