Install Linux and move Win10 to vm

vontopovyo · October 18, 2018, 9:33pm

I did a brief check through existing topics and haven’t been able to find an answer. Is there a feasible way to install Linux (Manjaro) on a new SSD on my home computer, then convert my existing Win10 instance on another SSD to VirtualBox?

Ruffalo · October 18, 2018, 9:44pm

Yes:

Install linux on a separate disk and boot from it
Install virtualbox
Create a pointer to that disk
VBoxManage internalcommands createrawvmdk -filename /path/to/file.vmdk -rawdisk /dev/sda
Ref: https://www.virtualbox.org/manual/ch09.html#rawdisk
It’s beer o’clock

corpse_painted · October 19, 2018, 2:46pm

Not sure if this counts but it’s definately another option if you have a VMWare license…
You can use the “virtualize this machine” on another drive and then install linux / vmware and load your old system virtually that way .

Novasty · October 19, 2018, 8:20pm

Black friday is next month, VMWare is usually around 40% off for their newest license around that time.

vontopovyo · October 19, 2018, 9:22pm

Thanks, I’l keep an eye out for it!

vontopovyo · October 19, 2018, 9:23pm

I’ll be trying this when I get a chance this weekend, thank you very much.

Novasty · October 19, 2018, 10:42pm

This should also be free and would help:
https://my.vmware.com/en/web/vmware/info/slug/infrastructure_operations_management/vmware_vcenter_converter_standalone/6_2_0 if you want to see what your machine is like in a VM

weenieHutCEO · November 21, 2018, 2:03am

VirtualBox is pretty garbage compared to KVM + virsh tho. Plus all the Spice server features make QOL way better. The only thing I miss about VirtualBox is seamless mode. Other than that KVM + virsh all the way.