Oracle VM VirtualBox (Virtualbox.org) old xp machine

I would recommend and use VMware vCenter Converter Standalone 5.0

However, if you have an OEM version of Windows XP, this is a breach of the License Agreement, and it will not function, and requires reactivation on the new VM.

See here

#Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) versions

Note: Physical-to-virtual hard drive migration of a Windows installation is a valid function for customers with Software Assurance and full retail copies of Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7. Software Assurance provides users valuable benefits—please contact Microsoft Corporation for further information. Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 installed by Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) using OEM versions of these products may not be transferred to a virtual hard drive in accordance with Microsoft licensing terms.

Source
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/ee656415


and if you do use VMware vCenter Converter Standalone 5.0, and you want to make your transfers 60% faster checkout my EE article here

HOW TO: Improve the transfer rate of a Physical to Virtual (P2V), Virtual to Virtual Conversion (V2V) using VMware vCenter Converter Standalone 5.0

Download VMware vCenter Converter 5.0 here
VMware vCenter Converter Standalone 5.0 Documentation
VMware vCenter Converter Standalone 5.0 User Guide





If you have issues, you may want to consult the following articles and guides

Read fellow Expert Bestway's article.

Best Practice Video Guide here


Some Videos I've develeoped for Experts Exchange

A Tutorial video by me:- Restore a Virtual Machine using the FREE VMware vCenter Converter to VMware vSphere 4.x, 5.0 ESXi 4.x, ESXi 5.0, ESX 4.0

A Tutorial video by me:- Backup VMware vSphere 4.x, 5.0 ESXi 4.x, ESXi 5.0, ESX 4.0 for FREE using VMware vCenter Converter

A Tutorial video by me:- VMware vCenter Converter Standalone Process at work

A Tutorial video by me:- VMware vCenter Converter Standalone 5.0 Convert monolithic sparse to monolithic flat for use with VMware vSphere 4.x 5.0 ESXi 4.x 5.0

is that free? Thanks

Yes, ALL fREE.

You need to leave the hard drive in the physical machine to create the virtual machine using VMware vCenter Converter Standalone.

Please note the OEM reference.

by physical machine you mean my XP machine or my windows7 machine?

XP Machine. But if the XP License is OEM, it will not work.

Is the XP machine OEM or Retail.

e.g. did the computer come preinstalled with Windows XP.

yes i got the computer from my IT support and XP was already there... but I am not sure it a retail cd was installed or it was oem
 
Is there a way to figure out if its OEM or not...

check My Computer, and check if any logos or support references.

what is the modelmof computer Dell?

sorry my XP machine is not OEM
my windows 7 machine is OEM

XP DELL is GX620
windows 7 is dell precision T7500

Sorry to inform you a converted machine, will not activate, and its a breach of the license agreement to transfer the OS, and as such I have been recently informed EE Experts cannot discuss this further as its against EE rules to participate because we would be infringing the license agreement set down by the OEM.

no i just found my xp is retail
my windows 7 is OEM

Okay, if the physical is not OEM, okay to transfer, use P2V as above.

have you used oracle virtualbox www.virtualbox.org 
which one do you prefer/recommend n why thanks a lot

Yes, I have used Virtualbox.

Personally I use VMware Workstation, have done for years since 1998, for me performance is better, prefer the UI, better functions.

Virtualbox is a free clone, but does the job.

ok thanks i will try vmware and see  if thats solving the problem.. thanks again...