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Creating a 2003 Server VM from an EXISTING physical server on Windows 7 "Virtual PC"

I have a need to vitualize a customer's old 2003 server whose hardware appears to be failing, and am wondering if I can virtualize it on the Windows 7 "Virtual PC". I've been able to create virtual machines on Virtual PC running XP, but they are CLEAN installs.

I need to virtualize an EXISTING RUNNING 2003 server, and put it on a windows 7 "virtual PC".

insidetech

Obviously there is more than one way to get there. Yes, you can run VPC on Win7, though I found that the fastest and cleanest way is to buy VMware Workstation 9 ~$100.00.
It all depends what you have more off.. Time and resilience to frustration or money... ;-)
You can run the Workstation 9 on Windows 8 64 bit, as the underlying host, easily migrate the Server 2003 to the VM environment and then have choices in the future in upgrading the Server 2003 or migrating it to another VM environment Such as Microsofts Hyper V if for some reason you wanted to.
Good luck

new435

ASKER

I have a relatively good knowledge of VMware, but never used the workstation. If you dont mind me asking..

Can I install this on a Windows 7 X64 PC, and use something like the VMware P to V converter to convert the physical 2003 server to a guest on the workstation?

Will a windows image backup back up this whole environment?

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insidetech

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Creating a 2003 Server VM from an EXISTING physical server on Windows 7 &quot;Virtual PC&quot;

Creating a 2003 Server VM from an EXISTING physical server on Windows 7 "Virtual PC"