Is it possible to create a virtual machine using a USB-connected disk drive?
On my Dell Mobile Precision M4700, I'm running Windows 10. I have an external disk containing a boot image which I would like to run in a virtual machine. I am most familiar with VMware's player, but I'm not averse to using Microsoft's Hyper-V.
In the partition table presented below, it is the device identified as Disk 3 that I'm trying to configure as a virtual machine. I've tried setting it up myself, using both VMware and Hyper V, but have not succeeded. Each time I try starting the virtual machine, I get the startup repair screen. I'm not even sure of an independent method for determining whether that device is bootable. I thought of using BCDEdit to configure the boot menu, but I don't have any experience with that tool. Even if it is bootable, I guess it's possible that the hypervisor applications just don't like booting from USB-connected devices.
If anyone can tell me whether what I'm trying to do is feasible and if so, how to do it, I would appreciate.
In the partition table presented below, it is the device identified as Disk 3 that I'm trying to configure as a virtual machine. I've tried setting it up myself, using both VMware and Hyper V, but have not succeeded. Each time I try starting the virtual machine, I get the startup repair screen. I'm not even sure of an independent method for determining whether that device is bootable. I thought of using BCDEdit to configure the boot menu, but I don't have any experience with that tool. Even if it is bootable, I guess it's possible that the hypervisor applications just don't like booting from USB-connected devices.
If anyone can tell me whether what I'm trying to do is feasible and if so, how to do it, I would appreciate.
Who is Participating?
Experts Exchange Solution brought to you by
Enjoy your complimentary solution view.
Get this solution by purchasing an Individual license!
Start your 7-day free trial.
I wear a lot of hats...
"The solutions and answers provided on Experts Exchange have been extremely helpful to me over the last few years. I wear a lot of hats - Developer, Database Administrator, Help Desk, etc., so I know a lot of things but not a lot about one thing. Experts Exchange gives me answers from people who do know a lot about one thing, in a easy to use platform." -Todd S.
The disk contains a Windows 7 partition that was restored from an Acronis True Image full system backup (.tib) file. As such, I'm assuming the disk is boot-able. I just haven't had a chance to verify that.
To answer your question, I do have VHD and VMDK versions of the disk image, but those didn't work either. Actually, I thought that the physical disk might work better, since nothing gets lost in the translation.
To answer your question, I do have VHD and VMDK versions of the disk image, but those didn't work either. Actually, I thought that the physical disk might work better, since nothing gets lost in the translation.
the only method, that a Hypervisor, (HYper-V or VMware ESXi) can access the USB disk, or any DISK (IDE or SATA) would be via a RAW MAPPING.
RAW MAPPINGs exist to access under disks under both, but not boot disks, and certainly not BOOT disks on an external USB disk.
You would be better with a VMDK or VHD.
Your VMDK or VHD do not work, because the Hardware has to match the virtual machine, e.g. they need t be converted.
Just like any hard disk I remove from my laptop, if I put it in my Desktop, it's not likely to boot, because hardware is different, e.g. storage controllers, BIOS etc
RAW MAPPINGs exist to access under disks under both, but not boot disks, and certainly not BOOT disks on an external USB disk.
You would be better with a VMDK or VHD.
Your VMDK or VHD do not work, because the Hardware has to match the virtual machine, e.g. they need t be converted.
Just like any hard disk I remove from my laptop, if I put it in my Desktop, it's not likely to boot, because hardware is different, e.g. storage controllers, BIOS etc
first confirm that the disk is indeed bootable. in your bios options or your boot up screen you have the option to set a boot order, try booting from the usb drive.
It appears that the image I created on an external USB drive by restoring a True Image backup will not boot! Never before have I failed to get viable images from True Image backups! I always validate the backups, and that was no different this time.
By the way, if I gave the impression that I was trying to boot this image on a different computer, I apologize. That is not the case.
if it won't boot there are several reasons why
master boot record is #1
many people don't image the entire drive but just specific partitions the problem being that the bcd store is normally in the system h hidden partition and it references a DISK GUID which will probably be incorrect. from the recovery console
bcdboot x:\windows (replace X: with the driver letter of the OS drive you wish to boot. It will be different from the recovery console than the running operating system.
bootrec /fixmbr /all will fix that from the recovery console
This will enable bootmgr.exe as the program to load you now need a proper bcd store
bootrec /scanos will
https://support.microsoft.com/en-ca/kb/927392
master boot record is #1
many people don't image the entire drive but just specific partitions the problem being that the bcd store is normally in the system h hidden partition and it references a DISK GUID which will probably be incorrect. from the recovery console
bcdboot x:\windows (replace X: with the driver letter of the OS drive you wish to boot. It will be different from the recovery console than the running operating system.
bootrec /fixmbr /all will fix that from the recovery console
This will enable bootmgr.exe as the program to load you now need a proper bcd store
bootrec /scanos will
https://support.microsoft.com/en-ca/kb/927392
Okay, just to make sure I understand…
I will boot from my Windows 7 repair disk to start the recovery console.
Once the scan for Windows partitions has finished, I will click Next.
I will select the Command prompt option.
To identify the drive letter assigned to the partition in question, I will enter the following command:
vmic logicaldisk get name
Using the appropriate drive designation obtained from the previous command, I will enter the following:
bcdboot <drive>:\windows
Then I will enter, bootrec /fixmbr /all
…and finally, bootrec /scanos
I'm not sure whether the word "will" at the end of the string in your example is part of the command.
I will boot from my Windows 7 repair disk to start the recovery console.
Once the scan for Windows partitions has finished, I will click Next.
I will select the Command prompt option.
To identify the drive letter assigned to the partition in question, I will enter the following command:
vmic logicaldisk get name
Using the appropriate drive designation obtained from the previous command, I will enter the following:
bcdboot <drive>:\windows
Then I will enter, bootrec /fixmbr /all
…and finally, bootrec /scanos
I'm not sure whether the word "will" at the end of the string in your example is part of the command.
where do you get the command guessing you meant WMIC vs VMIC
I use 'diskpart' then 'list volume' then 'exit' to exit diskpart
and it is just
I use 'diskpart' then 'list volume' then 'exit' to exit diskpart
wmic logicaldisk get deviceid,volumename
and it is just
bootrec /scanos
Experts Exchange Solution brought to you by
Your issues matter to us.
Facing a tech roadblock? Get the help and guidance you need from experienced professionals who care. Ask your question anytime, anywhere, with no hassle.
Start your 7-day free trial
Yeah, that's what I get for using Google! I pasted the command syntax from a site on the Internet. I guess they hadn't proofread it, and I didn't know any better. Thanks for the clarification on the bootrec command.
I must confess that, while waiting for your response to my previous comment, I ran the recovery console. When it told me that it could see the USB drive and offered to repair it automatically, I accepted. After about 20 minutes, it finished. Now when I start the system, the Windows 7 partition on the USB drive is presented as one of two from which I can boot. Unfortunately, it takes me directly to the screen which offers safe mode startup options! No matter which one of the options I choose, I always get a blue screen and the cycle starts over again.
I'm not giving up, however. I don't know whether it will help, but I'd still like to get to the command prompt and use the command sequence you suggested.
I must confess that, while waiting for your response to my previous comment, I ran the recovery console. When it told me that it could see the USB drive and offered to repair it automatically, I accepted. After about 20 minutes, it finished. Now when I start the system, the Windows 7 partition on the USB drive is presented as one of two from which I can boot. Unfortunately, it takes me directly to the screen which offers safe mode startup options! No matter which one of the options I choose, I always get a blue screen and the cycle starts over again.
I'm not giving up, however. I don't know whether it will help, but I'd still like to get to the command prompt and use the command sequence you suggested.
it might have to do with the way the external usb drive is presented to windows. if it is presented as a removable drive it simply will not work. Windows 7 needs to boot from a fixed drive.
What you could try is create a vhd on the usb drive, mount the vhd, restore to the vhd,
A walkthrough is available @ https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/knom/2009/04/07/windows-7-vhd-boot-setup-guideline/
What you could try is create a vhd on the usb drive, mount the vhd, restore to the vhd,
A walkthrough is available @ https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/knom/2009/04/07/windows-7-vhd-boot-setup-guideline/
Yes. I started a process to convert the hard disk to a virtual one about 3 1/2 hours ago. It still has about another 90 minutes to go.
Unfortunately, I can't vouch for any of the strategies suggested by the experts. Before I was able to finish testing, I stepped on and broke the external drive containing the original Windows 7 partition. What I can tell you is that, even though I managed to get the USB drive containing Windows 7 to show up in the multi-boot screen, it wouldn't boot. Also, none of my attempts to create viable virtual disks succeeded. When I use those discs to create virtual machines (both Hyper V and VMware), they wouldn't boot. Those images were huge, and so I kept deleting them. Before I could create a new one, I accidentally destroyed the source. :-(
It's more than this solution.Get answers and train to solve all your tech problems - anytime, anywhere.Try it for free Edge Out The Competitionfor your dream job with proven skills and certifications.Get started today Stand Outas the employee with proven skills.Start learning today for free Move Your Career Forwardwith certification training in the latest technologies.Start your trial today
Hyper-V
From novice to tech pro — start learning today.
-
Microsoft ApplicationsCertification: MCP MCSA Microsoft Certified Partner & Solutions Ass… 377 lessons
Experts Exchange Solution brought to you by
Enjoy your complimentary solution view.
Get this solution by purchasing an Individual license!
Start your 7-day free trial.
So what you are really wanting to do, is pass through the disk to the virtual machine, "as is".
does the external hard disk, contain a boot image what is it?
VMDK, VHD or Acronis Image ?
You may have to complete a conversion on this VM, to create a virtual machine.