Hi I need advice as to best way to convert an existing XP Sp3 install on a physical hard drive along with other related partitions to a Virtual box VM image with aim to convert that VM image to a Hyper-V VM for use with Windows 8.1 host.
I have several C (boot ini partition), D programs, E Data, etc partitions and a current dual boot with an extra XP install I use as a backup system.
My main XP is on J drive and other XP on I drive with C drive boot ini that switches btw 2 with J set as default.
I have a D partition that is over 127 Gb so cannot use Disk2VHD which would have been easier, and it seems there is not a way to make a direct Hyper-V VM from converter but only Vmware VM?
I do not have or want to purchase as yet VMware Workstation as have W8.1 Pro that can use Hyper-V to run my XP SP3.
I seem to also have an issue with COM+ corrupted on my machine XP J drive ( It tried to reinstall the COM+ but my es.dll file won't register and I did get a failed conversion with converter when tried earlier at 94% saying VSS snapshots have reached their limit). I think this is related to my COM+ issue which I am not sure now how to fix apart from repair install of my Xp (as I have tried repairing COM with various articles searched on google to no avail) which I may do first before retry conversion. However my ALT XP on I drive seems to be fine with being able to browse the COM+ applications ok. SO maybe I can use that instead but it is the J drive XP I want the most (not sure if will work at reboot if I do not hot clone it?)
I have read also the manual for converter 5.5.1 ver standalone and am not sure of a few things so if someone can guide me it would be very much appreciated.
First of all which version VM should I make image of if I later want to convert it to a Hyper-V VM image (I only have free Virtual Box latest ver, VMware Player and Hyper-V on Windows 8.1 PRo) ie: VMware workstation 10 or Vmware Player 6 or lower ver or other? OR is there another software I should install for the conversion or later conversion to Hyper-V? I prefer to use Hyper-V over Virtual Box and Vmware Player if possible, but should these others work just as well for my Xp Sp3 existing system as a VM in Windows 8.1? Please advise which you think is best of these?
Should I leave all configuration options off while converting and even XP licence, workgroup etc or is it most likely that I will have to reactivate my XP (retail ver) once I reboot in the VM although I am putting to run on Windows 8.1 host on exact same hardware as my current XP in dual boot (replacing my physical copies which I don't intend to use after conversion)? Can I enter licence etc later as well?
I currently have 8 GB ram total -should I leave Xp one at max it suggests of around 3Gb ram?
I have Quad core processor -but should I make Xp Vm one dual core for when it runs on W8.1 host to allow the host some processors so can run at same time or leaving my Xp at quad core will be ok?
Network - I want to use host one as I read it is safer for obsolete XP so do I set that at start or is it better to change this later too -allowing xp to have own internet access (maybe as may need to reactivate also - don't want to call Microsoft if can avoid it)?
If I just want to convert resulting VM to Hyper-V VM -which software to use after for this that is freeware (Virtual Box or VMware Player or Hyper-V -not sure which can do it) and do I not then install Vmware tools?
SYSPprep should I do anyway regardless of what target VM will be when configuring later, even if on same hardware machine? OR can I just boot Vm and see if boots ok first?
Anything else I should set specifically for this future use of the VM image in hyper-v?