[nflug] Converting from dual boot to virtual machine

[Erek Dyskant]

In theory vmware can virtualize a partition on a hard drive as if it
were booted directly, but I never got this to work.

Nonetheless, poke around vmware and see if you can make it do what
you're looking for.

--Erek


On Thu, 2008-02-21 at 02:06 -0500, Joe wrote:
> My notebook is an HP Pavilion dv5020us - 1GB ram, 100GB disk, Centrino
> Duo  1.6 GHz. 
> 
> It is currently set up as dual boot Win XP Pro Media Center Edition and
> kubuntu gutsy Linux.  XP came pre-installed and I do *not* have any
> install disks.  I do have restore files on the disk and  emergency
> restore disks (that will wipe out everything that wasn't pre-installed
> including Linux and put back a bunch of stuff I deleted).
> 
> Both os's have a lot of stuff installed and configured on them.  Right
> now, I use XP on an exception basis for those things that Linux doesn't
> have or that won't run under wine first try (because I have no clue as
> to a second try).
> 
> What I would like to do is run some windows applications from Linux
> without rebooting.
> 
> I know there are a bunch of virtualization products out there.  I own a
> couple of Vmware Workstation 4.x licenses that I have never used.
> 
> My notebook is used almost exclusively by me although I have one or two
> other end user accounts on it.
> 
> I am an experienced user and was a professional programmer, but now my
> focus is primarily as an end user who wants to get things done as
> opposed to spending lots of time configuring, installing and debugging.
> 
> The main Windows applications I want to run are:
> Dragon Naturally Speaking (as current as possible)
> Maximizer (contact manager that does things that I can't find on Linux)
> TurboTax
> Omnipage
> Copernic Search
> and a small number of windows-only professional application packages.
> 
> I also want to occasionally run various discount software packages for
> windows and Idea Fisher.  I may want to try Vongo or Netflix.
> 
> And, it's really helpful to be in Windows when working with an ISP or
> hardware vendor on problems.
> 
> What approach would work best for me?
> 
> It would be great if I didn't have to reinstall one or both os's from
> scratch.
> 
> 
> TIA
> 
> Joe
> 
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