[SOLVED] Convert Virtual Machine from VirtualBox to Physical Machine.

hack3rcon · 07-06-2015, 03:53 AM

Hello.
How can I convert my VM from VB to a Physical Machine? It is a Windows Guest and that I want to convert it into real machine.

Thank you.

pan64 · 07-06-2015, 04:13 AM

I do not think that was possible.

273 · 07-06-2015, 04:22 AM

Windows tends to be very tied to the hardware it is installed upon so even if you could convert the virtual image and install it on a real hard drive chances are Windows wouldn't start or would have all kinds of driver problems.
With a Linux VM conversion should be fairly easy since by default most distributions install all kinds of drivers for hardware not on the system.

jefro · 07-06-2015, 02:45 PM

You convert windows guest like you would for any windows physical to physical. The only difference is you either need to correct the HAL either before or after. If you are going from same cpu on a modern vm to the same exact cpu in the new host it may be rather easy.

Start at technet. If you use things like redobackup or clonezilla then you will have to fix hal on first boot. (or correct it before you move)

erast · 07-07-2015, 04:27 AM

I know VMware has a tool that can convert a pyhsical machine into a virtual one, but I don't think that you can do that with VirtualBox.

jefro · 07-07-2015, 05:00 PM

For almost all situations a virtual machine is really a physical machine. Don't let the software confuse you. The VM is a software creation of a real computer.

In this case the issue is a HAL (hardware abstraction layer) and may be a legal or authentication issue with MS.

273 · 07-08-2015, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jefro

For almost all situations a virtual machine is really a physical machine. Don't let the software confuse you. The VM is a software creation of a real computer.

In this case the issue is a HAL (hardware abstraction layer) and may be a legal or authentication issue with MS.

That being my point. If you dd the contents of a Windows install onto another hard drive I have my doubts it would boot first time (As an aside I'm pretty sure newer Debian and related installs won't either, for slightly different reasons). I would expect to at least have to repair the bootloader. Then you may have issues with WGA type things meaning having to call MS to obtain a new license key. That's before the problems which may be encountered due to missing drivers.

jefro · 07-08-2015, 03:21 PM

MS's technet pages and support pages talks about the various ways to do this. Depends on the version of windows. Depends on how the OP installed the OS. I'd assume they have a full copy in order to install and authenticate if newer. Pages like this may also help. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials...-computer.html

Without knowing the version and condition of the OS we can't guess if it will work correct.

hack3rcon · 07-12-2015, 03:43 AM

It is Windows server 2008 R2.

jefro · 07-13-2015, 03:52 PM

http://serverfault.com/questions/370...server-2008-r2

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/.../dd759159.aspx

For domains and some data bases you have to use some extra steps.