I installed Linux on my machine that originally came with Windows 7. Now I need Windows 7 as a virtual machine (ideally VirtualBox) but am not sure how to do it, especially since I 'overwrote' the original Windows installation that the machine came with. What do I need to do in order to get a Windows 7 virtual machine that I can use within Linux? Thanks a lot.

Do you have that Original Windows 7 ISO ??

If you have that ISo, then install virtualbox/vmware in linux machine and create a new virtual machine using that ISO.

I'm not sure if I have an original ISO, the machine didn't come with any CD, only with Windows 7 already installed on it. I can restore my state to the factory original state (took a disk image), but how can I create/find an ISO from there to use within VirtualBox?

You will need to buy a Windows CD for installation. If you bring the computer to factory original state you can create a recovery CD which is going to work only on the hardware in your computer. However that CD could not be use to install Windows in any other Computer.
So buying is the only way.

Good luck to you.

If you can bring your system to original state, then there is a feature supports by Vmware (vmware converter), in which you can convert your physical machine to virtual machine and later you can use that virtual machine in virtualbox or Vmware inside Linux.

Have a look at following links :


http://www.sysprobs.com/physical-vir...virtualbox-p2v
http://www.addictivetips.com/windows...ox-virtual-pc/

TroN-0074 offers the only correct way.


The vm converter may work but it may also depend on some version that you have. There are many P2V apps too that may work.

They also may render your Windows broken if you don't have recovery disks.

I doubt you can legally move the windows 7. Every pre-installed windows since xp is an OEM copy. The laptop maker paid like $20 for the OS and took faux numbers. The actual registration of those numbers are faux, the entire authentication of genuine is tied to the hardware, generally the bios. You can't easily convert that to a VM. You can't move the install since it is against the eula for OEM's.

So basically this becomes sort of a hacking issue and really we shouldn't assist.

Legally, you must purchase a separate Windows license for your virtual machine, sorry that is not the answer you were looking for, but it is how Microsoft chooses to do business.

Dual Boot is a great solution. Just bring back your computer to factory original state then reduce the Windows volume to whatever you think you will need, the install Linux in the rest of your hard drive.
I have been doing that for a while and works good. No legal issues at all.

Good luck to you.

So my options seem to be dual-booting Windows 7, getting rid of Windows altogether, installing into the virtual machine of a 'hacked' copy of Windows, or purchase a new Windows license to use within the virtual machine. Marking thread solved, thanks everyone.