[Solved] Access Raw Partition in Windows 7 host

[buumber]

Hello guys,

The key to access raw partition from guest with Windows 7 host is partition's filesystem must be RAW. Below steps are my guide.
- Virtualbox 4.1.14
- Windows 7 x64

1. Begin with an unallocation space:

1.unallocation-space.png (9.15 KiB) Viewed 13481 times

2. Create new partition with DISKPART, create partition only, don't format.

2.diskpart-create-partition.png (37.97 KiB) Viewed 13481 times

3. Result in Windows Disk Management

3.windows7-raw-partition.png (7.47 KiB) Viewed 13481 times

[buumber]

4. Create raw disk with VboxManage internalcommands

4.virtualbox-internal-cmd-create-raw-disk.png (10.5 KiB) Viewed 13480 times

5. Files created

5.virtualbox-internal-cmd-create-raw-disk-result.png (5.02 KiB) Viewed 13480 times

6. Open xxx.vmdk file (not xxx-pt.vmdk) to edit and delete rows end with ZERO to Virtualbox see real size of partition

6.modify-vmdk-file.png (31.06 KiB) Viewed 13480 times

[buumber]

7. Assign disk to VM, the real size is recognized

7.assign-to-vm.png (24.33 KiB) Viewed 13480 times

8. DONE.

After boot vm (my guest is Windows XP) you can format new drive and use, file system of this partition in host still RAW (don't touch it).

Note: You can assign only one raw disk per VM, otherwise this error occurs:

8.assign-more-than-one-raw-partition.png (31.47 KiB) Viewed 13480 times