Convert a .vdi to real partition

[Minute37]

I have seen several guides on how to convert an actual partition to a .vdi, but have not seen any to convert a .vdi to a real partition.

I have a Windows 7 .vdi that I would like to install on an empty partition on my hard drive, but can't seem to figure out how.

Any guides that someone can point me to?

[TerryE]

You have the separate issues to address here:

• Getting the image to the raw partition. There is a standard command (convertfromraw)to go the other way, but you can do this by using the createrawvmdk (search forum for examples) to map the raw partition to a VMDK. You can then use a liveCD or BartPE ISO to create a temporary machine to copy the partition disk-to-disk, that is VDI-to-raw VMDK, so you will end up with the partition that you want.
• The only advantage of doing this is if you want to raw boot from the partition and Vista will get confused because your H/W config will change from the VMM to the bare H/W. You may have difficulty getting to boot.
• Vista will see this as a new installation and will want reactivating.