Installing Windows XP from Dell PC Restore partition

[endolith]

Sorry if this sort of thing is asked all the time, but I don't see any guides about it. I have a Dell PC Restore partition on my real hard drive, and I'd like to use the image on it to install Windows XP on a virtual machine, since the only install CD I have doesn't work with my product key.

The partition is described here: http://www.goodells.net/dellrestore/recover.htm

Ultimately it's just a Ghost image, so it doesn't seem like it would be that hard to do, but I can't even figure out how to get my real partition to show up as a drive on the virtual machine.

[Sasquatch]

It might install, but you have several issues to consider. First is the violation of the EULA, which states that you are only allowed to install that copy of XP on the actual machine hardware. It's serial key is bound by the hardware. Next is the drivers for the OS. It's probably stripped so only the drivers for the real hardware are available, so no other default drivers might be available that are needed for the VM (like audio and network).

For the activation, there are a few things you can try to avoid that. It's discussed in the DMI BIOS info on the forum. Please check the Windows Guests forum for the 'dual boot' option of physical and virtual install.
Keep in mind that by doing this, you are actually running Xp illegally, because you don't have a license for the virtual hardware (OEM licenses are bound by hardware).

[endolith]

My questions are more along the lines of "How do I get my real partition to show up as a drive on the virtual machine?"

[endolith]

It might install, but you have several issues to consider. First is the violation of the EULA, which states that you are only allowed to install that copy of XP on the actual machine hardware.

I'm installing it on the same physical laptop it came on. I paid for it.

It's serial key is bound by the hardware.

Does that mean the product key won't work?

[fixedwheel]

The partition is described here: http://www.goodells.net/dellrestore/recover.htm

1. Obtain the ptedit32.exe utility. ...
2. Expose the restore partition. From XP, launch ptedit32.exe and use it to change the 'Type' code of the third partition from 'DB' to '0C'. (Note: you will not be rebooting into DOS, so do not change the active partition.) XP will now recognize this as an ordinary FAT32 partition, so reboot and XP should give the new partition a drive letter. With a drive letter, you can easily access the files on the partition.

instead ptedid use your host linux fdisk to change partition type, or just mount by forcing FAT32

3. Copy the Ghost image. Copy the following files from the restore partition to DVD:
bin\mouse.exe, bin\recover.exe, img\fi.gho, and any img\fi00000*.ghs files. ...

and finally do this inside a virtual machine with empty VDI:

If you should ever need to restore from this DVD, you would boot from a DOS boot disk that includes CD support (such as the Dsrfix CD or an ordinary Win98 boot floppy), switch to the CD/DVD drive letter, load the mouse driver, then launch recover.exe. ...

in lack of a DVD writer you could copy to external USB drive, expose this USB drive to a virtual machine with attached empty VDI and copy from USB drive to this empty VDI (since i dont know whether W98 boot floppy can handle USB) and now you can recover.exe from the VDI with the ghost files to another empty (the final) VDI ...

[endolith]

in lack of a DVD writer you could copy to external USB drive, expose this USB drive to a virtual machine with attached empty VDI and copy from USB drive to this empty VDI (since i dont know whether W98 boot floppy can handle USB) and now you can recover.exe from the VDI with the ghost files to another empty (the final) VDI ...

Why do I need to use a DVD writer or external drive? Can't I just mount the partition itself?

[davemusic]

This may/not be appropriate but........ when I wanted to make a vbox vdi install of my working XP and the activation key I had didn't match - I used a pogram called magicjellybean - under my originally booted windoze and it told me what the ACTIVATION key was for the copy I was running. So, what I had been given by the store (I bought my laptop in Malaysia) was a valid CD but the sticker on the base of the laptop with the activation was for somebody else' copy. So, now I have everything working using my original, legal licensed MS windows - under VB under linux and I've chucked the windows partition and use it all under linux. It's amazing how little I actually use the VBOX windoze - as 99% of what I do has a free, GPL'd working (often better) equivalent under linux.
Plus, the few I do
a) seem to work faster and
b) if they crash - (after all it is microsod) - I don't care coz my linux keeps working.

Dave

[endolith]

I'm not really worrying about the product key or activation or anything. I know there are ways to get around that if needed.

What I really want to know is how to access my Dell Recovery partition from within the virtual machine, so I can use the Ghost files to set up XP on the virtual hard drive.

[fixedwheel]

Why do I need to use a DVD writer or external drive? Can't I just mount the partition itself?

yes, should be, read the vbox manual: 9.9. Using a raw host hard disk from a guest and 9.9.2. Access to individual physical hard disk partitions

i have not done this yet, and i suspect writing to DVD or USB HDD in between might be more simple to do

[endolith]

Why do I need to use a DVD writer or external drive? Can't I just mount the partition itself?

yes, should be, read the vbox manual: 9.9. Using a raw host hard disk from a guest and 9.9.2. Access to individual physical hard disk partitions

i have not done this yet, and i suspect writing to DVD or USB HDD in between might be more simple to do

Thanks. It's section 9.10, though.

http://download.virtualbox.org/virtualb ... f#page=123