migrating guest to new host.

[rikicrm114]

I've install winXP guests on Vista 64 bit. I've tried to migrate the guest to my winXP 32 bit laptop. The quest won't boot, starts to but stops. Won't boot into safe mode. I've migrated by: copy the disk image to new machine, creating a new machine and attaching the copied image. Also used the export / import functions of the GUI. Also performed a "REPAIR" install of winXP on the guest on the new host. It will boot a little further but not all the way.

Is there an issue with trying to migrate 32 bit guests from 64 bit hosts to a 32 bit host?

Any other methods I should try?

Thanks,

Riki

[Perryg]

Have you tried to export it so it was transformed to the OVF and VMDK format first. Making sure that you write down the settings that you need to create the new VM. It might be able to work like that.

[Sasquatch]

When migrating a VM to a new Host, you have to make sure that you create the same settings as the original has. Especially Windows OS has a problem with settings that vary from the original installation.

[docaz]

Have you tried to export it so it was transformed to the OVF and VMDK format first. Making sure that you write down the settings that you need to create the new VM. It might be able to work like that.

I have had that same problem trying to migrate a guest from xp to vista.

I have exported the guest vm from xp on a usb drive. I plugged the usb drive to the new system and then after hours of importing (vista host) I get an error message and the system shuts down.

Would you please be so kind to suggest step by step how to export it most efficiently.
There are obviously setting that have to be modified to account for the new host such as networking. Which are the settings which are crucial?

Is there any other easier way to move it?

Thanks a lot.

[baf]

Type of IDE controller is crucial. ACPI pae ioapic also very important.
And who is crashing guest? host?

[docaz]

Type of IDE controller is crucial. ACPI pae ioapic also very important.
And who is crashing guest? host?

The host is crashing essentially just about when it reaches 100% of conversion and fails to add the disk in the appliance manager (but it creates a new vm without a hard drive attached to it).

Do the settings have to be precise before starting the importing or with a successful conversion they can be adjusted after the conversion?

You are mentioning IDE controllers. I never got that far to worry about these but.
The old system had IDE controllers and the new one has SATA. I do not even get that far but once I do, should I keep the settings as IDE even if the host has SATA?
I also see that there are two types of SATA. How do I know which one I have?

[baf]

What you have is irrelevant. This is about virtual hardware that your guest sees and not what your host really has.
But the host crashing shouldn't be because of those.
I would myself try copying the vdi file between systems and recreate a new machine with the same settings.
Make sure that you get same type of network controller and mac-address for your machine.

[Perryg]

My 2 cents, Problem is more than likely the PEN DRIVE

I never export to or import from a pen drive for just this reason. Tried once and it took forever and while it didn't crash there were errors. Try exporting to the hard drive and copy to the pen drive. Then copy from the pen drive to the hard drive on the other system. Now if you spend the money for a really good pen drive (ScanDisk is my favorite but pricey) you might get away with the export to the pen. Also keep in mind that most pen drives are pre-formatted in FAT 32 and I have had better success re-formatting them in NTFS.

[docaz]

My 2 cents, Problem is more than likely the PEN DRIVE

I never export to or import from a pen drive for just this reason. Tried once and it took forever and while it didn't crash there were errors. Try exporting to the hard drive and copy to the pen drive. Then copy from the pen drive to the hard drive on the other system. Now if you spend the money for a really good pen drive (ScanDisk is my favorite but pricey) you might get away with the export to the pen. Also keep in mind that most pen drives are pre-formatted in FAT 32 and I have had better success re-formatting them in NTFS.

It looks like this was exactly the issue. The portabel drive is actually a good drive but the enclosure is not the best. You are also right regarding the NTFS becasue otherwise it would not support such large files.

Thanks