Running Vista VM in Ubuntu off existing partition.

[sim-i-am]

Hey, I use Ubuntu 9.04 (Jaunty Jackalope) as my primary OS (just recently switched from Vista, but never going back) and I love the sheer perfection of Ubuntu linux, but I use an MLS system, Paragon 4, and it only works in IE. I've tried wine and ies4linux, but neither work for me. I'm rather new to VBox, could someone please explain how to boot a VM from an existing OS/Partition? The desired partition is /dev/sda2, Vista Home Premium 64-bit. I've got plenty of RAM and free HD space, so that isn't that big of an issue for me.

Thanks,
Sim-I-Am

[Perryg]

Unfortunately no one is going to be able to just say this is how you need to do it due to the fact that it varies between each situation.
But with some reading you may be able to manage this. Just be very careful. One wrong move and you can trash the OS.

Put this in Goggle.com raw access site:forums.virtualbox.org
Also section 9.10. Using a raw host hard disk from a guest (read the warnings)

[sim-i-am]

I've already made a vmdk file of my partition, but whenever i try to boot into it, it shows the Vbox splash screen, but then it just goes blank.

[Perryg]

That's different. Did you make this from VMware? If so then you need to make sure that you have removed the additions.
Also you need to set the guest settings like it was on the other software. But the going black on boot sounds like the additions to me.

[sim-i-am]

I used the 'sudo VBoxManage internalcommands createrawvmdk -filename <FilePath> -rawdisk /dev/sda2 -register' command