I've convinced a friend that it's time to install Linux and VirtualBox (completely fed up with Microsoft and ready to throw the computer off a cliff). There is an existing Windows XP installation on the machine and what I'd like to do is import or copy or whatever that XP installation into VirtualBox on the Linux host. I know that I can install XP in VirtualBox (I've done that on my own servers) and that entails the typical massive download of all the security updates, service packs and lord knows what-all followed by installing applications, copying files and all that; on my servers, that's not too much of a burden because I have high-speed communications -- my friend has dial-up and there is no high-speed available anywhere nearby (we're talking a farm out in the country here).
I'm wondering if there is a guide for doing a same-disk-drive import of a complete XP installation or if that is even possible. Bearing in mind that I am no Microsoft expert (I just bought a new Dell laptop and the first thing I did was to blow away Vista and install Slackware on the entire drive; I only tolerate XP because I use Turbotax and Stamps.com), is something like this worth trying.