virtualbox.org

Hi,

I would like to know if it is possible to start a virtual machine from an actual hard drive. The idea would be to have a disk capable to start a machine, but being able to use the same system in a VirtualBox environment - without any data transfer.

Thanks

See the "Howtos and Tutorials" forum, for advice on Win7 or XP in both virtual and native. I'm not aware of a similar tutorial for Linux guests, but you can ask about that in the "Linux Guests" forum.

Note that by using the physical hard disk you lose one of the principle advantages of a VM, i.e. that if you trash the VM then you can just delete it with no harm done to your host.

It's called RAW mode, look it up in "advanced" part of VB tutorial

Raw mode is involved, yes, but use of that feature alone will result in a corrupted hard disk partition, not an image which can be safely shared between native and virtual. It would also lead to additional problems, such as continual need to reactivate Windows. Read the tutorial I referred to, it will cover the important bases, at least for Windows guests.

Works fine if Linux is the system that can be Native or VM. Windows can be done, as said above , but is a pain, so I recommend using it always Native (I've done both, this is from experience . If this is what you want to do, let me know in case the guides found in that forum are not clear, I'll send you my own version