Is it possible to run another instance of the same OS?

[jpippy]

I am wondering if it is possible to share all the necessary windows files and drivers from the host to a geust virtualbox instance. To be able to run a clone OS without actually loading an ISO or DVD. I did alot of google searching an haven't really found my answer yet. It seems in theory this would be possible but is it already a feature vbox offers?

[stefan.becker]

How should this work? You cant access the same device two times. And dont forget that a VM has another hardware than the real hardware.

Short answer is No!

What you can do is to make a clone of a real system with VMWARE Converter, Disk2VHD or other tools like these. So you get an image as a big container file, this can be started on the host in VBOX.

[jpippy]

Thanks for your input. What you mentioned was more along the lines I was thinking of. If it had the feature to pack the files on the fly and run the virtualbox, it might be an interesting feature to look into.

[jorgensen]

Actually it is possible to have several instance of the same guest OS, but it is tricky.
Some reading here: https://www.virtualbox.org/manual/ch05. ... magewrites

[mpack]

Don't toy with the idea of using the same physical disk (your hosts boot disk) to run two instances of an operating system. It's just too ludicrously dangerous.

As an alternative, in principle one can clone a Windows host using Disk2VHD, and make a VM from the VHD (*). The clone will be physically distinct and hence require additional disk space, however this does bypass the need to install the OS plus all your favorite applications from scratch.

I say in principle, because XP and later will in fact give you activation problems either in the guest or the host, whichever one Microsoft is last told is the kosher copy. This can be gotten around if you have another valid CD-key for the same version and market placement of Windows (i.e. if you are cloning XP Pro retail then you would need a CD key for another XP Pro retail. XP Home retail or XP Pro OEM would not do). If you have such a key then you can find instructions for installing it with Google.

(*) Or better yet, convert the VHD to the superior VDI format using CloneVDI, then build your VM around the VDI.