virtualbox.org

I have VirtualBox version 4.3.10 r93012. My host machine is Windows 8.1 Pro 64bit. I used Macrium Reflect to create an image of my hard drive, including all partitions. Then, I used Macrium to convert the image into a .vhd file. When I first tried to create a virtual machine with this .vhd in VirtualBox, I got a fatal error at the very beginning of the boot sequence. However, I solved that by checking the option for Enable EFI.

Now, I'm having an additional problem that I can not solve. VirtualBox begins to boot the virtual machine and it presents the Recovery Screen, saying "Your PC didn't start properly..." and giving me options. I choose F8 for Startup Settings. Then I have another set of choices, e.g. Start Windows in Safe Mode, Start Windows Normally, etc. Whatever I choose, I get the same result. The screen goes black and for a few seconds it seems like VirtualBox is working. Then, I get the message "Virtual Box Manager has stopped working". I've attached a log file from VirtualBox.

Any suggestions on how to get this virtual machine to run in VirtualBox?

EFI booting is not supported for Windows guests.

Instead of telling us what your solution was to the first problem, perhaps you should describe that first problem accurately. For example, giving the exact error message and log file for that scenario.

If I un-check "Enable EFI" in the settings, and try to start the VM, I get the following message "FATAL: No bootable medium found! System halted."

I've attached the log file for that session.

The disk has probably been formatted - and Windows 8 installed - using EFI partitioning. That would have to be repaired before you could use it in VirtualBox.

I should also mention that I think this might be a waste of time: if the same Win8 license is installed on your host then you probably won't be able to activate the guest, at least not without killing the host. However, that would be something you should check your license terms for.

OK. So, it looks like the UEFI nature of .vhd is going to prevent me from using it in VirtualBox.

Regarding the licensing issue... I was wondering what would happen if I were able to boot from the .vhd. So, if I did somehow convert my .vhd to something other than UEFI, you said that I would not be able to activate the guest. Would I still be able to run the virtual machine for a limited time (e.g. 30 days)? Or, would it just not open at all?

I tried a solution to eliminate UEFI Secure Boot as the problem. Unfortunately, I'm still getting the same result. Here is what I did.

I re-installed Windows 8 (not 8.1) on my hard drive. In the process of re-installing the OS, I changed the partition from GPT to MBR, thus eliminating the UEFI Secure Boot that was associated with the partition.

After doing this, I installed Macrium Reflect and created an image of the new drive and converted the image to a vhd file. Then, I installed VirtualBox and tried to boot that vhd file in a VM. The VM does boot. I see the windows logo for a minute or so, but then I get the error message "Oracle VM VirtualBox has stopped working". (I've attached a log file of the session.)

So, I think I've ruled out the UEFI Secure Boot as being the problem. Any ideas what else I could try?

You can try safe booting to see what the problem is, and you try using the Win8 setup DVD in the VM to repair the installation.

P2V projects are expected to have difficulty booting - the device drivers are all wrong for the VM. If you were prepared to do a fresh install, why didn't you just install directly into the VM?

I will not answer questions on Windows 8 licensing and activation. I'm not a Win8 user, and anyway those are Windows support issues, best directed at Microsoft.

p.s. I would not have bothered with Macrium Reflect. The free Disk2VHD tool is what I would have used.