I have a FreeDOS partition on my HDD. I want to set up a VM, under Windows (for now, Linux later), that boots from the FreeDOS partition.
I've been "a dog chasing its tail" trying to find appropriate technique(s).
TIA for all responses. If this has been previously discussed, please provide link(s) to the thread(s).
Eli D.
Booting an Existing FreeDOS Partition
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mpack
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Re: Booting an Existing FreeDOS Partition
Why? FreeDOS is quick and easy to install and will take very little room, so why not create a stand alone VM?
Anyway, check the user manual for "createrawvmdk" - your first step would would be to create a "raw disk", actually a VMDK descriptor for one or more partitions on your host drive. You would then mount that VMDK descriptor in a VM, after offlining affected partitions or drives from the host (two PCs can't both manage access to one drive/partition). Be aware that a VM will not have the hardware access that a native DOS install has.
Also: be warned that raw disks are an expert feature and as such you will get little help here: possible outcomes of clumsy use include trashing your hosts hard drive.
Anyway, check the user manual for "createrawvmdk" - your first step would would be to create a "raw disk", actually a VMDK descriptor for one or more partitions on your host drive. You would then mount that VMDK descriptor in a VM, after offlining affected partitions or drives from the host (two PCs can't both manage access to one drive/partition). Be aware that a VM will not have the hardware access that a native DOS install has.
Also: be warned that raw disks are an expert feature and as such you will get little help here: possible outcomes of clumsy use include trashing your hosts hard drive.