Loading VMDK disk from vmware

Discussions related to using VirtualBox on Windows hosts.
Post Reply
IDILIO49
Posts: 5
Joined: 10. Sep 2020, 21:47

Loading VMDK disk from vmware

Post by IDILIO49 »

Hi,

I have a Virtual Machine created with VMWare Workstation 5.5.4 with guest Win XP 32-bit using host Win XP 32-bit.
Now I'm trying to load this VMDK disk in a Virtual Machine using VirtualBox in host Win10 64-bit selecting guest Win XP 32-bit.
But it will not load, it stays forever with black screen and cursor blinking at top left.
If reset VMachine menu to start windows in safe mode appears, so disk is being detected.

What can I do do to be able to load this disk with VirtualBox?
Thanks.
BillG
Volunteer
Posts: 5106
Joined: 19. Sep 2009, 04:44
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: Windows 10,7 and earlier
Location: Sydney, Australia

Re: Loading VMDK disk from vmware

Post by BillG »

VirtualBox supports the .vmdk file structure. That does not mean that the .vmdk of a vm installed in VMWare will boot in VirtualBox. It is just the same as taking a system hard drive out of a PC and trying to boot a different PC from it. It might work or it might not.

There are lots of differences in the "hardware" of the two systems. Converting is not easy and is a bit hit and miss.

If you simply want to extract data from the file, attach it to a working vm as an additional drive.
Bill
scottgus1
Site Moderator
Posts: 20945
Joined: 30. Dec 2009, 20:14
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: Windows, Linux

Re: Loading VMDK disk from vmware

Post by scottgus1 »

If you are bound and determined to get the VMware XP VM running in Virtualbox, apply the same principles you'd have to apply if you were trying to get XP on a physical PC to run in a Virtualbox guest. See How to migrate existing Windows installations to VirtualBox.

Also be sure to get the VMware guest tools uninstalled before running in Virtualbox.

The concept is the same, for the reason Bill pointed out: the two virtualizers are different 'hardware'.
IDILIO49
Posts: 5
Joined: 10. Sep 2020, 21:47

Re: Loading VMDK disk from vmware

Post by IDILIO49 »

scottgus1 wrote:If you are bound and determined to get the VMware XP VM running in Virtualbox, apply the same principles you'd have to apply if you were trying to get XP on a physical PC to run in a Virtualbox guest. See How to migrate existing Windows installations to VirtualBox.

Also be sure to get the VMware guest tools uninstalled before running in Virtualbox.

The concept is the same, for the reason Bill pointed out: the two virtualizers are different 'hardware'.
Thanks! Good reference to start trying ...with more time :mrgreen:
IDILIO49
Posts: 5
Joined: 10. Sep 2020, 21:47

Re: Loading VMDK disk from vmware

Post by IDILIO49 »

Ok, it was not so hard.
Just checked the option "Enable IO APIC" and WinXP is running. :D
scottgus1
Site Moderator
Posts: 20945
Joined: 30. Dec 2009, 20:14
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: Windows, Linux

Re: Loading VMDK disk from vmware

Post by scottgus1 »

Great! Glad you're up and running.
Post Reply