running windows partition in ubuntu

[Liam Proven]

On 14 September 2013 22:11, compdoc <compdoc at hotrodpc.com> wrote:
> No, you cannot run it from a disk that way, but you could copy XP's disk
> into a VM, which runs from a virtual disk that is located on the old drive.
>
> Simply put, you basically clone the XP system as a file somewhere, erase the
> drive, set it up for use with Virtualbox, and then copy the clone back into
> the VM.
>
> Again, that's the short version. It's not a trivial procedure, but it can be
> done.


This is incorrect; what Nils said was correct.

It /is/ possible, but if the physical drive is accessed in any way
from the host OS while the guest is running, Noah, you *will*
experience severe corruption.

Also note that virtual hardware is /not/ the same as physical. Your
copy of XP, if it boots inside a VM, will have to reconfigure itself
for the abstracted general hardware of the VM, which will not in any
way resemble your real physical hardware. A VM is in essence a PC
emulator - the emulator's simulated hardware is totally different. XP
will have to install all new drivers, and will then probably require
re-activation.

*If* this works - and that's a big "if" - then when you reboot it on
real physical hardware, it will have to totally reconfigure itself
again. This will be repeated every time you switch between physical
and virtual hardware.

-- 
Liam Proven • Profile: http://lproven.livejournal.com/profile
Email: lproven at cix.co.uk • GMail/G+/Twitter/Flickr/Facebook: lproven
MSN: lproven at hotmail.com • Skype/AIM/Yahoo/LinkedIn: liamproven
Tel: +44 20-8685-0498 • Cell: +44 7939-087884