Can one enbed an old XP instance on a new one?

[Graystar]

Hi all,
I set up a MacBook Pro recently and used VMware Fusion to to import a two year old Windows XP install into the Mac.

My question is "Can I do this on a new Windows install and what software should I use to accomplish this". (and info on how to do it would be great)

My goal would be to allow the customer to have the old Windows with files live inside the New windows install.

Please advise
Graystar

[l337]

files? like office data pics music etc can be manually moved or automatically backed up and copied across to a Clean Install. but previously installed programs/drivers will have to be reinstalled. you can do a repair install some people find some performance gain in repair installs which bassically copys the windows system files back to ur pc overwriting the current ones on there (no programs are lost during a repair install but you will often have to re download a heap of updates)

[Graystar]

I really am looking to create the virtual instance where you can click and start the old PC in a window on the new PC.

I have tried reading the sites for VM ware and virtual PC and I just don't get my arms around how to do it.
I hope to find some guidance here in the process.
Please advise

[MrUnknown]

may I ask why you would want an end-user to run a VM to access their old files? Why can you not just provide abackup of their files and put them on their desktop?

I can't imagine off the top of my head why this would be better than just a data backup.

Either way, You can use VirtualBox and here is an article on their site that can give some hints.
http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Migrate_Windows
and some forum post:
http://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=18396

try at your own risk.

[Graystar]

I have had a couple of instances where customer is upgrading to a new machine and there are applications on the old machine that are unique and there are no install disks available to facilitate installing on the new OS.

My thoughts are if I can incorporate a virtual instance of the old OS they can still access the old programs in virtual mode.
I am wanting to test this out first to make sure it will do as I wish before applying it to a customers new machine.
I will look at Virtualbox.

Thanks again!

[Howellga]

Yes its possible, take a backup of the old drive using Acronis TrueImage then move the image to the new machine. Install VMware, you then can boot the image with VMware.

I believe thats how I did it a year or so ago.

[greggh]

VMWare Server and VMWare Converter: http://www.vmware.com/products/converter/

You run it on a machine and it will convert that running machine into a VMWare virtual machine with all driver changes and everything else needed. Both are free.

[Emockler]

I have taken the actual hard disk from the old pc, installed it in the new pc as slave, and created a VM of it using the physical disk method. Before VMware converter came along, obviously. I found the old p2v to be cumbersome and only worked in ideal situations.

[Graystar]

I appreciate the guidance and I will follow through with the VM Ware suggestions as my experience with Fusion was was such a good one.

I appreciate all who posted replies.

Jim :)

[MrUnknown]

I have had a couple of instances where customer is upgrading to a new machine and there are applications on the old machine that are unique and there are no install disks available to facilitate installing on the new OS.

Ah, I didn't think about this. Very clever.

[red12049]

I have had a couple of instances where customer is upgrading to a new machine and there are applications on the old machine that are unique and there are no install disks available to facilitate installing on the new OS.

My thoughts are if I can incorporate a virtual instance of the old OS they can still access the old programs in virtual mode.
I am wanting to test this out first to make sure it will do as I wish before applying it to a customers new machine.
I will look at Virtualbox.

Thanks again!

If the old apps are important, why not use something like PC Mover to move them to the new machine? Customer would have to pay for the program of course, but it moves both data AND apps....

Rick