I am trying to convert a Dell 2850 Raid 5 Server into my virtual environment using VMware converter standalone version 4.01. I am running ESXi 4.0 with vCenter Server. The OS is Windows 2008 std SP1 that was upgraded from Windows Server 2003. This is actually the case for over 90 percent of my servers.
Below is the configuration of my Windows Boot Manager and Windows Boot Loader and my partitions. My physical and logical disk configuration is such that there is a Dell OEM partition in from of my system partition.
When I do the P2V it goes well for 95%, then fails “unable to find system volume – reconfiguration is not possible”. Through my investigation I found 2 things. In Windows server 2003 this was an edit of the boot.ini file that is now the Windows Boot Manager and Windows Boot Loader files. It seems that this version of converter was supposed to support this function. I have tried the advance setting in the converter view/edit options “data copy type” that did not help. I also am resizing my c:\ partition from 96GB to 25GB as only 17GB is used currently.
I have been to Microsoft’s documentation about bcdedit and am not clear as to what impact it would have with relationship to the mbr and changing the “device” setting in the “Windows Boot Manager” which I believe is the answer to my problem.
I believe I am on the edge of figuring this out, I might even have all correct information, but I need help assimilating it into a process.
What is the key I am missing, or not understanding? Can anyone help out?
If needed I also have Paragon WinPE for Server 2008 if that would help.
Thanks in advance.
Microsoft Windows http://Version 6.0.6001
Copyright (c) 2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
Windows Boot Manager
-
identifier
device partition=D:
description Windows Boot Manager
locale en-US
inherit
default
displayorder
toolsdisplayorder
timeout 30
Windows Boot Loader
-
identifier
device partition=C:
path \Windows\system32\winload.exe
description Microsoft Windows Server 2008
locale en-US
inherit
osdevice partition=C:
systemroot \Windows
resumeobject {86056bef-ac39-11dd-b16b-c6afa0db5fa4}
nx OptOut
diskpart
-
Microsoft DiskPart version 6.0.6001
Copyright (C) 1999-2007 Microsoft Corporation.
On computer: SMU05023
DISKPART> select disk 0
Disk 0 is now the selected disk.
DISKPART> list volume
Volume ### Ltr Label Fs Type Size Status Info
-
--- -
-
-
-
-
-
Volume 0 E CD-ROM 0 B No Media
Volume 1 H WD SmartWar UDF CD-ROM 668 MB Healthy
Volume 2 C NTFS Partition 98 GB Healthy Boot
Volume 3 D NTFS Partition 585 GB Healthy System
Volume 4 F My Book NTFS Partition 1397 GB Healthy
DISKPART> list partition
Partition ### Type Size Offset
-
-
-
-
Partition 1 OEM 39 MB 32 KB
Partition 2 Primary 98 GB 40 MB
Partition 3 Primary 585 GB 98 GB
Thanks Geobrasil
