lapidarynewbie,
It might be possible to use the Configure Machine option from Converter 4.0 beta. I'd suggest this because VMware Converter 3.0.3 does not support converting a Linux Operating System. Converter 4.0 does support hot converting some Linux operating systems. Here are a few links to get you started:
Open Invitation to VMware Converter 4.0 Beta
http://communities.vmware.com/docs/DOC-8712/
VMware Converter 4.0 Beta Program
http://communities.vmware.com/community/beta/converter/
Release Notes
http://communities.vmware.com/viewwebdoc.jspa?documentID=DOC-7860&communityID=2807
Supported Linux Operating Systems:
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 2.1 (32 bit)
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3.0 (32 bit and 64 bit)
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4.0 (32 bit and 64 bit)
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.0 (32 bit and 64 bit)
- Red Hat Linux Advanced Server 2.1 (32 bit)
- SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 8
- SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 9 (32 bit)
- SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 (32 bit and 64 bit)
- Ubuntu 5.x
- Ubuntu 6.x
- Ubuntu 7.x (32 bit)
- Ubuntu 8.x (32 bit)
NOTE: There is no telephone phone support for Converter 4.0 beta.