Please, support for MRIMG Images from Macrium Reflect.

[Reibenbacher]

Hi.

Newbie here, sorry.

now I'm trying VMPlayer 3.1.4:

a) you are able to load/install Ubuntu from an  .ISO  (ubuntu 11.04 too, even
if the release notes tell "until  10.10");

==>>>
b) you are able to Open entire OS images  from:
VMware  (vmx)
Virtual PC (vmc)
Symantec backUp   (sv2i)
StorageCraft  (spf)
Acronis True Image  (tib)

and....in the  future....I warmly warmly  hope...=> All Macrium Reflect Images (mrimg)

I'm using Macrium Reflect Free build 4.2.

Purpose: you may want in the upcoming releases of VMPlayer to add supporting 
this kind of diks image files MRIMG too?

This were wonderful!!

and (my opinion) very very useful and important.

Thanks a lot in advance.

Best regards

[Reibenbacher]

Thanks WoodyZ for the link. I will have a look.

and I hope to get finally this windows vista booting/running in vmplayer

thanks!

[Reibenbacher]

what a pity that VMPlayer is unable to emulate a standard IDE/Sata hdd interface, if so the Macrium 
boot CD will work out of the box for everyone!!!

[WoodyZ]

The Macrium Rescue CD, Linux CD/ISO Image. Rescue.iso does recognize VMware IDE/SCSI Disks out of the box!

[Reibenbacher]

ohhh this is very great!

now I'll try to boot my machine (host) with Macrium rescue cd.

then strats the macrium utility.

I'll navigate here and search the virtual machine of vmplayer (thanks your reply I am now sure that I will find it!!)

then I will restore the empty vm with my image (mrimg, or if not recognized with vhd or if not recognized with vmdk).

at the end of the restoring image process I guess that Vista will start in my VM without boot problems.

also I will reply to you later! stay tuned please :-))

[WoodyZ]

Reibenbacher wrote:

ohhh this is very great!

now I'll try to boot my machine (host) with Macrium rescue cd.

then strats the macrium utility.

I'll navigate here and search the virtual machine of vmplayer (thanks your reply I am now sure that I will find it!!)

then I will restore the empty vm with my image (mrimg, or if not recognized with vhd or if not recognized with vmdk).

at the end of the restoring image process I guess that Vista will start in my VM without boot problems.

also I will reply to you later! stay tuned please :-))

Wow, sorry but sometimes it is very difficult to understand what you're saying, not sure if it's your writing style or is English a second language for you or both.  I sincerely mean no offense by what I've just said and really am just trying to help you however I'm not 100% clear on just what all you're trying to do, so with that said let me just say...

If your are trying to do a P2V (Physical to Virtual) of a Windows system then the easiest thing to do is to use Paragon Go Virtual or VMware vCenter Converter however I'd recommend Paragon for the non technical user.  This would resolve the inherent issues of the P2V process.

If your trying to create a Virtual Machine from an Image created of the Physical Machine by Macrium Reflect Free Edition then this becomes a complex task, although it's not impossible it does require advanced knowledge and skills and the tools to accomplish the task and there is more then one way to go about it.

So as simply as possable in the overall picture what are you trying to do?

[Reibenbacher]

Hi WoodyZ, dear fried!

you are the best!!

thanks for helping me!

you are right! I'm sorry, english is my...fourth language (german language were better

the dictionary is helping me.

binaries newbie + english newbie!!! oh my good! *big grin*

thank you for your patience when you read what I try to write! your are number one!!

yes, that is exactly what I'm trying to do:

>>If your trying to create a Virtual Machine from an Image created of the  Physical Machine by Macrium Reflect Free Edition then this becomes a  complex task, although it's not impossible it does require advanced  knowledge and skills and the tools to accomplish the task and there is  more then one way to go about it.<<

yes!!

1) I have an Image MRIMG created of my Phisical Machine (Vista32 SP2) by Macrium Reflect Free edition build 4.2.

this image contains my VistaOS. (active partition). this image is now on my second internal harddisk (Data disc) and on my external usb HDD and burned on a bluray disc.

2) I'd try to perform this complex task: i.e. create a virtual machine from my image.

my purpose => A) Vista running on my phisical pc (host?) and, if needed or when I desire, B) my Vista running *at the same time* on an virtual machine (guest?).

3) this virtual machine my be VMware Player 3.1.4 (already installed) or an application which you may want to suggest me. (Warning: Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 will NOT work on my pc, becuase I have Vista Home Premium Edition, not Enterprise nor Business Edition, therefore Microsoft's virtual machines will not work here).

4) I am able to convert my file MRIMG (24GB because Macrium Reect compress the image) into a file VHD (the size will be 48GB).

I have already done this task (MRIMG > to VHD), thanks the utility " ImgToVhd.msi " downloaded from here

http://kb.macrium.com/KnowledgebaseArticle50005.aspx

5)

Thanks a suggestion that I have found on Facebook in foreign language, I'm now able to edit the .wmx file (by using the Notepad.exe) in the folder \MyDocuments\Virtual machine to let VMPlayer read and "understand" the file VHD, even if it is NOT natively supported by VMPlayer.

I guess that the VHD file has been recognized by VMPlayer as a VMDK file, I guess.

6) At the moment I have one virtual machine in VMPlayer: simply double clic on Virtual Machine#1 and Ubuntu starts. No problem!

No problems here because I have installed Ubuntu on VMPlayer directly from an image .ISO. This task was easy for newbies too

7) I guess that I have already installed the additional VMware Tools (but not sure...), when I have installed my first virtual machine in VMPlayer for Ubuntu, the application told me to download VMware Tools. I clicked Yes! I think they have been already automatically installed.

I have the Macrium Boot CD. It works and it is able to recognize my phisical internal harddisks (C:\ os, D:\ data) and my external usb HDD L:\ and my external usb LG bluray burner.

9) I DON'T have the *original CD* from Windows Vista (I did not find it in the packege as I had purchased my pc!!!)

10) but I have "two self made DVD's", burned from the partition Factory Recovery --a locked partition of the main disc C.\

(I guess that this is an Utility preinstalled by HP manufacturer: I was allowed to burn this kind of 2DVD's ONE time ONLY...I have never used this DVD's or "Restore DVD's"?? I have a laptop Asus with Vista "preinstalled" from manufacturer and a Pc desktop HP Pavillion Elite with Vista "preinstalled"...).

PS:

[[[[[ 11) I'd be very happy to try this complex task before on my laptop (for testing purpose). Then, if I go a virtual machine running Vista (the image of Vista) flawlessy on my laptop (my laptop will act as a guinea pig! and the audio will work and the periferic usb devices will be recognized by the virtual machine (VMPlayer?),

then I will do the same complex task (I guess.... without help! on my desktop pc too, the "main pc"! ]]]]]

If you don't understand what I wrote (as I said above, I write with the help of the dictionary...;-) or if you need further infos about my system/tools/purposes...please let me know. I'm not in a hurry Thanks a lot in advance.

[WoodyZ]

5)

Thanks a suggestion that I have found on Facebook in foreign language, I'm now able to edit the .wmx file (by using the Notepad.exe) in the folder \MyDocuments\Virtual machine to let VMPlayer read and "understand" the file VHD, even if it is NOT natively supported by VMPlayer.

I guess that the VHD file has been recognized by VMPlayer as a VMDK file, I guess.

Could you provide the link and or copy and paste the information into a document and don't worry about what language it is in.  Then archive (compress) the document to a reply

Also archive (compress) the .vmx configuration file from the Virtual Machine and attach the .zip archive as well.

As to the rest, now that I know what you're trying to do, I will do some testing and see which will be the easiest way to go from here.

[Reibenbacher]

Dear WoodyZ,
thank you for your reply!

all files which you have asked are in the attached file .ZIP

1) create the virtual machine:
settings: 2 core (for laptop). 4 core (for desktop)

2) see please the file .PDF in the zip archive from Facebook:

until page 4: all ok!

file .VMX:

scsi0:0 = "Original_Macrium_Reflect_File_Name.vhd"

instead of the default

scsi0:0 = "My_Folder_Name_or_Virtual_Machine_Name.vmdk"

[[laptop = scsi;
desktop = no idea if scsi or ide, not tried yet]]

3) now you may want to delete the file .vmdk created by VMPlayer.

4) in the middle of pag.4:

here my effort failed: windows booting process failed ("necessary hardware device not found").

PS: I have the file .VHD (< converted from the source file .MRIMG) and *all new files created by vmplayer* stored in the secondary Data disc D:\
The directory C:\users\MyDocuments\Virtual Machines\... contains the "Ubuntu folder" only.

I hope this might help you to figure out my situation.

If I will can to learn "your process/your tasks", I will can to repeat them in the future, with any newer/updated image files from Macrium.

thanks a lot!!!

PPSS:
due to the fact that my virtual machine was unable to boot the windows image, I have deleted this new virtual machine.
But if you need the various LOG files, just lets me know and tomorrow I will re-create this virtual machine and send to you the log files for analysis.

[[[[
PPPSSS:
Macrium says:
>The reason your system is not booting is because you need a different mass storage driver early on in the booting process. It is almost definitely installed as VM's do not emulate exotic hardware. However, it will need to be enabled.<

?!?
]]]]

[WoodyZ]

Okay, I'll rewiew the .pdf file and no problem that it's in Italian.

Let me ask you...

The Physical Machine that you're running VMware Player on, is it the same machine that the Macrium Reflect Image is from?

[Reibenbacher]

Hi.

I follow the PDF guide until the words:
"Come ultimo passo, è finalmente possibile..."
(pag. 4)

>>The Physical Machine that you're running VMware Player on, is it the same machine that the Macrium Reflect Image is from?<<

Yes!!

I use:

A)

for laptop (you have received my .VMX file from here) Macrium Reflect 4.2.3638 + Macrium Rescue CD 2.1.3584.

B)
for pc desktop: Macrium Reflect 4.2.3775 + Rescue CD 2.1.3775.

(I dont want to upgrade the application Macrium Reflect Free nor Macrium Rescue CD, otherwise all the Rescue CD's become unuseful, I'd have to re-create them

no matter if I use/I'll use Asus Laptop or HP Desktop, but this is sure:

The Physical Machine that I'm running VMware Player 3.1.4 on, is the same machine that the Macrium Reflect Image is from!!
(Macrium Image .MRIMG > to .VHD)

thanks.

[WoodyZ]

The Physical Machine that I'm running VMware Player 3.1.4 on, is the same machine that the Macrium Reflect Image is from!!

Since the Physical Machine is the same that the Image is from then you can create a Virtual Machine directly using Paragon Go Virtual and skip all this nonsense however regardless of how you do it you're going to have WPA issues to resolve as well as licensing issues if you intend to continue to run the Physical Machine and the virtualized copy as well.

BTW I did read the PDF Document and while it is possible to do as it suggests I would not do it that way.

[Reibenbacher]

Thanks. I'll install paragon.

what means WPA and BTW?

sorry but I dont understand.

If I install Paragon, and I create a VM with Paragon

can I load the MRING directly into paragon??

or have I to do a mysterious complex task?

yes I intend to continue using my phisical machine and VM (Paragon instead of VMPlayer, as you suggested) at the same time for years...

will I have licensing issues even if I use "my" image? issues with the virtual machine only or with phisical machine too or booth??

if a VM with windows leads to licensing issues (even if I have an image from an *licensed* OS) then is it unpossible to get a working VM with windows??? only with ubuntu??

or only if I install a "Cleen" VistaOS from an original Windows CD and then I spend three months for customize the cleen OS?

oh good...now I become more confused again...

and I return to my first question:

=> can I to do following??  (I will try it)

1) create a new virual machine with VMPlayer

2) reboot the pc using macrium boot cd

3) yesterday you told me: "yes, VMPlayer create a standard IDE/sata hdd interface"

(this is wonderfull)

4) Install your image at the boot thanks macrium boot cd and thanks to the fact that VMPlayer is able to create (and "see") a standard ide/sata hdd interface and the boot cd will work out-of-box and all the problems will be resolved??

I will give a try...

[WoodyZ]

WPA = Windows Product Activation

BTW = By the way

BTW Try using Google when you don't understand an acronym.

No matter how you get your current version of Windows that is installed on your physical machine into a virtual machine you will have to reactivate it (WPA issue) and it requires you to have an additional license if you intend to continue to run the physical machine and the virtual machine created from the physical machine.

As far as Paragon Go Virtual is concerned it appears you didn't read what it said at the link provided and its documentation!

In short, you'd install and run Paragon Go Virtual on your Physical Machine to create a VMware Virtual Machine of the Physical Machine and then run the resultant Virtual Machine with VMware Player.  Nothing else to do as far as creating the VM is necessary, it will boot to Windows however because of WPA you may have some difficulties and this is not a VMware (or Paragon) issue, it's a Microsoft issue and you may need to directly contact Microsoft to resolve any WPA/Licensing issues.

Using Paragon Go Virtual doesn't require you to do anything with Macrium Reflect and it creates the VM ready to run in VMware Player by just double-click the .vmx file it created along with the .vmdk file it creates.  It is the shortest and fasted route to create a Virtual Machine of your Physical Machine and makes all of this nonsense of the discussion thread moot.

Also I do not like being misquoted and I never said "3) yesterday you told me: "yes, VMPlayer create a standard IDE/sata hdd interface"  I said "The Macrium Rescue CD, Linux CD/ISO Image, Rescue.iso does recognize VMware IDE/SCSI Disks out of the box! "!  SATA and SCSI are not the same thing.

[Reibenbacher]

hi. sorry for sata/scsi.

The one and only output file from Paragon go virtual (P2V) is a file VMDK. I dont see VMX.

If I try opening VDMK I go a error from Vmware Player.

what to do?

thanks.

[DSTAVERT]

Use the wizard to create a new VM. When finished edit the settings for the machine. Use the Remove button to delete the hard disk that was created by the wizard and then use the Add button to add a hard disk. You will have an option to use an existing disk. You can browse to the VMDK file created by Paragon. You might want to move the VMDK to the folder created by VMware player before adding the disk.

[Reibenbacher]

Thanks a lot for your reply!

ok I will try your suggestion, thank you.

(I hope that at the reboot of Vista from the new VM I dont become driver issues due to the "new" hardware).

[WoodyZ]

When booting the Virtual Machine for the first time the Guest OS will see different hardware then what was on the physical machine and it will have to rectify some drivers, some of which installing VMware Tools will resolve.  However the bigger issue is going to be WPA and the fact that your trying to illegally run an OEM version of Windows in a Virtual Machine while running it on the Physical Machine you created the image from!

[Reibenbacher]

Dont worry about illegality, because (if this will be my issue, no problem, I will purchase a new licence!) but...I have a lot problems BEFORE the WPA!! I were the happiest man of the world if I will become WPA issues only!!! (my friend with macrium direct on vmplayer become NO issues with WPA, perhaps XP users are luckier

dont worry about WPA I will buy a original Vista CD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

but.....I do not buy an original CD if go a lot of problems with VMPlayer, sorry!

A) test vmplayer (and Paragon)

B) No driver issues? WPA issues only? ok! I will buy a CD!!!

I dont find Add or Remove botton in vmplayer...

perhaps have I to purchase the full version of Paragon for inject the drivers?

should I purchase Paragon Hrad disk manager 11 Server + virtualization addon + rescue cd for 1290 USD???

a this point will I able to load a VMDK image into vmplayer? and will my vista image work? or should I spend more money than 1290USD???

answer: yes or no.

...but I raed posts of a lot poeple (which ****purchased**** Acronis UNIVERSAL RESTORE....universal hihihi) and TIB file are supported by vmplayer (hmmmm) !!!! but they worte to me:

it didnt work...

[DSTAVERT]

See if this helps

[Reibenbacher]

thank you for the pretty pic, but when I watch this pic I dont understand if your Image from Vista (not XP! XP does work!) will work fine even after the reboot in VmPlayer...

(except for the activation obviously, but --I aked Microsoft during the last week-- you are allowed using Vista for ***3 days*** before you need to purchase a second license)....

....in the meantime will your image of vista work fine in vmplayer even after 100 reboots within the first 3 days???

can you tell me how to do to get this (after 3 day I will resolve the WPA issue directly with Microsoft...1st day clic on: OK, I will activate later....the next day I will care about the license)...but in the meantime...I dont want that my system stops itself at the boot wizard.

if this possible?

1) yes

2) no

3) this is a top secret

4) yes but only experts are able to get an image from vista working in vmplayer for 3 days....

5) I know perfectly how to obtain what you are trying and it is very easy but I'm not allowed to explain this process due to the laws in our country...

....so a few example of an answer....