Convert scsi vm to ide

[PDMC]

openSuse 11.4 64bit host

Workstation 7.1.4 64 bit

Windows 7 32 bit guest with scsi virtual disk

How do I convert this vm to ide virtual disk?

vmware-vdiskmanager -r Win7.vmdk -t 1 -a ide Win7ide.vmdk

responds with

The -a option cannot be used with the -r option

???

[continuum]

first questions is why do you want to do this ???

I see no benefit in switching at all - you need to adjust drivers after you successfully edited the adapter type.
You also need to rewrite the vmx-file ...

Anyway - if you know what you are doing and feel ready to handle the driver problem (fix 7b bluescreen on next boot)
here is what to do:
extract the embedded descriptor-file - in case you use a one piece growing disk - see my howto:
http://sanbarrow.com/vmdk-howtos.html#editvmdk

edit the vmdk-file to change adapter and geometry - see my howto:
http://sanbarrow.com/vmdk-basics.html#changeadapter

reinject embedded descriptorfile

adjust vmx-file to change

scsi0:0.filename = "mydisk.vmdk"

to

ide0:0.filename = "mydisk.vmdk"

WARNING:
what you have in mind can be done - but it makes no sense to me.
Anyway - if you need help with editing the files or fixing the drivers with a Windows 7 recovery CD let me know

[PDMC]

Thanks continuum 🙂

Why = VMware con't keep up with openSuse Tumbleweed kernel updates and the latest one breaks Workstation so I'm trying to migrate to VirtualBox but VirtualBox can't open the scsi vdmk.

Not ready to deal with a windoz bsod.

Thanks for the comprehensive reply 🙂

[continuum]

why can't VirtualBox open the vmdk ?
that should work
what does it say ?

[PDMC]

On boot up it gives the repair or boot normally screen.

Selecting either option loops.

[PDMC]

I had no problem, same day, opening a XP home ide fixed virtual disk vm and XP-Pro also ide but growable.

[continuum]

PDMC wrote:

On boot up it gives the repair or boot normally screen.

Selecting either option loops.

thats expected behaviour and will not change if you switch to IDE I think
what about fixing that ?

[PDMC]

I setup the VirtualBox vm to use the scsi lsi-something driver.

Did not switch to ide in VirtualBox although that's what it wanted to do by default.

[continuum]

and ? - still get a 7b b luescreen or other errors ?

[PDMC]

Get a blue screen but don't know what the errors are because the screen goes away.

[PDMC]

Blue screen but goes away too fast to see what they are.

Attempting repairs.....

[PDMC]

Repair finishes and windoz tries to reboot, blue screen flashes, then loops back to the repair or start normally.

power off

I've tried numerous combinations of caching options and processor changes, chasing down thread suggestions but the result is alweays the same.

VirtualBox mis-detects the VMWare scsi drive specs.

VMWare used to be good at keeping up with Suse releases but ever since Ubuntu came along Suse takes a bac seat 😞

[continuum]

which BSOD do you get ?
7b can be fixed

[PDMC]

Haven't figured out how to stop it on that screen yet.

[PDMC]

I have the original installaion CD and could make a rrecovery CD from Workstation/Windows 7.

[PDMC]

Can't work on this more today.

Will try again tomorrow.

Thanks you for your help 🙂

[continuum]

ok - then boot the VM into the LiveCD
ignore all options until you get to the cmd-prompt

enter regedit
in regedit - click load hive

select the file ... Windows\system32\config\SYSTEM
make sure you do not select the named file from drive X: !!!

when done regedit asks for a name - enter "p2V"
when done navigate to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\p2v\CurrentControlSet\Control\CrashControl
and set autoreboot to 0

when done click unload hive and reboot

On nerxt boot you can see what BSOD number you get

[WoodyZ]

do you have a Windows 7 recovery CD ?

(Link not included as I believe it's a violation of the VMware Community Terms of Use.)

Information in that link by its author Mahmoud Al-Qudsi tries to make it look as though he has Microsoft's permission to redistribute this copyrighted Microsoft software however not only does he not have Microsoft's permission these files are not even offered on Microsoft's own web site and instead Microsoft normally instructs Users to either use the Windows 7 Install Disc or create one's own via Create a system repair disc under Backup and Restore from a running system and not download illicit distributions of copyrighted Microsoft software.

Message was edited by: Dave.Mishchenko

[continuum]

I report the issue to the authorities and ask for instructions

[PDMC]

Am going to try this script once again before moving forward with VirtualBox.

http://weltall.heliohost.org/wordpress/2011/05/14/running-vmware-workstation-player-on-linux-2-6-39-...

I'll let you know how this works out.

Thanks,