How Do I Transfer A HD From One Virutal Machine To Another Virtual Machine

[Khaos139]

The title says it all

I am trying to transfer all the files from Windows Vista x32 to Windows Vista x64

Thanks

[WoodyZ]

The title says it all

I am trying to transfer all the files from Windows Vista x32 to Windows Vista x64

If the Subject says it all then it doesn't say enough because you certainly do not want to "to transfer all the files from Windows Vista x32 to Windows Vista x64" as it would trash the x64 build. Now I'm saying that in the context of a transferring "all the files from Windows Vista x32" from where that reside in the x32 to then same place in the x64 and I'm only putting that way to show you that the Subject really doesn't say it all when additionally saying what you have and it then make it ambitious.

Do you literally want to move the virtual hard drive from one virtual machine to the other so there are now two virtual hard drives? Because that's what the Subject literally implies.

Or are you trying to transfer User Data from one virtual machine to another?

If the latter then you can do that the exact same way as it it were two physical machines or take advantage of one of VMware Tools features, Drag & Drop or VMware Shared Folders

If the former you would move the files that make up the x86 virtual hard drive from the x86's Virtual Machine Package to the x64's Virtual Machine Package and then follow the directions in the Fusion Help File: VMware Fusion (menu bar) > Help > VMware Fusion Help > Managing Virtual Machines > Managing Virtual Hard Disks > Adding an Existing Virtual Hard Disk

Note: You can add a existing disk without actually moving the files that comprise the virtual hard drive into the target Package however you did say "How Do I Transfer A HD From One Virutal Machine To Another Virtual Machine"

[Khaos139]

Sorry, I didn't mean system, I meant user.

I do not want to add a disk, I was trying to just add the user files for WV x36 over to x64

When u say drag and drop, does that add everything to the disk, I have watched the converter video so ik what u mean and I work with many os's and distrubutions.

Do I have to rename anything if I drag and drop the disk files (All the s0001 (file names like that) and the main .vmdk right?) so that it reads it or it should be fine?

Thanks btw.

[WoodyZ]

Sorry, I didn't mean system, I meant user.

That's what I figured however I wanted to make a point.

I do not want to add a disk, I was trying to just add the user files for WV x36 over to x64

If that's the case then why are you mentioning "(All the s0001 (file names like that) and the main .vmdk right?)"

That work be transferring the entire virtual hard drive from one virtual machine to the other.

When u say drag and drop, does that add everything to the disk, I have watched the converter video so ik what u mean and I work with many os's and distrubutions.

I'm talking about using any and all normal methods of transferring files from one computer to another just as if they were physical machines and the other option with VMware Tools feature Drag & Drop being able to just select the files/folders from Windows Explorer in one virtual machine and drag and drop it onto the other virtual machine or use the Mac Desktop as a go between if DnD isn't supported between two virtual machines, sorry I don't know if it is because I've never tried between two.

Do I have to rename anything if I drag and drop the disk files (All the s0001 (file names like that) and the main .vmdk right?) so that it reads it or it should be fine?

Not applicable if your just trying to copy/move User Data between systems.

[Khaos139]

Ok sorry if its a little hard for me to follow

The hard disks would copy everything so that is a no

The drag and drop feature is what ur segesting right? So what am I dragging and dropping between my mac desktop and my vm?

[WoodyZ]

Ok sorry if its a little hard for me to follow

The hard disks would copy everything so that is a no

The drag and drop feature is what ur segesting right? So what am I dragging and dropping between my mac desktop and my vm?

Okay, if you want to transfer the User Data from one computer, virtual or physical, to another computer, virtual or physical, it doesn't matter that you're using virtual machines so just treat the virtual machines as if the were physical machines meaning transfer the files/folders you want from one to the other via a network share or a USB Drive, etc.

Or you can take advantage of VMware Tools in the virtual machine, if you installed them. and drag and drop files/folders from one virtual machine's display to the Mac Desktop and then from the Mac Desktop to the other virtual machine's display.

BTW I just tried DnD direct between two virtual machines and it does not work so you'd have to use the Mac Desktop as a go between.

I'm not sure I can make this any clearer and as to what files/folders you have to determine what User Data you want to transfer.

[WoodyZ]

The other option is if you installed MacFUSE when installing Fusion 2.x and also have an NTFS-3G Driver installed you could mount the virtual hard drives in Finder using VMDKMounter and copy files/folders directly between virtual hard drives.

Have a look at: VMware Fusion (menu bar) > Help > VMware Fusion Help > Managing Virtual Machines > Using VMDKMounter to Mount a Virtual Disk as a Mac Volume

[webfrasse]

This has been available for a loong time in Parallels. Why don't VMware catch up and enable this by default? Having the VM's drive (C:\, D:\ etc) mounted on your Mac desktop is one of the best features in Parallels.

/Mikael

[WoodyZ]

This has been available for a loong time in Parallels. Why don't VMware catch up and enable this by default? Having the VM's drive (C:\, D:\ etc) mounted on your Mac desktop is one of the best features in Parallels.

Correct me if I'm wrong however Parallels does not automatically mount virtual hard drives the same way VMDKMounter is doing it in that with the virtual machine shutdown, not suspended being able to mount the disk. Parallels can do the same thing but it's not automatic when a virtual machine is not running.

On the other hand when a Parallels virtual machine is running yes it does automatically create a mount point to the root of the disk and this is a nice feature and just one of many shortcomings under Fusion at the present time.