Question: Browsing through disks in non-bootable OS?

[mgroen1]

Question: Is it somehow possible to browse through local files (C, D drive, etc) in a non bootable VM?

For example, with a dedicated tool that doesn't boot the VM, but allows to view/copy files of the VM in stead?

Background info:

I have an old (ancient) Windows XP VM, which refuses to boot (activation issues), the thing is there are some files on the VM (Word, Excel documents), I would like to copy.

So, I can't get the VM to boot properly. Is there an alternative approach to just get access to the drives and copy specific files from the VM?

I use VM Workstation.

Thanks,

[Alex_Romeo · Accepted solution]

Hi,

Make a copy of the vmdk file located in the vm xp folder. Create a new virtual machine with the Windows 7 \ 10 operating system, then add a new (secondary) hdd by linking the vmdk file of your xp machine that does not start. At this point you should see the contents of the disc (like 😧 \ or other letters).

inside the disk you can go and search for the files you need.

ARomeo

[dariusd]

Depending on your host OS and the filesystem used by the guest OS on its virtual disks, you may be able to Map or Mount the Virtual Disk to a Drive on the Host System to gain access to your files.

Good luck!

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Darius