How to make System Partition backup to run it on Virtual Machine

[Caporeira]

I would like to make full backup of Windows 2000 from old PC.

And than run this system on Virtual Machine on other PC.

How should i do this ?

[jaclaz]

It is not easy-peasy.

You will (may) have issues with HAL and hardware drivers.

There are tools (called in jargon P2V or Physical to Virtual) that may help, but it depends on a number of factors, and given how many years have passed since Windows 2000 was largely used, you will need to hunt for them (in a version that supports 2000). .

More generally you want to look to tutorials/instructions on how to move a 2000 install, search for "move windows 2000 to new hardware", there is no definite procedure, as many things depend on the specific "source" machine and the specific (virtual in this case) "destination" one, loosely the general idea is to make the existing install as generic as possible before copying it, then move the disk (or image) to the VM, and (IMPORTANT) start in SAFE MODE and let Windows 2000 re-detect the hardware (providing suitable drivers if needed).

A good idea would be to first make a clone (or image) of the running system "as is", so you have a way back in case of problems with the conversion.

Also check if the destination Virtual Machine is actually compatible with Windows 2000 and has drivers for it for the virtual hardware.

jaclaz

 

[blackwingcat]

https://lanext.jp/one-man-it/windows2000-p2v/121/

http://blog.livedoor.jp/blackwingcat/archives/1884611.html

You can do P2V with VMware vCenter converter 4.0.1.

it is last version with windows 2000 support.

[Caporeira]

Thank you for your support, i will try it. But I want to share with you also what is the goal want i want to reach.

I have old PC Station with Windows 2000 and 4 PCI cards.
I want to have backup, in case that old machine will broken, i will replace it with new one.

I bought new PC with 4 PCI slots, and trying to install on it Windows 2000 oraz Virtual Machine with W2k and PCI Passthrough. But for now, it's looks not good. Without any positive results.

[jaclaz]

PCI passthrough is (usually) another problem.

Maybe if you detail the exact hardware (both the old and new motherboard specs) and VM involved there could be some more specific suggestions.

Again - loosely - I personally would try first to source an old (used or old stock) motherboard similar to the original one and avoid the VM completely.

jaclaz

[Caporeira]

@jaclazMy access to this old PC (Mainboard) ist limited.
Maybe next week i will get exact hardware specs.
When i will get the hardware specs and access to PC, i could make a copy of this PC. How can i do this, by Clonezilla will be a good choice ?
Will an more information, copies, photos be helpful?

[jaclaz]

Almost *any* (bootable) OS on a USB stick would do, you want to make a dd-like (or "forensic sound") image of the hard disk, personally I am not particularly fond of Clonezilla, mind you not that it isn't good, but it attempts (right or wrong) to have so many features that it comes out as way too complex and - AFAICR it won't normally (unless you use manually dd) produce what you actually want (a RAW, not compressed, not encrypted, no nothing) RAW image.

Even if it is called Clonezilla, one of the few thing that it cannot do (unless used manually or configurinng it in a complex way) is AFAICT/AFAICR, a "clone" or a RAW image[0].

When you have a RAW (or 1:1, or dd-like or "forensic sound") image you can convert it to almost *any* VM format, if you use any of the "fancy", non-standard, proprietary formats (which in themselves may be good as they save used space for the image) you introduce an added level of complication.

G4L:

https://sourceforge.net/projects/g4l/

or Rescuezilla:

https://rescuezilla.com/

(though the Author - WHY the heck? - continues calling Clonezilla "an industry-standard" [1]) 

jaclaz

 

 

[0] here are some more detailed comments:

https://msfn.org/board/topic/170157-wrote-img-image-file-to-wrong-drive-how-to-recover-it-now/

and some older related rants:

https://msfn.org/board/topic/157634-hard-disk-cloningimaging-from-inside-windows/

[1] for the record, Clonezilla is NOT a standard and certainly not an industry one, it is just a re-known tool that many (a large part clueless or not familiar with the complexities of disk cloning/imaging/backing up) people use or have used

 

[Caporeira]

@jaclaz Many thanks, now I understand why I should not using Clonezilla software.

 

DD image of this Workstation I already have. But unfortunately I can't run it of any Virtual Machine. Because i'm getting some Blue Screen Errors or No Bootablet Image.

Than now, I need to know Workstation spec - I'm working on it.

[jaclaz]

Sure you cannot run it on a VM "as is", here is exactly where a P2V tool will become useful, likely the BSOD you have is a 0x0000007b (unaccessible boot device, or, in plainer English,  "wrong disk drivers") but it could be another one related to the HAL.

The VMware converter 4.01 suggested by blackwingcat could be a good choice (if the VM you wamt to use is a VMware one), but a download needs to be found as it is not offered anymore by VMware, filename should be "VMware-converter-4.0.1-161434.exe".

jaclaz

[Caporeira]

@blackwingcat @jaclaz
I have got and already installed VMware-converter-4.0.1-161434.
Unfortunately VMware converter don't recognize my RAW Copy ( IMG File made by dd), is also not compatible with VHD (mady by VirtualBox converter).

What i the best choice to convert from IMG to .... ? And then convert it by VMware converter (P2V) ? 

[jaclaz]

VMware (it depends on the version) usually allow RAW (dd-like) images when a descriptor file is used.

Very old versions could use .pln file descriptors, more recent ones use instead a .vmdk one.

Clonedisk should be able to create a .vmdk descriptor from RAW, some info here

https://www.forensicfocus.com/forums/forensic-software/raw2vmdk/

but it has to be seen if it is compatible with the converter, otherwise you can use my little batch here:

https://www.forensicfocus.com/forums/general/boot-a-dd-into-a-virtual-machine-with-virtualbox/

or do it manually.

In case none of the above works, there is a converter in Qemu, though you will need - I believe - the space for a copy of the image:

https://www.qemu.org/

jaclaz

 

Note, due to some (one among many) issues with the board, links *like* 

http://reboot.pro/5578/

need to be "translated" to:

http://reboot.pro/index.php?showtopic=5578

[blackwingcat]

On 8/9/2022 at 11:52 PM, jaclaz said:

Sure you cannot run it on a VM "as is", here is exactly where a P2V tool will become useful, likely the BSOD you have is a 0x0000007b (unaccessible boot device, or, in plainer English,  "wrong disk drivers") but it could be another one related to the HAL.

The VMware converter 4.01 suggested by blackwingcat could be a good choice (if the VM you wamt to use is a VMware one), but a download needs to be found as it is not offered anymore by VMware, filename should be "VMware-converter-4.0.1-161434.exe".

jaclaz

you may find it on search engine with keywords "VMware-converter-4.0.1-161434.exe" "index of" :3