Convert a hard disk to a virtual machine

[superdave145]

I have a server that the hardware died which has mirrored SATA hard drives in them.  I would like to convert the data on this hard drive to a virtual machine and put it in my vCenter, but I am unable to boot the server.  What is the easiest way to do this?  I can mount and read the data in Windows on another machine.  Right now I'm trying to back the data up to an acronis image and then use converter to import it.  I think there is an easier way though.   I also have a Symantec Backup Exec backup of the server but I don't have the ESX agent for Symantec.

Thanks,

Dave

[ProPenguin]

Does the computer even power on?  Depending on what is broken you may be able to use the converter boot disk.

[superdave145]

It powers on but goes it to protect mode sporadically.  :smileysad:  I haven't had it up long enough for a full converter cycle.  

[alefestaedist]

If you may boot from CD you may use the "old" coldclone iso cd from vmware.

Of course if you may use the HDD as second drive you may always convert it to  a VM and try to use it as boot disk after.

[superdave145]

What is the easiest way to convert a 2nd disk to a virtual machine?

[alefestaedist]

just conver the machine and choose only the second disk.. than create a new vm and add as only disk the one you created.

Alex

[ProPenguin]

One thing to try is if you have an identical machine, put the other machines harddrives in and boot it to the converter disk.  Then convert the server to virtual.  After that swap the disks back.  Becareful not to mix them up though. :smileyhappy:

[superdave145]

No identical hardware.   For some reason the converter is telling me the source paramaters are invalid on the acronis TIB file.

[ProPenguin]

Check this article out and see if it helps any. http://communities.vmware.com/message/1653877

[a_p_]

... telling me the source paramaters are invalid on the acronis TIB file

Not all versions of Acronis True Image are supported.

You could create an Acronis image (you can do this even with the disk attached to another system), then create a new virtual machine and restore the Acronis image using the Acronis boot CD/ISO in the VM. After that use the VMware Converter and run "Configure Machine". I've actually done that a few days ago with Windows 2003.

André

PS: Moved thread to the Converter forum.

[superdave145]

I ended up connecting the drive to my PC via USB enclosure, imaging with Acronis, restoring the image to a fresh VM, repaired and repatched the OS.  Thanks for all the help guys.

[bulletprooffool]

If you want to try converter, just attach the disk to a physical host somewhere and run a normal conversion.

Once you have done this, create a new empty VM with no disks and attach you vmdk for the drive you want migrated to this new VM. Odds are that you'll get the normal NT Loader boot error when you try to boot it, but you should be able to fix this using one fo the following:

Diskpart

Fdisk

Recovery Boot

Alternatively, consider using something other than VMware converter - perhaps something like Acronis True image?

Good luck and please feed back.