Did you do anything special to get your installed system to run on the
external drive? In a separate thread here, I've been trying to do this
vary same thing but my latest problem is I can't get the RAMFS to hand
off to the full system on the same drive from which the boot image was
just successfully loaded.  It's like the USB drive is discovered but
none of the partitions are seen, thus ths init scripts bail and leve
me in an emergency shell, probably still in the RAMFS.

On Mon, Dec 06, 2010 at 08:12:47AM -0500, kitepilot@kitepilot.com wrote:
> I have a Window$ laptop that I can't officially touch.
> I boot it in Linux from a USB HD.
> I created a VirtualBox VM that runs Window$ from its native HD,
> which allows me to shutdown the thing, unplug the USB and boot
> Window$ native like it never ever happened.
> 
> I've done it with XP and 7.
> The only difference between them is that you may want to create a
> "hardware profile" for XP (although I believe it is not necessary,
> YMMV), and you will need a "fake MBR" for Win7.
> 
> There are also infinite permutations of boot/VM/HD, use your judgement.
> Be CAREFUL and BACKUP!!!
> Free advice, you can't sue me.   ;-)
> 
> Here is (roughly) how it is done (more details down below):
> Starting point:
> .- You have a box with a bootable windoze installation on its
> internal HD and you are running Linux off of a USB HD.
> 
> Steps:
> .- Install VirtualBox as your Linux flavor demands.
> .- For Win7, create a "fake boot record" from the box's internal HD.
> .- Make the box's internal HD accessible to your user, there are
> several ways to accomplish this.
> .- Create a virtual HD (that uses such "fake MBR" for Win7) and the
> box's internal HD.
> .- Create a VM defined to run your M$'s flavor and uses the VHD that
> you just created.
> .- Hold you breath...
> .- Boot your VM.
> .- Install Vbox additions.
> .- Scream, YEEEHAAAW!!!
> .- Enjoy and brag...   :)
> 
> Now in more detail:
> Other than "Scream, YEEEHAAAW!!!" and "Enjoy and brag", most
> everything can be found on detail on:
> http://www.rajatarya.com/website/taming-windows-virtualbox-vm
> 
> Look also at:
> http://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?t=333&highlight=createrawvmdk
> 
> You will have problems with Win7 sound/audio.
> Look at:
> http://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=17442
> http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1427857
> http://www.compdigitec.com/labs/2009/07/21/installing-sound-drivers-for-virt
> ualbox-sound-in-windows-7/
> 
> And finally, other WEB sites I collected:
> http://ubuntuforums.org/archive/index.php/t-664692.html
> http://mesbalivernes.blogspot.com/2008/01/virtual-box-booting-from-existing.
> html
> http://blarts.wordpress.com/2007/12/06/how-to-run-virtualbox-using-a-physica
> l-partition-using-ubuntu-feisty-fawn/
> http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Migrate_Windows
> http://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?t=333&highlight=createrawvmdk
> http://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?p=33678
> 
> 
> 
> Enjoy and remember -> YOU CAN'T SUE ME!!!   :)
> If you have any question you will get any answer.
> ET
> 
> 
> 
> Mike Hoy writes:
> 
> >I need to run Windows and Linux. It has been this way for years. I am
> >getting fed up with it to be honest. But this isn't just about going
> >between win and nix. I also am compelled to run at least two different
> >distro's.
> >
> >My solution was to do this:
> >
> >HDD1: Ubuntu (for web dev and basically everything I need to get done)
> >HDD2: Windows
> >HDD3: Storage (for all backups between both 1 and 2 and all
> >multimedia)
> >
> >There is a 4th hard drive but it has failed so I will leave that out.
> >It was running Gentoo up until it's demise.
> >
> >No matter what since I've owned a computer I find myself constantly
> >reinstalling operating systems. It has gone down over the years but
> >it's still like 3 times a year or so.
> >
> >Recently I went from 9.10 to 10.10 and that caused problems so now I'm
> >going to have to go back to 9.10 not the end of the world but it's
> >getting old as am I.
> >
> >Anyone have the ultimate solution for how to manage this? Are you in a
> >similar situation? What have you done to fix this problem.
> >
> >Another problem is disk space. I have 2 500 gig drives (plenty for OS)
> >but my storage drive can never be big enough. I keep all my client's
> >data on it because I feel the need to have backups of everything for
> >those CYA moments. They do come up.
> >
> >I find myself in awe of motherboards with more than 4 SATA ports. That
> >way I can have 8 hard drives! I could run 6 operating systems and 1
> >storage in RAID config! I'm only somewhat joking there.
> >
> >Another question has anyone done any development on chromium OS? Maybe
> >that belongs in the dev list.
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