Derek, Dell laptops no longer come with install media. Windows is installed and all you can do is make a back up copy and a rescue disk. BTW, I live in Phoenix, so your laws are my laws...but we don't share the same in-laws.....oh man, that was really terrible....;) Mark On Tue, Nov 22, 2011 at 9:05 PM, Derek Trotter wrote: > Mark I understand you don't have the install discs for windows 7. This > has me wondering if there is some copy protection scheme that makes it > difficult to copy the windows 7 install disc(s). If so is there a linux > program that will get around it? > > Disclaimer: I'm not condoning the use of pirated software in violation of > any applicable laws where you live. There is considerable expense involved > in replacing a legit copy of any micro$oft OS. So a backup would come in > handy. > > On 11/22/2011 18:40, Mark Phillips wrote: > > I have managed to fill up my laptop's dual boot (Win 7 and Debian testing) > 320 GB drive, so I have a new shiny 750 GB drive to install. I have tried > to use Clonezilla, and it keeps failing because the old drive has 512 byte > sectors and the new drive has 4096 byte sectors. No problem; I will just > create a system image of the Windows partitions to move that to the new > drive, net install Debian testing, and copy over my user files. > > However, I was thinking that I could get rid of the dual boot and just > virtualize the Windows partition. My questions - > > 1. Can I create a virtual version of my Windows 7 Home Premium using the > system recovery disk and the backup on my external usb drive? So far, it > installs to the new 750 GB drive with no issues. I don't have any original > media disks. > > 2. Vmware or Virtualbox? Do either one support usb so I can run iTunes > on my virtual Windows drive? A while ago I was able to get vmware to run > off of the Windows disk partition, but it seemed to break every time I ran > an upgrade on Debian, and it was a pain to get it to work each time. I > don't want to fiddle with this approach again, unless I have to. > > Thanks for your suggestions! > > Mark > > > > > > --------------------------------------------------- > PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us > To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings:http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss > > > -- > "That income tax you know it's nothing more than legal robbery" > Sidney "Pa" Larkin > > Please protect my address like I protect yours. When sending messages to multiple recipients, always use the BCC: (Blind carbon copy) and not To: or CC:. Also remove all of the addresses from the message body before forwarding the message. These simple measures prevent spy programs from capturing the addresses shown in the recipient list and the message body. > > > --------------------------------------------------- > PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us > To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: > http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss >