Windows VM on Kubuntu

"I was successfully able to use CloneZilla to move an existing Windows install into a VirtualBox VM under Ubuntu. Note that I did NOT use any Windows install disks to get this working.

Here's an overview of the steps:

download VirtualBox for WINDOWS - you'll use it for a proof-of-concept.
download CloneZilla, burn a CD
boot it and use it to backup Windows to an external USB hard drive
run VirtualBox for windows, create a windows VM.
make sure to make the virtual HD as big as your real HD.
make sure to ""enable IO APIC"" (at least I had to, to get past a hang)
start the VM and boot to the the CloneZilla CD
restore from the external HD.
reboot the VM after the restore and verify Windows will work in the VM.
woohoo your backup of windows can be used to make a working Windows VM in VirtualBox
install Kubuntu on your machine
add VirtualBox package
make a windows VM under VirtualBox for Ubuntu
boot CloneZilla CD in that VM
restore from the external HD
reboot the VM after the restore and verify you now have Windows running in a VM under Kubuntu

I may have omitted a step or two, but that's the gist of it. Hope this helps!

-Paul"

"Indeed there is software for this, VMware Converter. It has a Windows and a Linux flavour, whichever suits you best.

Automate and simplify physical to
virtual machine conversions as well as
conversions between virtual machine
formats with VMware vCenter Converter.
Use the intuitive wizard-driven
interface of VMware vCenter Converter
to convert your physical machines to
virtual machines.


Convert Microsoft Windows and Linux* based physical machines and third
party image formats to VMware virtual
machines
Complete multiple conversions simultaneously with a centralized
management console
Easy to use wizards to minimize the number of steps to conversion"