Karim Vaes

I guess I’m a linux evangelist… Ubuntu is my main operating system, yet (for work interoperatibility) windows is sometimes needed. At that time, I mostly have multiple workspaces open, along with a lot of processes running. Doing a reboot to windows would mean a loss of time & productivity. Or just too much work, as everyone is kinda lazy by nature…

So my research began… First I used VmWare convertor to run my windows inside my linux. Yet having two windows machines, meant twice the space/maintenance. After browsing thru the options, I saw the option to boot straight from a physical disk/partition. After some experiments, I got it working. Below you can find a small guide on how to get it done.

HOWTO
- install vmware server
- if you’re using a sata or scsi drive, install the vmware scsi
(if you get a bluescreen when starting windows within vmware, then you know you needed it… boot into windows, and install the drivers)
- create the “virtual machine”

• Create a new virtual machine
• Custom
• Select Windows
• Enter a name & location
• Private or not, your choice
• Select the memory you want to give the VM
• Bridged network
• Buslogic
• Use a physical disk
• Select disk, and Use entire disk
• Finish

- Startup, and select your windows when grub asks for your boot options

IMPORTANT: DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT startup your linux thru vmware within your linux… trust me on this one, been there, done that… you’ll be fscking all night, so not the best thing to do, as you might have already guessed, but the mistake easily made as it’s probably your default selection within grub