HOW TO: Convert a Physical Windows Vista Machine to VMware VM using StarWind V2V & VMware Converter
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In this 1-hour special episode of Hancock’s VMware Half Hour, I take you step-by-step through the process of converting a Microsoft Windows Vista 32-bit physical machine into a VMware vSphere virtual machine. The steps I'm going to show you in this video can be used with any Windows machine.
The machine in question? A cherished Dell XPS 720 H2C, once belonging to my late father, who sadly passed in 2023. While I still have the physical machine in my possession, in this episode we’ll pretend that all we have is a Windows Backup image—a scenario many of you might face when physical access isn’t possible.
This is the workstation - https://uk.pcmag.com/desktops/7347/de...
Using a combination of:
🛠 StarWind V2V Converter
🛠 VMware vSphere vCenter Converter Standalone (aka VMware Converter)
… I’ll demonstrate how to:
✅ Prepare and convert the Windows Backup
✅ Import and configure it as a VMware VM
✅ Troubleshoot common issues
✅ Retrieve those precious family files safely
Throughout the process, I’ll share real-world anecdotes, technical insights, and hard-earned tips to help you master this kind of migration—whether it’s for legacy recovery, archival, or sentimental reasons.
📸 This isn’t just tech—it’s personal. Come along for the ride.
🕐 Duration: ~1 hour
📍 Perfect for sysadmins, digital preservationists, and VMware enthusiasts!
💬 Got questions, memories of Vista, or similar recovery stories? Drop them in the comments—I’d love to hear from you.
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#VMware #vSphere #P2V #V2V #WindowsVista #StarWindV2V #VMwareConverter #LegacyRecovery #DellXPS720 #DigitalPreservation #HancocksVMwareHalfHour
00:00:00 - Start
00:00:06 - Welcome to Hancock's VMware Half Hour
00:00:20 - Introduction
00:00:46 - Physical to Virtual Conversions (P2V), Virtual to Virtual (V2V) conversions
00:01:35 - Convert Dell XPS 720 H2C - Microsoft Vista Ultimate to Virtual Machine
00:02:01 - For Dad - Thanks for the memories
00:03:20 - Step 1: A Windows Image Backup - A VHD
00:04:15 - Windows backup file on a NAS
00:08:16 - Step 2: Convert VHD to VMDK using Starwind V2V Converter
00:15:20 - Conversion of VHD to VMDK
00:16:47 - Converted Successfully after 1 hour
00:17:49 - Step 3: Create a new virtual machine
00:21:25 - Step 4: Booting the virtual machine
00:22:52 - Step 5: Repairing the virtual machine wth a Microsoft Vista cdrom
00:28:44 - Step 6: Using VMware Converter to Configure the Virtual Machine and move to vSAN
00:32:24 - Converting ...
00:38:26 - Conversion complete
00:42:07 - Booting new Vista guest virtual machine
00:43:09 - Snapshot the VM
00:44:38 - Login to VM
00:47:17 - Step 7: Install VMware Tools for Microsoft Vista
00:52:46 - Step 8: Install VMXNET3 network interface
00:54:44 - Do you think our P2V/V2V is Complete ?
00:54:59 - Step 9: Removing the Ghost/Phantom devices/drivers
01:01:05 - Removing phantom devices and drivers using Device Manager
01:02:01 - My Dad Remembered !
01:05:28 - Step 10 : Using DeviceCleanup.exe
01:08:54 - Step 11: Restart Guest VM
01:10:11 - Step 12: Shutdown PC and Remove snapshot
01:11:23 - Step 13: Power Up final time to test after snapshot removal
01:13:21 - Summary and Conclusion
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