Migrating Windows to another virtual machine

I have an iMac running Parallels with Win 10 Pro in a virtual machine. This Win 10 Pro was an upgraded for free from Win 7 Pro a few years ago. I think it was an upgrade only path, which I presume means that I cannot download a fresh Win 10 Pro and install that. i.e. I need the earlier Win 7 installed.

Due to some issues with Parallels on this virtual machine, I would like to install Win 10 Pro on another Parallels virtual machine. So, I would need a Windows 10 image file.

My question is, can I get this image file from somewhere? Would I need to put my existing serial number in there? Will that disable my old Windows 10 installation, meaning I cannot then migrate over all my data and apps?

Jon12345 said:

I have an iMac running Parallels with Win 10 Pro in a virtual machine. This Win 10 Pro was an upgraded for free from Win 7 Pro a few years ago. I think it was an upgrade only path, which I presume means that I cannot download a fresh Win 10 Pro and install that. i.e. I need the earlier Win 7 installed.

Due to some issues with Parallels on this virtual machine, I would like to install Win 10 Pro on another Parallels virtual machine. So, I would need a Windows 10 image file.

My question is, can I get this image file from somewhere? Would I need to put my existing serial number in there? Will that disable my old Windows 10 installation, meaning I cannot then migrate over all my data and apps?

Hi there

@Jon12345

Esentially what we need to do here is a "bog standard V2V" -- (Virtual to Virtual) conversion. To switch to another VM platform steps 1-8 should do it for you but if you want to update on parallels / install fresh Windows on parallels go to 9). Either way you need to download Macrium Free (or equivalent Disk imaging program that you can run from within your VM).

1) In your Virtual machine (whether on parallels or whatever) save the IMAGE vis using something like Macrium Free to an external device.

2) create a bootable ISO file (from within the Windows VM running on parallels) with Macrium Free

3) Create a New virtual machine with the appropriate software e/g VMware on Windows or whatever - BUT DON'T install the OS - ensure the Virtual HDD though is large enough to restore the image you saved from the "parallels" version. Ensure the bootable device is the iso created in step 2 -- you must do it within the VM on parallels - otherwise the Macrium OS won't be able to boot Windows at it will lack drivers for the (Virtual) HDD.

4) boot the created VM with the boot device as the macrium stand alone iso.

5) restore to the Virtual HDD

6) IMPORTANT STEP -- now select in the stand alone macrium boot program -- "Fix Windows Boot Programs"

7) after that completes shut down the VM

8) start up the VM - setting the boot device to the HDD you restored the OS to.

You might need after boot to add things like VMWare tools if using VMWare, VBOX additions if using VBOX and some updates tro fix the odd bits of missing hardware.

otherwise it should all work fine.

9) If you really want to create a totally NEW VM on parallels -- get the appropriate ISO via UUPDUMP FROM WITHIN THE WINDOWS VM and create the iso by running the cmd file.

Then you can set that iso as the boot device (on parallels VM) and either update or install windows from new.

If updating windows run the setup.exe from the ISO within the Windows VM - otherwise boot the ISO to re-install Windows -- it should already be activated by digital license if your Windows VM is currently activated.


Cheers
jimbo

Hey Jimbo, thanks for your help on that and all the detail. For some reason, I always get a bit confused when dealing with Virtual Machines. They scramble my thoughts! I will get to it as you have removed my roadblock. Thanks again.

Won't a new VM have a new Hardware ID which will prevent Windows 10 from activating itself?

Thanks for that advice. I was having concerns about the licensing.

I do this on almost daily basis on my virtual machines.

Why do you keep doing this daily?

Ok, I was wondering if you get corruption issues on them.

I've since noticed that the Fusion drive on my Mac has some corruption that cannot be fixed by Disk Utility, and that the SSD portion has 20% life left. So, I will be migrating everything across to an external SSD SATA drive and use that as the boot drive for my Mac.