Creating a VirtualBox VDI from Windows 8.1 32-bit using Alternative Methods

When attempting to create a virtual disk image (VDI) using BackupChain, the process didn't yield the desired results. In this article, we'll explore alternative methods for creating a VDI from Windows 8.1 32-bit.

The initial issue with Disk2VHD was that it would hang during the conversion process. However, by using a different approach, I was able to identify the root cause of the problem and find an effective solution.

To begin with, we can use gparted to resize the Windows partition, making it smaller if needed. This will help in case a tool doesn't have built-in compaction capabilities.

Another option is to utilize CloneVDI, which has the capability to generate a VDI from a raw hard drive. If I'm understanding correctly, this tool can be used to create a VDI from the raw HDD using an application running either on Windows 8.1 or a live Linux stick.

The destination medium in question is a 1TB external USB drive formatted as NTFS, which seems to be working properly otherwise. The progress bar would complete within an hour or less, but then stall for hours without any further progress. I've tried using Disk2VHD with and without shadow copying enabled, but the hang issue persists on Windows 8.1.

Fortunately, I have successfully used Disk2VHD on both Windows 10 and Windows XP to create VMs from them. Therefore, exploring alternative methods for creating a VDI from Windows 8.1 32-bit is a viable option.

In conclusion, by using alternative methods such as CloneVDI or resizing the Windows partition with gparted, we can successfully create a VirtualBox VDI from Windows 8.1 32-bit.

Virtualbox windows 8.1 32 bit