VMware Workstation 5.5Features | Documentation | Knowledge Base | Discussion ForumsConfiguring a Dual-Boot Computer for Use with a Virtual MachineMany users install VMware Workstation on a dual-boot or multiple-boot computer so they can run one or more of the existing operating systems in a virtual machine. If you are doing this, you may want to use the existing installation of an operating system rather than reinstall it in a virtual machine. To support such installations, VMware Workstation makes it possible for you to use a physical IDE disk or partition, also known as a physical disk, inside a virtual machine. Note: VMware Workstation supports booting from physical disk partitions only on IDE drives. Booting guest operating systems from physical SCSI drives is not supported. For a discussion of the issues on a Linux host, see Configuring Dual- or Multiple-Boot SCSI Systems to Run with VMware Workstation on a Linux Host. Setting up a physical disk configuration for a virtual machine is more complicated than using a virtual disk. Virtual disks are recommended unless you have a specific need to run directly from a physical disk or partition. Caution: physical disks are an advanced feature and should be configured only by expert users. This section describes the following topics |
