1 Import WIM to VMWare

Recently, I have the need to import the WIM image file to VMWare.

Here are the steps how I achieve this.

 

Convert WIM to VHD

This can be easily done by using Convert-WindowsImage.ps1.

The script can be down load from Microsoft ( http://gallery.technet.microsoft.com/scriptcenter/Convert-WindowsImageps1-0fe23a8f ) and only executable on Win8/Win2012 .

C:\Users\PO\Downloads\Convert-WindowsImage.ps1  -SourcePath D:\win7_64.wim -Edition 1

At this Point, you get the VHD file and you can open it in Virtual Box or Mount to the disk. But what I really want is to import into VMWare . Hence I need to do another conversion .

Convert VHD to VMDK

This can be done by VBoxManage. The command that come with Virtual box.

C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox>VBoxManage clonehd D:\7601.18113.amd64fre.win7sp1_gdr.130318-1533_Client_Enterprise_en-US.vhd "D:\Virtual Machines\Win7.vmdk" --format vmdk

Now you can just use the vmdk as you normally do when you create the new vm in VMWare.

I did encounter the error as below: “Insufficient Permission to access file ”

It is wired but non of my other VM has the issue. The way I work around of the problem is by starting the VMWare as elevate privilege.