I’m currently running Windows XP in VirtualBox with no problems on two computers.
VB creates a fixed size “hard drive” in the form of a .vdi file. I set my XP VDI file to fixed size of 20 Gigs, which is too large to backup to an optical disc (DVD). However, because the VDI file is seen as a single homogeneous file, it can be broken up into multiple smaller files with a file spanning program, like KSplit for Linux, burned to multiple DVDs, transfered to another Linux system and then re-assembled using the same KSplit spanning program.
The re-assembled VDI file can then be stored in a folder in the Home files folder (similar to My Documents in Windows). I placed the file in a folder called VMware.
Start VirtualBox and create a new virtual install of Windows XP. When you get to the stage of creating a new virtual drive, select “Existing…” and add the existing VDI file stored in a folder in your Home files.
When you first try to start the virtual XP installation in VB, you might get an error message. Close VB. Go to your Home files folder and select View > Show Hidden Files from the menu bar. Open the folder .VirtualBox and delete the file called VirtualBox.xml. Close the folder.
Restart VirtualBox and restart your virtual copy of Windows XP. It should load just fine now, as VB will rebuild the VirtualBox.xml file.
Since Windows XP will see VB as the same computer on two physically different computers, it will load and run the same on both computers without the need to re-register or re-activate.
This method also gives you a good backup of your XP install on DVD should you ever need to re-install.
I have the same install of Windows XP running in VB on my desktop computer and my laptop computer. Best of all, you can update both Windows installations, since Microsoft’s Genuine Advantage sees both installations as the same computer.
Author’ Note: This method may not work with Windows 7. When you move a Windows 7 VDI file to another computer, the Microsoft activation code might automatically reset itself. This forces the user to re-enter the key code and re-activate, which may be rejected.
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