Originally Posted by
Internaut
Assuming I can get the hard disk out of the Dell and into USB enclosure for SATA hard disks...... Can I use the information on that hard disk to create a VM to run on my MacBook (i.e. using Parallels or VMWare)? Or do I actually need a Dell laptop that actually works before I can do this? Also, as I rather foolishly bought a MacBook with the smaller (150GB) hard disk, would such a VM happily run off a small USB or Firewire portable disk?
both vmware and parallels have the ability to import an existing pc into a virtual guest image. however, you may need to reactivate windows and other software. if the dell still works, you won't need to remove the hard drive - the import works via the network. you don't say how large the drive in the dell is or more importantly, how much space is actually used on it, but i would imagine that 150 gig should be more than enough for osx and a guest image of windows and whatever apps you need to use. if not, changing a hard drive on a macbook is very easy.
My thinking is, I have to go back to Fiji on the week beginning Jauary 5th and, if my Dell isn't back by then, I could at least take the MacBook + Dell VM out with me....
it should work fine.