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Brad
Asked: 2020-04-02 04:29:09 +0800 CST

Windows 2012 R2 won't boot after p2v conversion

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I used the VMware standalone converter 6.2 to convert a windows 2012 R2 system to a VMware ESXi VM.

The conversion reports 100% success and I can see the VM in vCenter. When I start it up though I just get a black screen with a white swirly at the bottom. I've left the system for hours on end and it never starts up.

enter image description here

I detached the VMDK file and attached it to another working VM and mounted the drive. I can see all the files and both partitions. So I know the clone did successfully clone my files.

I next rebooted the system with the windows 2012 R2 installation media and then went to the recovery console where I ran the following commands:

Bootrec /Fixmbr 
Bootrec /Fixboot
Bootrec /rebuildBCD

Then restarted my system - same result.

I've tried conversions that don't install vmware tools, that do install vmware tools, that don't reconfigure the destination vm, that do reconfigure the destination VM.

I feel like there must be something minor preventing a boot but I'm at a loss as to what else to try. Does anyone else have any suggestions?

Thanks Brad

vmware-esxi physical-to-virtual windows-server-2012-r2

1 Answers

  1. Best Answer

    During the conversion have you chosen the LSI Logic SAS controller for the Windows Server 2012R2 to boot up. Check the following KB article for additional information: https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/1006296

    As an alternative you can use StarWind V2V converter, which can do P2V as well. https://www.starwindsoftware.com/v2v-help/PhysicalDisksandP2VScenario.html

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