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Windows Server 2008R2 Virtual Machine help

2K views 9 replies 4 participants last post by  Sarec 
#1 ·
So long story short. I need windows installed into virtual box on my linux partition because Microsoft SQL Server 2008R2 refuses to install properly on my win7 box.
Now I am allowed to get keys and software from dreamspark.com because I am a student but the issue is they use a microsoft specific downloader.
I was just wondering if there was a download location for getting images of operating systems, preferably in virtual machine format. If not then ISO would work fine as well. I have valid keys.

tl;dr version:

I have spoken to 4 microsoft personnel about the install, 16 teachers, 9 sql specialist and 6 computer repair shops. All of which came to the same conclusion. I need to reinstall my OS. Which I refuse to do since I cannot back up the 800gig I have right now. Yes I know I should be able to reinstall my OS 'just fine' but the last two times I did that with win7 it killed half my applications. My goal here is not to throw this problem to OCN.
 
#2 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sarec View Post

So long story short. I need windows installed into virtual box on my linux partition because Microsoft SQL Server 2008R2 refuses to install properly on my win7 box.
Now I am allowed to get keys and software from dreamspark.com because I am a student but the issue is they use a microsoft specific downloader.
I was just wondering if there was a download location for getting images of operating systems, preferably in virtual machine format. If not then ISO would work fine as well. I have valid keys.
tl;dr version:
I have spoken to 4 microsoft personnel about the install, 16 teachers, 9 sql specialist and 6 computer repair shops. All of which came to the same conclusion. I need to reinstall my OS. Which I refuse to do since I cannot back up the 800gig I have right now. Yes I know I should be able to reinstall my OS 'just fine' but the last two times I did that with win7 it killed half my applications. My goal here is not to throw this problem to OCN.
When you ask about getting software in a virtual machine format, I am confused on what this is. Typically, Microsoft will release Release Candidate software in a VHD file, which is a Virtual Had Drive that you could mount in Hyper-V and boot right up. This is only a scenario done for Operating Systems, and not applications such as Microsoft SQL. Even with a VHD, that will not mount to VirtualBox...since VirtualBox uses a .VDI file, instead of the .VHD released by Microsoft (and to further the example, VMware used .VMDK).

As to your original request...you will first need to spin up a Windows Server 2008 R2 virtual machine. Once you have that, you should be able to download SQL Server 2008 R2 inside of that VM without a problem. You can download Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 from Microsoft Evaluation Center, or heck...you could torrent it from The Pirate Bay (total legal, as long as you download just the install media and not a crack/key). Download the Eval from here:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-US/evalcenter/dd459137.aspx

Which is an ISO. install that into VirtualBox, use your key from Dreamspark...and bam. Totally legit Server 2008 R2 SP1 virtual machine. Then inside of that VM, download SQL Server and install it.

Did I answer your question?
 
#3 ·
Well according to my Virtualbox it will support VHD. Seems the newer version does. Yes you answered my question just fine. I have just had issues with finding a clean copy from torrent sites. Last two I got were modified.

Where would I go to get the VHD downloads? Would that require a login to microsoft?
 
#4 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sarec View Post

Well according to my Virtualbox it will support VHD. Seems the newer version does. Yes you answered my question just fine. I have just had issues with finding a clean copy from torrent sites. Last two I got were modified.
Where would I go to get the VHD downloads? Would that require a login to microsoft?
If I'm not mistaken, you will not find VHD downloads from Microsoft for Server 2008 R2. You need to download the ISO and install from that. Trust me, avoid the VHD downloads unless they are a beta/RC/Developer Copy, that you want to test with. If it's for production or personal use, skip.

EDIT: So I was wrong. I found a VHD image of Server 2008 R2 Enterprise:
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=16572

I still wouldn't recommend it, since this VHD was designed for Hyper-V...it may or may not work in VirtualBox (synthetic drivers for storage controller and NIC may not be there for VirtualBox). Try it at your own risk, but I still 110% recommend using the ISO. Besides, I am also thinking that Dreamspark only gives you a license for Server 2008 R2 Standard, not Enterprise.
 
#5 ·
Your original .IMG that you downloaded from Dreamspark should convert to an .ISO simply by renaming the file and changing the extension.

Are you getting an error on installation? If not, what are you experiencing that is causing the installation to stop/be corrupt?
 
#6 ·
The Dreamspark downloader is bad.

I get my keys from Dreamspark, then download the ISO's at work from our MSDN subscription, which allows direct ISO downloads.

Basically, anyone with MSDN, MSDNAA, ActionPack etc. can help you.
 
#7 ·
ISOs are freely downloadable in eval editions form Microsoft. These are full version OSs, just not licensed. Use your license from Dreamspark, and there you go.
 
#8 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by tycoonbob View Post

ISOs are freely downloadable in eval editions form Microsoft. These are full version OSs, just not licensed. Use your license from Dreamspark, and there you go.
This too, good suggestion.

But I'm not sure every ISO is available in this way...
 
#9 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by dushan24 View Post

This too, good suggestion.
But I'm not sure every ISO is available in this way...
Pretty much anything I need to download (if I already have license in hand) can be found at:
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/default.aspx

Otherwise, I would log into MSDN, TechNet, or the Volume Licensing site.
 
#10 ·
Just wanted to reply and say thanks to all that helped. Got it working as per the various advice.
 
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