virtualization -- how do I use an existing windows installation ?

[steve]

Hi,

I recently installed windows 7 on my laptop, on a separate partition, making it 
dual boot. Now, I would like to boot into this installation without having to 
reboot. A casual google shows me that one can in fact boot off an existing 
physical partition using any of the commonly available virtualization tools on 
linux -- qemu, VirtualBox & VMPlayer.

So my question is, has anyone tried doing this and what were your experiences if 
you did ?

I am not averse to the idea of simply reinstalling windows 7 in a 'proper' 
virtual environment, but just curious whether reusing the existing installation 
is easily doable. I would be using the windows installation just to test 
portability of code that i write. I don't really need to boot into it often, 
neither do i expect it to be lightning fast.

cheers,
- steve

-- 
random non tech spiel: http://lonetwin.blogspot.com/
tech randomness: http://lonehacks.blogspot.com/
what i'm stumbling into: http://lonetwin.stumbleupon.com/