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Step 7: Use the Base Virtual Machine to Create a New Virtual Machine

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Applies To: Windows Server 2008 R2

After you create a base virtual machine, you can create a new virtual machine by exporting the base virtual machine and then importing it as a new virtual machine.

Important

Before you create the new virtual machine, ensure that the base virtual machine is turned off, after being prepared to be exported by using System Preparation Tool (sysprep.exe), as explained in Step 5: Create a Base Virtual Machine in this guide.

To use the base virtual machine to create a new virtual machine

  1. Export the base virtual machine as follows:

    1. In Hyper-V Manager, under Virtual Machines, right-click Base Virtual Machine, and then click Export. (Or you can click Export in the Actions pane.) The Export Virtual Machine dialog box appears.

Note

The Export action is only available for a virtual machine when it is turned off or when it is saved. 

2.  In the **Export Virtual Machine** dialog box, click **Browse**, browse to the folder where you want to export the base virtual machine, and then click **Select Folder**.  
      
3.  To export the virtual machine, click **Export**.  
      
    The export process starts, and it might take some time to complete. You can follow the progress of the export process in Hyper-V Manager, in the **Operations** column.

  1. After the base virtual machine is exported, create the new virtual machine as follows:

    1. In Hyper-V Manager, in the Actions pane, click Import Virtual Machine. The Import Virtual Machine dialog box appears.

    2. In the Import Virtual Machine dialog box, click Copy the virtual machine (create a new unique ID).

    3. Click Browse, browse to the folder where you exported the base virtual machine, and then click Select Folder.

    4. To import the base virtual machine as a new virtual machine, click Import.

    The new virtual machine is imported with the same name as the base virtual machine, and it will be listed in Hyper-V Manager, under Virtual Machines, immediately under the original base virtual machine. If you click the new virtual machine, under Snapshots, you will see listed the same snapshots that you took for the original virtual machine. All virtual machine settings and snapshots are exported with a virtual machine.

Note

If you see a warning message that states the virtual machine successfully imported, but the import completed with warnings, it is most likely because the installation media or ISO file was still captured in the virtual DVD drive of the base virtual machine when it was exported. You can safely disregard this warning message if the new virtual machine is listed with all its snapshots.

  1. Rename the new virtual machine as follows:

    1. In Hyper-V Manager, under Virtual Machines, right-click the new virtual machine, and then click Rename.

    2. Type Imported Virtual Machine, and then press ENTER.

  2. Connect to the new virtual machine, start it, and perform the initial configuration of Windows Server 2008 R2 as follows:

    1. In Hyper-V Manager, under Virtual Machines, double-click Imported Virtual Machine. The Virtual Machine Connection window opens.

    2. In the Virtual Machine Connection window, in the Action menu, click Start. The Windows setup process starts, and after a few moments the Set Up Windows wizard appears.

    3. Follow the steps in the Set Up Windows wizard, and when you are prompted, provide a password for the Administrator account on the virtual machine. After the Set Up Windows wizard completes, the Initial Configuration Tasks window appears.

    4. In the Initial Configuration Tasks window, under Provide Computer Information, click Provide computer name and domain. The System Properties dialog box appears.

    5. Click Change. The Computer Name/Domain Changes dialog box appears.

    6. Under Computer name, type VirtualMachine1, and then click OK.

    7. Click OK, click Close, and then click Restart Now. The virtual machine restarts.

  3. After the virtual machine restarts, take a snapshot of the current state of the new virtual machine as follows:

    1. In the Virtual Machine Connection window, in the Action menu, click Snapshot. While the snapshot is being created, the Snapshot Name dialog box appears.

    2. In the Snapshot Name dialog box, type After configuring Windows Server 2008 R2, and then click Yes.

You now have a new virtual machine that was created from the base virtual machine. You can continue to create new virtual machines by repeating the steps in this topic.