[Qemu-discuss] Migrating Windows XP vm from VirtualBox to Qemu/KVM

[Sebastian Arcus]

I am trying to migrate a Windows XP (32bit) vm from VirtualBox to Qemu. 
There are a number of guides on the internet for migrating vms from 
VirtualBox to Qemu/KVM, so I've done the following:

1. I've treated this as a motherboard change, as I assume the components 
available in Qemu don't match exactly the ones in VirtualBox. I followed 
the steps described here: 
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2007/09/how-to-install-a-new-motherboard-without-reinstalling-windows/ 
to make my vm hardware agnostic and remove manufacturer specific drivers.

2. I have used VirtualBox to convert the hard-drive image from vdi to 
raw (although, if I understand correctly, I could have run the vdi image 
directly in qemu nowadays).

3. I've tried to start the image with a simple command, such as:

    qemu-system-x86_64 -drive file=xp_home_sp3.img,if=ide,index=0

All I get is sometimes nothing in the vm window, and sometimes the 
following text (exactly as it appears - which looks like it has frozen 
before displaying the entire line):

SeaBIOS (version rel-1.7.3-0-gc02c219-20130724_153_

I've also tried to start the vdi image, with the same results.

I should mention the following, in case it is relevant:

a. The image used to run on a different computer in VirtualBox, on a 
32bit Linux host, with a 32bit CPU (Intel U2500).
b. The qemu/kvm install is on a Linux 64bit host, with an Intel Core 
i3-3227U cpu.
c. The Windows XP vm used to use an ide controller in VirtualBox.

Any hints as to what am I doing wrong? I've googled around, but all I 
stumble over is straight forward guides, nothing more specific to my 
situation. I'm inclined to think that it isn't the XP installation 
itself that is the problem, as I don't even get to see a Windows XP logo 
or any blue screen of death etc. Maybe I need to set different cpu 
parameters, or some other hardware parameters in the vm?

Any suggestions appreciated.