You can also use FTK Imager to convert (export) E0x files to a single dd image and mount it as described above.
HTH2.
True…but what does that have to do with the original post? The subject line is with respect to ".001 images"; how do .EOx files have anything to do with this?
The dongle should not be needed with the trial version of VFC. As far as the error code (Could not validate on start - exiting), that may need support from the developers, meaning you may have to purchase a license for support.
VFC works better with Mount Image Pro than it does with other disk mounting apps (or so I've been told).
LiveView, if it will work with your image, doesn't need the raw image to be mounted with Mount Image Pro (or other mounting apps). When you select the .001 image with LiveView, you need to select all segments of the image, not just the first one. If you mount you raw image, then LiveView can try to boot it to Vmware as a physical disk.
Win 7 + VFC could be your issue, maybe try on a prior Windows (XP Pro) OS. With VMware, make sure you have everything you need installed (LiveView will typically make sure all vmware apps you need are installed).
If you can get it to boot virtually (even with errors), then you can work around the booting errors. If you cannot get the image to the booting stage, you'll need to share more detailed information to see else may be occurring. Do you have a good image, is it complete? Can the image be mounted without issues? How was the image acquired (was it from a live machine)? Was the original machine having any problems booting that you are aware of?
I also go back to the fallback of some images just won't cooperate (easily) to boot virtually. If it is not an important need (as in, client will not want to spend THAT much money to work on it), then it may not be worth the effort and time. However, if it is a serious case (millions of dollars at stake or the loss of liberty for someone), then you need to document the steps you are taking in attempts to boot the image, note the errors, and keep trying different (ergo, take the notes as you try booting) methods to get different results.
<my 2 cents> From experience, and liveView may have been updated. But, liveview didn't work for one reason or another with 7. </2 cents>
VFC should function perfectly well in Win7 provided the minimum pre-requisites of at least vmware player and vmware-mount 5.5 are installed.
VFC has direct support for .001 dd images, if they are split images it will automatically search for the remaining component parts based on disk size as calculated from the mbr of the first segment (or vbr size if partition image).
VFC does NOT require MIP but it makes life so much easier when dealing with e01 files. VFC also supports Encase PDE or direct physical disk access (preferably write-blocked to keep it forensic!).
The original issue would tend to indicate that not all relevant parts are present in Win7 for either VFC or LiveView.
VFC support would have gladly answered this question had it been posed to us directly, trial version or licensed user.
LiveView, if it will work with your image, doesn't need the raw image to be mounted with Mount Image Pro (or other mounting apps). When you select the .001 image with LiveView, you need to select all segments of the image, not just the first one. If you mount you raw image, then LiveView can try to boot it to Vmware as a physical disk.
Speaking from experience I'd say this is most likely your issue. If you only select the first file in the sequence LiveView WILL NOT chain them together. To select all of them simply click on the first one, hold down the shift key and click on the last one.