def _prepare_base_image(self):
        """
        I am a private method for creating (possibly cheap) copies of a
        base_image for start_instance to boot.
        """
        if not self.base_image:
            return defer.succeed(True)

        if self.cheap_copy:
            clone_cmd = "qemu-img"
            clone_args = "create -b %(base)s -f qcow2 %(image)s"
        else:
            clone_cmd = "cp"
            clone_args = "%(base)s %(image)s"

        clone_args = clone_args % {
            "base": self.base_image,
            "image": self.image,
        }

        log.msg("Cloning base image: %s %s'" % (clone_cmd, clone_args))

        d = utils.getProcessValue(clone_cmd, clone_args.split())

        def _log_result(res):
            log.msg("Cloning exit code was: %d" % res)
            return res

        def _log_error(err):
            log.err("Cloning failed: %s" % err)
            return err

        d.addCallbacks(_log_result, _log_error)

        return d