Virtualbox reinstall issue

Amp34 · 6 Apr 2010 at 01:11

I've just reinstalled Virtualbox on a new install of W7 (used to be Vista ultimate but on change to hardware) now I want to start up the old virtualbox install.

I have the entire virtualbox program file backed up and the .virtualbox file (with all the snapshots and disk images in) so how do I get that back onto the new install of virtualbox?

I've tried creating a new virtual machine and adding the virtual HDD to it but that doesn't seem to work, it also doesn't connect the snapshots to it either. I'm stumped...

boosfuk · 6 Apr 2010 at 08:10

What you did worked for me. Just using the original XML file in the \users\<username>\.virtualbox folder was all that was needed. There should be no need to recreate the VMs as the definitions are held in this XML file and the machines folder. Check that the details in the XML file point to all the correct files and it should work.
If you still have a problem then the Virtualbox forums would be best place to ask.

theheyes · 6 Apr 2010 at 09:19

All I've ever had to do is put the vhds in the VB HardDisks folder, whip up a new VM and connect the disk. Are you getting any sort of error message when trying to boot?

Amp34 · 6 Apr 2010 at 13:31

I think I may have formatted the original Virtualbox.xml in the users\.virtualbox folder as I made the stupid assumption that all the important files were in either the virtualbox install or the .virtualbox folder I told the program to save to (on another HDD, which has the machine .xml and all the disks and snapshots on)...

I may have to try and recreate a new one then... Which may take some time...

EDIT: I also have a virtualbox.xml file in the .virtualbox folder where the machines are stored, however if I just point the virtualbox there it comes up with an error. :confused:

Amp34 · 6 Apr 2010 at 18:21

Right using the virtualbox.xml file that was on the main disk (one with the snapshots) and replacing the one in the users area with it I have managed to start up the machine and even have two snapshots I saved, however I can't get the latest data from that. I still can't add the second drive I had attached to it (although I may be able to do this).

I've tried changing the snapshot (.vid) names in both the virtualbox.xml and XP.xml (the machine name) but it comes up with an error saying "Could not find a hard disk with UUID {7332315a-3b28-41dd-80b7-6891e58871d2} in media registry ('C:\Users\user\.VirtualBox\VirtualBox.xml').". Where is it getting name from as I replaced it in all the xml files (it exists but is an image of the machine when it was first started)? Is there somewhere else it saves the machine data?

Amp34 · 10 Apr 2010 at 02:30

Right, different tack...

Is there any way of viewing and extracting data/files from the unusable .vdi and .sav files (from the snapshots that I can't load onto the original virtual disk)? I'm thinking some tool that essentially emulates taking the a physical HDD out of a computer and sticking it in another, thus being able to view data from a corrupt windows install.

Is there any tool like this available?

trentlad · 28 Apr 2010 at 16:26

Ahh crap. I'm just about to reinstall my OS and was hoping I don't get these issues with transferring my VirtualBox over to the new install.

I'm going for the EXPORT APPLIANCE option and saving my images, Program Files folder and User folder. Hopefully I've covered my back enough... fingers crossed.

Anyone else used the EXPORT APPLIANCE option? I was wondering if using that would save me from saving my images (since I'm trying to squeeze it all onto one DVD).