How do I move files OFF c (C:\Users\User\.VirtualBox\)

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TimOz
Posts: 6
Joined: 17. Jun 2022, 19:48

How do I move files OFF c (C:\Users\User\.VirtualBox\)

Post by TimOz »

I'm really uncomfortable having these files on C. I always have my data files on a different drive.
How do I move these files?
It is not the actual VMs, but some kind of working files for Virtualbox.

C:\Users\User\.VirtualBox

You can see an image of the files here (replace [dotco] with .co)

pasteboard[dotco]/9Pc9nq1JOT5p.jpg
scottgus1
Site Moderator
Posts: 20965
Joined: 30. Dec 2009, 20:14
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Windows, Linux

Re: How do I move files OFF c (C:\Users\User\.VirtualBox\)

Post by scottgus1 »

Yes, see https://www.virtualbox.org/manual/ch10. ... ata-global, and use the VBOX_USER_HOME environment variable to point to the folder where you want the files and logs to be made. Then reboot the host so no Virtualbox processes or windows are running, and manually copy all the files inside "C:\Users\User\.VirtualBox" to the specified folder.

When you open Virtualbox, you'll see all your VMs ready to go. If you see an empty list, please post back and we'll walk through the problem.
TimOz
Posts: 6
Joined: 17. Jun 2022, 19:48

Re: How do I move files OFF c (C:\Users\User\.VirtualBox\)

Post by TimOz »

Thanks! But where do I find this variable 'VBOX_USER_HOME'?

Referring to chapter 10 that you linked me to, I looked in :\Users\User\.VirtualBox\ but none of the xml files I opened had that variable.

I'm assuming Windows: $HOME/.VirtualBox
refers to that directory?

Can you ELI5?
scottgus1
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Posts: 20965
Joined: 30. Dec 2009, 20:14
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: PUEL
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Re: How do I move files OFF c (C:\Users\User\.VirtualBox\)

Post by scottgus1 »

It's an environment variable in the host OS. Web-search how to make environment variables in your host OS.
TimOz
Posts: 6
Joined: 17. Jun 2022, 19:48

Re: How do I move files OFF c (C:\Users\User\.VirtualBox\)

Post by TimOz »

I think I found the answer, tho not sure yet if it works.
There is really no clue in that "guide" that you have to set an variable (VBOX_USER_HOME) here:


My Computer->Properties->Advanced->Environment Variables
scottgus1
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Posts: 20965
Joined: 30. Dec 2009, 20:14
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Windows, Linux

Re: How do I move files OFF c (C:\Users\User\.VirtualBox\)

Post by scottgus1 »

TimOz wrote:There is really no clue in that "guide"
That's true. That portion of the "guide", popularly referred to as the Virtualbox Manual, is OS-agnostic, because the same environment variable is used on Windows, Linux, OSX, and Solaris, and how to set an environment variable is different in each OS family. And at any time the OS family may change how it's done. Virtualbox isn't maintaining instructions on how to run OS's. Thus:
scottgus1 wrote:Web-search how to make environment variables in your host OS.
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