Reinstalling the same os from iso on an already running linux VM

Discussions about using Linux guests in VirtualBox.
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jcdole
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Reinstalling the same os from iso on an already running linux VM

Post by jcdole »

Hello.
I have an already running linux guest (on a linux host).
I need to reinstall the same os from the iso.
I have configured the iso in the tab storage.
I have tried to disable every thing but keep optical : does not work
I have tried to disable every thing : does not work
I have tried to delete the current hard disk and ask to create a new disk : does not work because the file exist in the config file.
The F12 Key does not ask for CD/DVD path

The only things I got is booting from the current hard disk.

How to reinstall the same VM without removing the current configuration.

Any help is welcome
scottgus1
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Re: Reinstalling the same os from iso on an already running linux VM

Post by scottgus1 »

"does not work" is not descriptive enough to help us help you. What exactly is going wrong?

Reinstalling an OS in a VM works the same way as it does in a real PC: boot to the CD and run the installer, deleting the existing drive partitions and starting over. Except that in a VM one can delete the installed drive and start over fresh. Note that since the VM's drive is a file on the host that Virtualbox keeps track of, you can't just delete the file in the host's File Manager: you have to delete it in Virtualbox instead, see the Virtual Media Manager in Virtualbox's File menu.

If F12 does not bring up the boot menu to allow booting from a CD/ISO, then you may be booting with EFI, which uses ESC to get to the boot menu.
jcdole
Posts: 95
Joined: 3. May 2013, 18:25
Primary OS: openSUSE
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Location: South west of france

Re: Reinstalling the same os from iso on an already running linux VM

Post by jcdole »

As I said I have an already configured linux guest. This guest is running correctly but with some OS problems.
I want to reinstall the guest the same way I should do it on a real computer.
I don't want to reconfigure the virtualbox side. I can of course remove the vm and all the relative files then install , but I don't want.
Currently EFI is enabled.
After configuring the optical drive to use the iso file, what I am expected is that the vm start directly on the iso, or at least a pop up asking me to choose between the HD or the DVD.

What I mean with 'does not work' is that I boot directly on the HD. I was never allowed to choose the boot disk.
And F8 nor F10, F12 give me a popup to choose the boot disk.
jcdole
Posts: 95
Joined: 3. May 2013, 18:25
Primary OS: openSUSE
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: WIN 7, WIN 10
Location: South west of france

Re: Reinstalling the same os from iso on an already running linux VM

Post by jcdole »

By the way, the ESC key do nothing. I continue to boot to the HD. No popup
scottgus1
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Re: Reinstalling the same os from iso on an already running linux VM

Post by scottgus1 »

Sorry about the ESC thing, I don't do EFI boots much.
You have a few seconds to tap ESC, like Windows' Safe Mode F8 key.

Click ESC to stop the boot in the white and yellow text EFI Shell. Then run the command:

exit

A black text on gray background menu control will appear, where you can arrow-key-enter around to get to the boot menu, and choose to boot from the CD drive again.
fth0
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Re: Reinstalling the same os from iso on an already running linux VM

Post by fth0 »

When VirtualBox 6.1.30 starts the (U)EFI BIOS, pressing the ESC key should work. Start "hammering" on the ESC key in the same second when you start the VM. ;)

An alternative could be to change the (U)EFI BIOS boot order from within the running guest OS.
fth0
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Re: Reinstalling the same os from iso on an already running linux VM

Post by fth0 »

scottgus1 wrote:Click ESC to stop the boot in the white and yellow text EFI Shell.
No. Successfully pressing the ESC key directly brings you to the (U)EFI Boot Manager, not to the (U)EFI Shell. You can create an empty VM to practise it. ;)
jcdole
Posts: 95
Joined: 3. May 2013, 18:25
Primary OS: openSUSE
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: WIN 7, WIN 10
Location: South west of france

Re: Reinstalling the same os from iso on an already running linux VM

Post by jcdole »

scottgus1 wrote:Sorry about the ESC thing, I don't do EFI boots much.
You have a few seconds to tap ESC, like Windows' Safe Mode F8 key.

Click ESC to stop the boot in the white and yellow text EFI Shell. Then run the command:

exit

A black text on gray background menu control will appear, where you can arrow-key-enter around to get to the boot menu, and choose to boot from the CD drive again.
I succeed, but I must repeat this because it was not working 'out of the box'.

Thanks.
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