Restoring VM with encrypted drive from Windows Image back up

Discussions related to using VirtualBox on Windows hosts.
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dry
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Joined: 6. Aug 2019, 14:27
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Restoring VM with encrypted drive from Windows Image back up

Post by dry »

Had to backup then wipe clean a Win 10 laptop including fresh install Win 10

Is it possible now to re-instate the VBox virtual machine as is from back up? The slight complication is one encrypted drive, the other drive(s) I could simply attch to a re-created empty VM setup.
dry
Posts: 45
Joined: 6. Aug 2019, 14:27
Primary OS: Fedora other
VBox Version: OSE other
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Re: Restoring VM with encrypted drive from Windows Image back up

Post by dry »

Ah.. lol.

Turns out I just copy over all files, and it appears to work.

"Shoot question first, try later" ..
mpack
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Re: Restoring VM with encrypted drive from Windows Image back up

Post by mpack »

Please search FAQs before asking questions.

E.g. Howto: Move a VM.
dry
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Re: Restoring VM with encrypted drive from Windows Image back up

Post by dry »

mpack wrote:Please search FAQs before asking questions.

E.g. Howto: Move a VM.
Didn't apply here ... This was un-planned re-install, and luckily original windows drive / image was backed up.

So luckily, in this instance, because the keys were not installed somewhere in the registry or, I just used cntrl-C & cntrl-V, then double clickc vbox machine file, and voila .. It worked.

I don't believe this would have worked in general.
scottgus1
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Re: Restoring VM with encrypted drive from Windows Image back up

Post by scottgus1 »

The encryption key that works with your password applies only to the VM's disk file. The key is stored in the VM's .vbox file.

If you are going to keep important data in the encrypted VM, please read the warnings in the manual, https://www.virtualbox.org/manual/ch09. ... encryption, especially regarding backup of the VM, especially the .vbox file.

If the key is lost the data cannot be decrypted and there is no way to get it back without a backup of the .vbox file that has the key stored in it.
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