how to convert VDI to ISO ? (target usb)

[kadkam]

Hi

I need to convert a Windows 7 from virtualbox to a file .iso
I want to transfer this .iso file to an usb stick and install Windows 7 to another machine (without virtualbox).
How I can convert vdi to iso?

thanks

[vbox4me2]

Clonezilla can also make bootable ISO's.

[kadkam]

Clonezilla is a bit "unpleasant" ...other solution?

[vbox4me2]

Commercial version of Ghost?

[priusz]

Maybe you can try this:

http://www.turnkeylinux.org/blog/convert-vm-iso

or that one, it seems easier:

http://superuser.com/questions/114445/i ... vironments

[mpack]

All this talk of .ISO is a complete red herring.

Your actual question seems to be "how do I transfer a Win7 image from a virtual hard disk onto a physical hard disk"? And the answer is that you do it the same way you would between two physical PCs, and it probably doesn't involve any ISO files - it certainly does not involve ISO files if you are using USB (ISO == CD/DVD).

The answer is to invest in a copy of Acronis TrueImage (I am deeply unimpressed by any of the currently available so called "free" alternatives: so-called because in fact they cost you a lot in wasted time).

[priusz]

Youa are not right. The easiest way is the following:

1. VBoxManage clonehd file.vdi output.iso --format RAW
2, use clonezilla, or gparted, or norton ghost and burn the iso to hdd

[mpack]

1. VBoxManage clonehd file.vdi output.iso --format RAW

It's probably more helpful if you avoid offering nonsense as advice. VBoxManage has no capability to produce .ISO files, and a RAW file is not ISO compatible. Go do some research, find out what an ISO file is.

[priusz]

You are totally right! I was wrong! So I think the only working method is the one I linked, or maybe:

1. VBoxManage clonehd file.vdi output.iso --format RAW
2. dd command on a linux pc.

[mpack]

So I think the only working method is the one I linked, or maybe

I already mentioned another working method - Acronis TrueImage - which I believe will suit the OP better.

Plus, I note you are still giving your "output.iso" file a ".iso" extension in your example. That is a bad habit to get into when the file is not actually an ISO container. Better in that case to call it "output.raw".

The dd suggestion btw involves an image file equal in size to the disk being copied - which is far inferior to the Acronis method, which only copies used clusters, and it compresses them to save time and space. For example the last Acronis backup I took of the C: drive on the PC I'm using right now... is 19GB, and took about 15 minutes to create. That time is very good, and the file size is manageable. A dd image of the same drive would have taken considerably longer, and would have been 230GB... somewhat less manageable. There may indeed be some parallel universe in which dd is preferable to Acronis, but it isn't the universe I inhabit!

[kadkam]

The answer is to invest in a copy of Acronis TrueImage (I am deeply unimpressed by any of the currently available so called "free" alternatives: so-called because in fact they cost you a lot in wasted time).

Hi Mpack
Can you explain this procedure?

thanks

[mpack]

Acronis TrueImage is a commercial (but inexpensive) professional tool for making disk image backups. You can find it on Amazon. It provides various options but the option you want is whole disk backup. TrueImage comes on a bootable setup CD. You boot your VM off that, and back up your VMs drive to a real USB drive. You can then go to a real PC, boot that PC off the same CD, and restore the backup from the USB drive onto the hard drive of that PC. And that's it, V2P procedure completed.

And btw, I have no connection to Acronis, I'm just an admirer.

[kadkam]

OK!

other case:

If I convert VDI to RAW

Is possible to burn raw file direct to HDD? with what software?

thanks

[mpack]

That has already been covered in the thread. dd will work with raw images, CloneZilla probably will too. I don't recommend either, so I'll leave detailed descriptions to those that do.

[herakles]

Hello everybody from Mauritius ~!

I am Caron from Mauritius. I run Mint 17 Quiana 64 bit and an Archlinux Vm. My aim is to convert my archlinux vdi into a bootable external hdd ( I use a laptop so I'll be using a laptop external hdd in a usb casing.)
I read that I had first to convert the .vdi into a .raw and then use dd command. Unfortunately I failed because the commands are not working- unable to find the .vdi on my system.
Can u help please ?

Thanks in advance.

Caron

p.s : if whenver, I am not writing on the right forum, I merely apologize and so, could you please indicate me the appropriate forum where I can find help ?