Support for .img files as boot images.

[handsomeorlandoman]

It would be highly appreciated if .img files could be used as boot up images just like .iso files. It would make testing netbook operating systems a lot easier.

Thanks!
handsomeorlandoman

[mpack]

What is an IMG file?

The ISO format is defined by a standard. A file with an IMG extension could be anything, you need to be specific about what format you're talking about.

I've seen .img used as the extension for floppy images, and for hdd dumps on Linux (using dd). The former is already supported by VBox. If its a whole disk raw hdd dump then it can also be used in VirtualBox: just create a VMDK descriptor for it, or use "VBoxManage convertfromraw" or CloneVDI to convert it to VDI.

[handsomeorlandoman]

I meant .img files used for netbook operating systems installed via USB sticks. (e.g. http://chromeos.hexxeh.net/). Except that I don't have an empty one handy. :-/ I know about the trick to convert to .vdi, but it would be appreciated if I could use .img files like .iso. Please let me know if I am misunderstanding something, I am not very experienced with VMs.

[baijianpeng]

I also suggest this feature to be added into Virtualbox.

For example, I tried to test with this file: https://libreelec.tv/downloads_new/raspberry-pi-3-3/

That is a bootable image file. I want to test with it on Virtualbox. But Virtualbox does NOT support booting from .img format file, so I can not use it.

I tried to convert that .img file to an .iso file, but failed.

If Virtualbox can work with .img format file, that will be very easy .

Thank you.

[andyp73]

@baijianpeng - in your particular case it wouldn't help. The Raspberry Pi image you linked to requires an Arm CPU.

VirtualBox isn't an emulator of other CPU architectures. It is a hypervisor for x86 to allow you to run multiple OS on the same hardware.

-Andy