Virtual Box 6.1 fails to export VM without any error message

[Jarin]

Hi there!
I have this strange failure with my latest VirtualBox Version 6.1.18 r142142 (Qt5.6.2) running on Windows host. (Windows server 2012)
When I try to File -> Export Appliance -> OVF 1.0 , Write manifest checked, Include ISO unchecked, Local disc D:\Win7.ova -> Export
It creates only 8KB file called Win7.ova and nothing else ever happens. No error message, no progress bar, no host hardware utilization, nothing...
I have tried to find some log files in the VB installation folder , but found nothing. Also checked the Windows Event viewer and nothing relevant for the VB application or any other Error messages at the time of the action.

Can anyone pls advise what to do to export the VM into the OVA file?
Thank you

[scottgus1]

Please go to C:\Users\{youraccount}\.Virtualbox, and zip & post the VboxSVC.log, using the forum's Upload Attachment tab.

[Jarin]

Hello, the log file is attached... frankly nothing to see there really
I have tried exporting the VM again today 26.04.2021 at 11:54 CEST

72:00:12.285461 Log continuation - Log started 2021-04-23T08:14:25.350864200Z
72:00:12.332258 Saving settings file "C:\Users\Administrator.SOSTDC01.000\.VirtualBox\VirtualBox.xml" with version "1.12-windows"
73:39:35.966696 USBPROXY usbLibGetDevices: Starting USB device enumeration
73:39:36.231899 USBPROXY usbLibGetDevices: Found 1 USB devices, 0 captured
73:39:40.914323 USBPROXY usbLibGetDevices: Starting USB device enumeration
73:39:40.931326 USBPROXY usbLibGetDevices: Found 1 USB devices, 0 captured
73:39:44.539041 USBPROXY usbLibGetDevices: Starting USB device enumeration
73:39:44.804243 USBPROXY usbLibGetDevices: Found 1 USB devices, 0 captured
73:39:59.764817 Warning: skip the medium (bus: SATA, slot: 0, port: 1). No storage device attached.
73:40:01.948843 ApplWrit Loading settings file "C:\Users\Administrator.SOSTDC01.000\VirtualBox VMs\w7\w7.vbox" with version "1.15-windows"
73:40:01.948843 ApplWrit Exporting settings file "C:\Users\Administrator.SOSTDC01.000\VirtualBox VMs\w7\w7.vbox" with version "1.15-windows"

This is all that is inside the log file.

[scottgus1]

Thanks for the log, it appears we'll need the previous ones, too, since this one doesn't appear to show any attempt to export.

Please try this:
Reboot the host PC so a new log might get started.
Then try the export.
Reboot the host again.
Then zip the whole ".Virtualbox" folder, and post the zip file.

[Jarin]

Hello,
I have packed into 7z and then deleted the "old logs" - you can find this in the ".VirtualBox.7z" zip file attached.
Then I have rebooted the Windows host and tried to export the VM again with the same error.
Packed the whole folder again and you can find its content in the ".VirtualBox-after-reboot.7z" zip file attached.

[scottgus1]

I was wrong about this, I apologize.:

since this one doesn't appear to show any attempt to export.

These lines:

73:40:01.948843 ApplWrit Loading settings file "C:\Users\Administrator.SOSTDC01.000\VirtualBox VMs\w7\w7.vbox" with version "1.15-windows"
73:40:01.948843 ApplWrit Exporting settings file "C:\Users\Administrator.SOSTDC01.000\VirtualBox VMs\w7\w7.vbox" with version "1.15-windows"

were the export attempt, same as in a VM I just exported:

00:00:53.440608 ApplWrit Loading settings file "C:\Users\SnC\Virtualbox VMs\DOS\DOS.vbox" with version "1.15-windows"
00:00:53.440869 ApplWrit Exporting settings file "C:\Users\SnC\Virtualbox VMs\DOS\DOS.vbox" with version "1.15-windows"

.

And this:

73:39:59.764817 Warning: skip the medium (bus: SATA, slot: 0, port: 1). No storage device attached.

might be the reason why the export is not working. It appears that the VM does not have a disk attached.

[Jarin]

Hmm... you are right the VM is now missing all its drives although the .vdi files are present on the host's HDD.
Trying to add the disks fails with the OK button being greyed out :-/ I cannot even change other settings in the VM, because I can't confirm those with the OK button being greyed out.
Later this week I should be physically near the host. Will try to reinstall the VirtualBox and re-import the VM's in question. If the problem does not get resolved by then, I'll come back crying for help.

[scottgus1]

Will try to reinstall the VirtualBox

This won't change things, the VM's .vbox file defines how the VM is set up and that won't change thruogh a reinstall of Virtualbox.

Trying to add the disks fails with the OK button being greyed out

Can you zip and post the VM's .vbox and .vbox-prev files?

"C:\Users\Administrator.SOSTDC01.000\VirtualBox VMs\w7\w7.vbox"
"C:\Users\Administrator.SOSTDC01.000\VirtualBox VMs\w7\w7.vbox-prev"

A greyed-out OK button may mean the VM is in a saved state and cannot change "hardware". When you right-click the VM in the main Virtualbox window, does the pop-up have a "Discard saved state" command?

Also, next to the OK button there may be a small error icon. Mouse over the icon if it's there, see if there is a message.

[Jarin]

Yes there was an error message in the corner, thats how i found out that the settings cannot be changed, because I hovered over it and then went to the settings to change them.
Nevermind, the VMs are already gone now (deleted).
Now I'm on slow connection to upload anything bigger. Will do once I'm near the host.