How to copy my virtualbox hardrive?

david007 · Post by **david007** » 13. Jan 2009, 20:27

Hi all .i used virtualbox to install xp on it. Now i want to copy the virtualbox harddrive to another pc(run xp in virtualbox in another pc) and run xp without having to do the installation again. I wonder if that can be done? if the answer is yes what files i need to copy to another pc ? Looking forward for replies.thanks

Post by **TerryE** » 14. Jan 2009, 01:24

Yes, you just move the VM and create a new VM on the new machine with the same settings, memory, Video memory, IDE controller, etc. If tou are decommissioning the first then manually set the MAC address to the same value. This avoids triggering Windows reactivation.

david007 · Post by **david007** » 14. Jan 2009, 02:05

TerryE wrote:Yes, you just move the VM and create a new VM on the new machine with the same settings, memory, Video memory, IDE controller, etc. If tou are decommissioning the first then manually set the MAC address to the same value. This avoids triggering Windows reactivation.

I looked at the vm it is like one meg file!! How that little file can hold the whole os ? I used to use microsoft virtual pc and the virtual hardrive was a single file but i realy don't know where the virtualbox harddrive is saved and how many files i need to copy and where to copy it in the new pc ?

Furthermore, can you tell me how to change MAC to same value ? where to get the MAC address in the first place ?

If tou are decommissioning the first then manually set the MAC address to the same value.

Post by **TerryE** » 14. Jan 2009, 14:56

The VM file is an XML definition file. It points to the VDI which is the disk container.

Re the MAC address, how about reading the manual? In the GUI its an option on the Settings->Network Tab.