Exporting machines list

[sy84]

Hello,

Before asking i'll say that I've tried searching an answer for this in: "HOWTO", FAQ, this Forum and the User manual - and could not find an answer.

I've been using the VBox for quite some time now, and every time there's a new version release I need to go through the same routine of re-adding the machines list that I had in the old version, to the new version - 1 by 1.

Is there no existing way to export the list before upgrading to the new version, and after installing - it to import the list and have it just the way it was?

And maybe at the same time, have another kind of "import" for the settings I've defined for the default folders or so?

[IT.NeverEnds]

Hi,
If i understand you correctly you are uninstalling the current version you have prior to each upgrade?
I think that if you try to upgrade over the current version with the new one?
Have you tried that?

[Sasquatch]

You say that the VMs become unregistered? That's odd, it should never do that. Where do you store your VMs? It should be in your profile folder by default, and the installer does not touch that. Those files aren't generated until you run VB and create a VM. Something you can do before an upgrade is make a backup of the VirtualBox.xml file, upgrade and restore it if you're having problems.

[sy84]

Yes, I'm doing uninstall first to avoid future problems with the software or with the remove of it. Should've mentioned that.
When I upgraded in the past it wouldn't matter anyways.

About the VirtualBox.xml file that was mentioned, I searched and saw that the default folder for this file is:
\Documents and Settings\%username%\.VirtualBox

The directory also includes the folders: HardDisks, Machines.
The HardDisks folder is empty because I choosed a different location for them.
The Machines folder has sub-folders with the machines I've made. (inside them are some log files)

So, after installing a new version should I copy just the xml file or is the "Machines" folder needed aswell?

[Sasquatch]

You might want to backup the whole .VirtualBox folder, just to be safe. Uninstall or upgrade should NOT remove or otherwise compromise your profile folder.

[IT.NeverEnds]

Hey Sasquatch,
I think he meant the VMs simply won't list after "fresh" install even if they're placed in the correct folder.

and as for his clarification:

Yes, I'm doing uninstall first to avoid future problems with the software or with the remove of it. Should've mentioned that.
When I upgraded in the past it wouldn't matter anyways.

About the VirtualBox.xml file that was mentioned, I searched and saw that the default folder for this file is:
\Documents and Settings\%username%\.VirtualBox

The directory also includes the folders: HardDisks, Machines.
The HardDisks folder is empty because I choosed a different location for them.
The Machines folder has sub-folders with the machines I've made. (inside them are some log files)

So, after installing a new version should I copy just the xml file or is the "Machines" folder needed aswell?

Let's sort things out,
regarding your need to have all your VMs after upgrading, i understand that, we all want it, i remembrt There was an upgrade from 1.x version to 2.x that didn't kept the virtual machines from the previous version, but that doesn't happen anymore (or at least it didn't for a while now),
My suggestion to you is to simply upgrade and only if there is a major upgrade which doesn't import the VMs, only then will you need to re-register the VMs because like Sasquatch said they aren't deleted,
to mitigate a situation like you could make yourself a batch which utilizes the commands:
Vboxmanage registervm <filename.xml>
and vboxmanage openmedium or vboxmanage registerimage disk <filname.vdi>

FWIW i hope that your next upgrades will be safer (no reason why it shouldn't be like i wrote)
Good luck,

[Perryg]

@sy84,
From reading this I have to ask how are you removing the current version before you try to install the new version?
Usually this does not remove your "home directory" or settings files, just the program files.
You are not deleting the .VirtualBox directory or anything like that manually are you?
This directory and sub folders should never be removed unless you do not want the VBox program any longer.