To restore a guest OS vdi image to a host OS?

[wuwing]

Hi,

I am not sure if I use the appropriate expression. Now I use WinXP as my host and have a ubuntu guest OS in virtualbox.
I just wonder if I can use that vdi image file and make it into a real self bootable OS.
It might be painful to reinstall the OS, apps and everything after I have felt satisfied with ubuntu in virtualbox.
Thanks,

[MarkCranness]

I just wonder if I can use that vdi image file and make it into a real self bootable OS.

Yes you can. Google for 'Linux V2P'. You will have the same sort of problems as a P2P conversion, in that the target (physical) machine will have different hardware to the source (virtual) machine and those differences may need to be adjusted for.

You can convert your VDI to a raw image using:

Code: Select all

VBoxManage clonehd <VDIFile>.vdi Raw.img --format RAW

Then treat the resulting 'Raw.img' file the same way you would a dd / disk image during a P2P conversion.

Or, run disk imaging tools inside the VM to create an image.

[wuwing]

thank you
I am going to install on the same machine, I guess the hardware should be the same.
I will give it a try this weekend.

[MarkCranness]

I guess the hardware should be the same.

The hardware will be different, because the VM sees VirtualBox supplied virtual hardware, and does not see your host's hardware.