imported guest boot failure

[erintech]

VirtualBox 3.1

Host1: Windows 7
Host2: Vista

Guest: Opensuse 11.1

I successfully created the guest on host1. Exported, transferred the three files (vmdk, mf, ovf) to host2, and imported. The import appeared to be successful.

When I try to start the guest on host2, the boot sequence starts OK but then I see this: (typed in by hand)

Trying manual resume from /dev/disk/by-id/ata-VBOX_HARDDISK_VB833431c8-5d879086-part1
resume device /dev/disk/by-id/ata-VBOX_HARDDISK_VB833431c8-5d879086-part1 not found (ignoring)
Trying manual resume from /dev/disk/by-id/ata-VBOX_HARDDISK_VB833431c8-5d879086-part1
resume device /dev/disk/by-id/ata-VBOX_HARDDISK_VB833431c8-5d879086-part1 not found (ignoring)
Waiting for device /dev/disk/by-id/ata-VBOX_HARDDISK_VB833431c8-5d879086-part2 to appear:...
......................Could not find /dev/disk/by-id/ata-VBOX_HARDDISK_VB833431c8-5d879086-part2
Want me to fall back to /dev/disk/by-id/ata-VBOX_HARDDISK_VB833431c8-5d879086-part2 (Y/n)

[answer Y - (not found - exiting to shell)
answer n - (not found - exiting to shell)]


I have also tried these export/imports:

host1 W7
Host2 opensuse 11.1
Guest Ubuntu
Result: Hang on boot, non-flashing cursur after grub

host1 W7
Host2 vista
Guest Ubuntu
Result: Hang on boot, non-flashing cursur after grub

host1 opensuse 11.1
Host2 W7
Guest W7
Result: WORKS OK

So I've not had much success with export/import. The common thread is that where host1 is W7 the subsequently imported image fails to boot.

Am i doing something wrong?
What should I do - is there a workaround?
Is it a bug?

Thanks in advance for any help...

[Perryg]

Not all settings are exported. Compare the settings and make sure that they are the same in the unit that you are importing to.
In paticular IO APIC, Ext3 or Ext4, Network....

[erintech]

I found that on the settings - storage page there was a difference:

on host1 (ie the original system) the hard disk was Opensuse 11.1.vdi

on host2 (the nonworking new host) the hard disk was {system generated octal string}.vmdk

I searched host2 for "Opensuse 11.1.vdi" but it wasn't on the disk. I copied it from host1, then added it in the settings - storage (virtual media manager) and assigned it to hard disk.

Then it works OK.

So it looks as though the import didn't unpack the vdi correctly, and also (presumably as a consequence) didn't set the hard disk assignment correctly.

This worked for Opensuse 11.1 and 11.2

I haven't checked Ubuntu properly yet.

[Perryg]

Exporting does change the format to VMDK as you have seen.
The easiest way that I have found is to copy the settings and then just copy the VDI file and attach that to the new VM that I manually create on the second machine.

[MarkCranness]

Trying manual resume from /dev/disk/by-id/...

Re. the VM that will boot, but has /dev/disk/by-id... errors, see this post:
http://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=25139