Import existing .vdi file

[flashgordon]

Hi folks,

i've been given a .VDI file of a virtual Windows XP installation by my superior, and i fail when trying to get it to work.

I have taken the following steps (Virtualbox 3.1.2):

• * registered the .VDI in the manager for virtual media
  * created a new machine, and selected "Windows XP" with the previously registered new harddisk file
  * trying to boot

The virtual machine then gives me the error message "error while reading the harddisk. reboot with strg+alt+del" and there is nothing i can do.

I suppose, my superior only copied the .VDI file, but didn't properly export it using the Virtualbox dialog for that. Neither do i have the corresponding .xml file, so the advise in the manual (setting up the new machine similar to the old one) is of no use for me.

Any help how i can set up a machine with the existing .VDI file (and nothing more)?

Greets,
flashgordon

p.s.: I'm quite sure that some of your first advices will include asking my superior to export the machine again in a proper way or at least asking him for the .xml file, but rest assured i can not do that at the moment - he's on vacation and i'd really really reluctantly sit around and do nothing for the next two weeks.

[mpack]

The error message you mention is not one I recognize, it seems to imply an incomplete or corrupted VDI.

Btw, export/import may make some things easier, but it isn't a requirement.

Please :-

(1) post the vmname.xml (as created for your new VM) as an attachment.

(2) Run the CloneVDI tool, select your VDI file as source, then get screenshots of the information given by the "Partition Info..." and "Header info..." buttons. Attach the screenshots as attachments too. If CloneVDI refuses to open the file due to corruption then report that instead.

[flashgordon]

Thanks for your help.

[mpack]

Aha - the VDI image is very old, using the original Innotek format - I've seen previous reports of people have trouble using that in latest VBox versions, but have not confirmed it for myself.

No matter - try using CloneVDI to create a clone of the .VDI, that will update the format of the clone to the latest VBox version, and you can try creating the VM again. Make sure you turn on the "compact" option, since I see it's a fixed size VDI. The clone will be dynamic and should be a lot smaller. 8GB is also pretty small for an XP install, I would enlarge the drive max size to something reasonable, like 32GB.

The VM settings seem fine at first glance.

[flashgordon]

Thanks, that did the trick!