virtualbox.org

Started to install Virtual Box 3.2.6 on my Mac with Windows XP as guest.
Before post I read through the instruction manual without success.

The Virtual Box installer shows a checked button that reads Boot Hard Disk.
Then it lists 2 new radio buttons with choices of installing...
1. Create a new hard disk
2. Use existing hard disk

In addition when clicking on Use Existing Hard Disk another field
(which is greyed out in the Create New Hard Disk choice)
becomes active and reads empty when choosing Use Existing Hard Disk.
I am not sure which I should use as I do not know the difference and
do not want to screw up either boot drive.

Would appreciate some help.

Hard Disc means an Image File for the Guest.

Why not reading Manual for such questions. Its better to understand what a VM really is.

Stefan,
I did read the manual and it does not discuss the difference between the
two choices.

If you are installing a new VM, choose "Create New Hard Disk".

It could mean to distinguish between "physical" and "virtual" hard disk, i.e. it may not be obvious that he has to create a new virtual hard disk.

dmcgraw,
Thanks for your reply...it is appreciated.
By reading the installation instructions it suggested to choose the create new...and I got that far.
The instructions say choose new for beginning installation and existing for more advanced choices.
Being a newbie I understand that I am not creating a new physical hard drive and am
installing a software installation an creating the magical box.
But I still do not understand the difference between the two choices.
And I am sure to have more issues which I do not understand but will try to persevere.
Thanks again

@vbaniko,

The creation of a new versus an existing one is just that.
If you are creating a new Virtual Machine (VM) then this is the selection you want.
If you are actually using one that you created somewhere else and you want to also create it in this copy you would select to use an existing one. Then add the *.vdi to the media manager and attach it the the Virtual Machine (VM) that you are creating. Use existing is also good if for some reason the *.vdi file has become detached. Probably not something you will be doing for a while until you get more familiar with VirtualBox. The Users Manual is daunting at times but hang in there and you will get it.

WOW...I am over my head with this one.
Decided to remove (uninstall) Virtual Box from the host Mac to
try a fresh install. I opened the manual and followed instructions.
Told me to open the .dmg file (which I did) and click on the
Virtual Box Uninstall tool which I did. It brought up the
Terminal-sudo-80x24 uninstall program. When asking if I wanted
to uninstall i typed Yes and then it asked me for a password.
I never set a password during installation and no matter what I
try to type in I cannot uninstall.
Can anyone help before I cry.

There is no need to reinstall VB to get a clean slate. All you have to do is locate the VB settings folder and remove it, so you get a clean settings profile. I'm not sure about the location on Mac OSX, but it should be somewhere in /user/<username>/Library/VirtualBox (could also be .VirtualBox). It might be hidden, so you need to have Spotlight (or is it Finder?) to show hidden files and folders. Remove the folder and start Virtualbox.
You now have a clean environment work with again. Of course, you can get a 'clean' profile if you remove any created VMs (you probably haven't, because the new VM wizard was confusing you as I understand) and remove any virtual hard drives from the media manager (file > Virtual Media Manager).

Now with a fresh start, let's try again. You create a new VM, follow the on-screen instructions to get a base for the operating system you are going to install. The virtual hard disk will be a new one. Existing is only an option if you already have a VDI file somewhere (as above, it became detached, or you got it from another system). The new HDD wizard will pop up next which will let you create a new file that will act as the VMs hard drive. This single file will hold the files for the operating system of the VM.

Please read the manual carefully and if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. Take a look at the VirtualBox FAQ too, in case you have a question that is answered there.

Apologies for being so dense.
Reading your post I gather that I can remove the following files on the Mac by just dumping the following files into the trash basket
and have no residue or buried files in a registry file remaining...not sure if Mac has a registry file like Windows.
VirtualBox-3-1.2.6 62112-OSX.dmg (Disk Image)
VirtualBox.app (application file)
VirtualBox (volume)
VirtualBox.mpkg (Installer Package)
I assume that I do not have to trash the .mpkg file as it is the installation file.
And if that is the case why the Terminal uninstall routine?

I do not know how the installation or removal works, nor where all the files are stored on a Mac system, because I simply don't own a Mac.

@vbaniko,

You might get better help with this problem is you create a new topic on the VirtualBox on Mac OS X Hosts part of the forum. Normally this would not be allowed because it is cross posting but rather then move this entire topic there it will be allowed this time. Let me know when you have and I will lock and link this topic there.

OK...will post on MacOS forum

Continued here http://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=32654