[SOLVED] How to transform OVF/VMDK to VDI?

[kebabbert]

I have a fresh install of a WinXP machine. And I backupped it as a OVF before starting to use the VM. Now I want to experiment with immutable VMs. But to do that, the immutable commands can only work on VDI files? So I must transform my OVF to VDI before start experimenting with immutable commands. How do I transform OVF to VDI?

If I import the OVF file then I get a VMDK file. Can I experiment with immutable commands on VMDK files? Or must I transform the VMDK file to VDI first?

From the OVF, I can get a VMDK file. But I need a VDI file. So how do I get a VDI file? Or must I reinstall to get a VDI file?

[ChipMcK]

two options

1. CloneVDI.exe
2. Command Line VBoxManage clonehd

[kebabbert]

I dont understand the 2) alternative. I do:
VBoxManage clonehd WinXP_SP3.vmdk ./WinXP --format VDI
And no new file is created. Nothing happens with my files.

So I was dumb to create a OVF file. I should backup the VDI file.

Regarding the 1) I do not feel comfortable with it. It is not officially supported by ORacle.

I think I must reinstall and backup the VDI file. And do not create an OVF file.

[kebabbert]

Ok, regarding step 2) the VDI file appears in the .VirtualBox directory. That is the reason I did not found it. The VDI file is there. However, it is very big: 1.4GB. So I better make a clean reinstall and backup the small VDI file: 700MB.

Thank you. Problem solved.

[Sasquatch]

Mpack's CloneVDI is safe to use, don't worry. The main file will not be modified in any way. It can even shrink the file in the process.