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Issue when removing a Linux dist.

Posted: 16. Feb 2011, 01:28
by Ryssen
Soometimes when I click "remove"it cannot remove all the files.
So if I install the same Linux dist. again it cannot because those files are left behind.
Now I know I can edit the VirtualBox.xml,but I am unsusre what to edit.
How do you do it?

Re: Issue when removing a Linux dist.

Posted: 16. Feb 2011, 02:08
by Perryg
Editing the XML file is not suggested. What version of VirtualBox are you using and how are you trying to remove the guest?

Re: Issue when removing a Linux dist.

Posted: 16. Feb 2011, 02:15
by Ryssen
I am remowing Fedora 14 64 bit,but had the same issues with other linux.
If I click the mouse there is with red text "remove".
I´m using the 4.02 verision of VB.

Re: Issue when removing a Linux dist.

Posted: 16. Feb 2011, 02:25
by Perryg
Well the proper way when using the GUI is to right click the guest you want to remove and then left click remove. You will be asked if you want to remove just the guest or all files associated with the guest. Select to remove all if you no longer want to use the guest. If you do not remove all then you will not be able to install the guest again with the same name, but can if you select a different name.

Now to remove a guest that you removed any other way would require you to open the media manager and remove it from there. Once that is done you can manually delete the folder that houses the files for that guest.

This is all explained in your VirtualBox users manual.

Re: Issue when removing a Linux dist.

Posted: 16. Feb 2011, 02:39
by Ryssen
Yes I selected to remove all the files,but still got the message that it could not remove all files.
And yes I found out that if I choose a little different name it will work.

Re: Issue when removing a Linux dist.

Posted: 16. Feb 2011, 02:41
by Perryg
Did you start with Version 4 or did you upgrade?
Was the guest shutdown completely (not saved state)?

Re: Issue when removing a Linux dist.

Posted: 16. Feb 2011, 02:48
by Ryssen
I hade upgradet from ver.3 to 4.02.
The guesst was shutdown

Re: Issue when removing a Linux dist.

Posted: 16. Feb 2011, 03:04
by Perryg
Well I can see where there might be problems then. Only guests that have been converted to 4.0 or installed after 4.0 can actually be removed the new way. Due to problems reverting they did not auto-convert the prior guests. I guess I can understand it but I went in and manually converted all of my guests to the new format, and as such I have not had a problem with removing any of them.

Re: Issue when removing a Linux dist.

Posted: 16. Feb 2011, 03:15
by Ryssen
I guess I can understand it but I went in and manually converted all of my guests to the new format, and as such I have not had a problem with removing any of them.
How is that done?

Re: Issue when removing a Linux dist.

Posted: 16. Feb 2011, 03:23
by Perryg
You need to see how a guest is created in the new format
  • Then you create a new folder matching the name (exactly) of the name you want to call this guest.
    remove the guest (without deleting the actual VDI) and move it to the folder you created.
    Now create the new guest and mount the VDI instead of creating a new HDD.
    If all goes well you should be good to go.
This will not work with saved state machines or ones that have snapshots.