Moving VirtualBox data from old Mac to new Mac -- ???

Discussions related to using VirtualBox on Mac OS X hosts.
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VirtualGal
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Joined: 12. Sep 2011, 07:12
Primary OS: Mac OS X other
VBox Version: OSE Fedora
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Moving VirtualBox data from old Mac to new Mac -- ???

Post by VirtualGal »

Dear Forum,

I would love some help. I am trying to move an ova file I exported from my old MacBook (Leopard) to my new MacAir (Snow Leopard, soon to be upgraded to Lion). Here's what I did:
With macBookAir, goto : http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads
and download the virtual box and install
And with old MacBook, run the virtual Box
And from the File munu, select Export Appliance.
In the Wizard, select the machine name you have made, and press "continue"

Type in the directry you want ova file to be saved or just leave it as it is written and remember the place (maybe in "Documents") . And press "continue"
Then Press "Done"

The program starts to convert the virtualHD to an ova file, which will take a few min.

Problem: when I import the ova file I exported (via Time Machine to external HD), the file refuses to install. Why? What is wrong? I need to get the data I have created on my old Mac over to my new Mac. Any help you can provide would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

VG :D
Perryg
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Primary OS: Linux other
VBox Version: OSE self-compiled
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Re: Moving VirtualBox data from old Mac to new Mac -- ???

Post by Perryg »

What version of VirtualBox are you using and what version was the guest created in?
Sasquatch
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Primary OS: Debian other
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: Windows XP, Windows 7, Linux
Location: /dev/random

Re: Moving VirtualBox data from old Mac to new Mac -- ???

Post by Sasquatch »

What error did you get? Is there a reason you couldn't transfer the VB folder from /User/<your username>/Library/?
Read the Forum Posting Guide before opening a topic.
VirtualBox FAQ: Check this before asking questions.
Online User Manual: A must read if you want to know what we're talking about.
Howto: Install Linux Guest Additions
Howto: Use Shared Folders on Linux Guest
See the Tutorials and FAQ section at the top of the Forum for more guides.
Try searching the forums first with Google and add the site filter for this forum.
E.g. install guest additions site:forums.virtualbox.org

Retired from this Forum since OSSO introduction.
VirtualGal
Posts: 2
Joined: 12. Sep 2011, 07:12
Primary OS: Mac OS X other
VBox Version: OSE Fedora
Guest OSses: none

Re: Moving VirtualBox data from old Mac to new Mac -- ???

Post by VirtualGal »

Perry,

Thank you so much for the reply. The error message I get is: RESULT CODE VBOX_E_FILE_ERROR (0X80BB0004) COMPONENT: APPLIANCE
INTERFACE: IApplicance {7b148032-4214-4f46-b56a-b48ac1273f5a}

VERR_ACCESS_DENIED -- it also says it can't open OVA file.

I am trying to transfer from Version 4.0.12 r7291
This is an upgraded version -- I think I created this snapshot with Version 2.0 -- or perhaps even older. I am not sure what you mean by "the guest" -- though I know the terms "guest additions". I just don't know how that applies to what I'm doing in VB.

Sasquatch, I'm not sure I even tried to transfer the VB folder from /User/etc/Library -- I just followed the instructions a friend who uses VB sent me -- without success, I fear.

Any help you can provide much appreciated. Thanks.
Perryg
Site Moderator
Posts: 34369
Joined: 6. Sep 2008, 22:55
Primary OS: Linux other
VBox Version: OSE self-compiled
Guest OSses: *NIX

Re: Moving VirtualBox data from old Mac to new Mac -- ???

Post by Perryg »

It might work better if you use the export feature of VirtualBox instead of using timemachine.
Sasquatch
Volunteer
Posts: 17798
Joined: 17. Mar 2008, 13:41
Primary OS: Debian other
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: Windows XP, Windows 7, Linux
Location: /dev/random

Re: Moving VirtualBox data from old Mac to new Mac -- ???

Post by Sasquatch »

I'm not talking about timemachine. I'm talking about using a network share of some sorts, like how you would do it when moving the machines from one Windows user to another, be it on the same machine or separate. Or from Linux to Linux if you wish. Should work in theory and you can't really break anything on the side where it was set up.
Read the Forum Posting Guide before opening a topic.
VirtualBox FAQ: Check this before asking questions.
Online User Manual: A must read if you want to know what we're talking about.
Howto: Install Linux Guest Additions
Howto: Use Shared Folders on Linux Guest
See the Tutorials and FAQ section at the top of the Forum for more guides.
Try searching the forums first with Google and add the site filter for this forum.
E.g. install guest additions site:forums.virtualbox.org

Retired from this Forum since OSSO introduction.
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