One OS deletes boot sector[solved]

Discussions about using Windows guests in VirtualBox.
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qiGuar
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Joined: 12. Oct 2011, 11:15
Primary OS: MS Windows 7
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Guest OSses: Ubuntu, Windows XP

One OS deletes boot sector[solved]

Post by qiGuar »

Well, i have Win XP as host and 2 Win XP as guest. The problem is that guest OS's use the same disk and only one can be launched at a time. I mean that if i launch one OS, the other won't start. It says that boot sector is missing. Is there any way i can make them both to start without reinstalling OS. Or may be there is a way to make an image of OS and then make another machine, so that it would use another disk space and then install from the image OS.
Last edited by qiGuar on 6. Dec 2011, 21:57, edited 1 time in total.
vbox4me2
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Re: One OS deletes boot sector

Post by vbox4me2 »

Why are both VM's using the same disk and how? in the real world you would NEVER EVER connect 1 harddisk to 2 pc's now would you?
qiGuar
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Primary OS: MS Windows 7
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Re: One OS deletes boot sector

Post by qiGuar »

You are right, but it was made at university computer and i'm sort of sys. admin, so now i have to solve this problem))) May be i didn't write well for understanding, will do this tomorrow. I'm thinking about making one OS use another disk, sort of creating new one. I'll change the path to the hdd for one guest OS, you think it'll help? And will it keep all files and settings as they are now?
vbox4me2
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Re: One OS deletes boot sector

Post by vbox4me2 »

It could be that each VM is/was using the main image+a separated snapshot, which is possible but unlikely. Clone the disk and attach each VM to its own disk. If files need to be shared between the VM's create a (samba) share or use freenas, you can't share files between VM disks.
qiGuar
Posts: 8
Joined: 12. Oct 2011, 11:15
Primary OS: MS Windows 7
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Guest OSses: Ubuntu, Windows XP

Re: One OS deletes boot sector

Post by qiGuar »

So i figured out the problem. Virtualbox doesn't allow me to attach to different .vdi files a ta time. If i try, i get this mistake
img213.imageshack.us/img213/7464/60988047.png
So first i have to release one file, thus i can have only one .vdi attached.
I have only two files that are locates in one folder
img687.imageshack.us/img687/9618/99276443.png

So, what's the problem?

(ps. can't post urls, so had to do like this. sorry.)
Last edited by qiGuar on 4. Dec 2011, 07:44, edited 1 time in total.
vbox4me2
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Re: One OS deletes boot sector

Post by vbox4me2 »

Urls are not ok, can't see the errors. But first it should not be possible to attach 1 vdi to 2 VM's unless someone did this manually. If you have 2 vdi files then attach each to each their VM's and your done.
qiGuar
Posts: 8
Joined: 12. Oct 2011, 11:15
Primary OS: MS Windows 7
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Guest OSses: Ubuntu, Windows XP

Re: One OS deletes boot sector

Post by qiGuar »

'm trying to attach two different .vdi to two different machines, but virtualbox won't let me connect two .vdi at a time. even to different machines.

ps. fixed url
vbox4me2
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Re: One OS deletes boot sector

Post by vbox4me2 »

Is the message something about duplicate UUID ? then you need to change 1 of the vdi's like
vboxmanage internalcommands setvdiuuid "path\vdiname.vdi"
Then you should be able to attach it.
qiGuar
Posts: 8
Joined: 12. Oct 2011, 11:15
Primary OS: MS Windows 7
VBox Version: OSE other
Guest OSses: Ubuntu, Windows XP

Re: One OS deletes boot sector

Post by qiGuar »

yes, it says: a hard disk with UUID {code} or with the same properties (file path) is already registered.
I don't understand what i have to do, according to you message((
Perryg
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Re: One OS deletes boot sector

Post by Perryg »

Assuming that you are using a copy of one to create another guest. Are you naming them the same?
Example: winxp and winxp will not work, but winxp1 and winxp2 will.
Keep in mind that the guests will need to be configured to offset the MAC address or they will conflict and neither will have network access if they are run at the same time.

Actually the easiest way to get this to work in version 4.* is to create a clone of the first and let VirtualBox do its thing. It will take care of the UUID and MAC addressing for you. Reactivation of 2nd win guest will be necessary.
qiGuar
Posts: 8
Joined: 12. Oct 2011, 11:15
Primary OS: MS Windows 7
VBox Version: OSE other
Guest OSses: Ubuntu, Windows XP

Re: One OS deletes boot sector

Post by qiGuar »

vboxmanage internalcommands setvdiuuid "path\vdiname.vd
it helped! Thanks a lot.
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