virtualbox.org

I have multiple VMs some created with VBox 4. Others were created with older versions. Some of these VMS had their data in the default location on C: while others have some or all of their files on another partition on the same hard drive. I have done a clean install of Win7 x64 on another hard drive in the machine. The old Windows partition is still accessible as is the other partition previously mentioned. Some of these VMs also have multiple snapshots which, if possible I would like to keep. My question is how can I restore move these VMs to the new install of Windows7?

Mixed formats are going to make this all by impossible with snapshots.
Depending on you skill level you can do it but it is not for the faint of heart.
Previous to version 4 the VirtualBox.xml held all of the file structure and located the machine, snapshots, Etc is different locations. You would need to read the file and make the new install file look the same. Keep good backups though as one mistake and there you go.
You can use CloneVDI Tool to create a clone of the guests which you can build a 4.0 format against, but the snapshots will be gone. Guests created >= 4.* you simply need to use the add featurer to make them usable again.

Note: be sure to clone the newest snapshot.

Hmm ok thanks for the info. Even if I remove the snapshots by collapsing them down to one i.e. current state will this fix this moving problem of VMs once and for all or will I hit this brick wall the next time Windows7 is reinstalled and these VMs by then have snapshots? If I do decide to remove the snapshots should I use the clone option to be able to move the VMs this time and subsequently?

It would have had you done that before you re-installed. Now you have to deal with what you have. *IF* you can put everything back exactly like it was and then replace the VirtualBox.xml file with the original it should work, but again I must say its a crap shoot with snapshots on guests created before version 4.
Just be sure to keep good backups until you get it to work properly.

Perryg wrote:It would have had you done that before you re-installed.

I can still boot into the old install of Windows7 which has the working Virtualbox install and the new install of Windows7 is on a separate hard drive and has 0 VMs currently.

That being the case I would clone the guests =< than version 4. This will put them all in version 4 format and much easier to work with. Just don't use linked clone. Remember that guests created >= 4.0 all you need to do is add them, even if they have snapshots.

Perryg wrote:That being the case I would clone the guests =< than version 4. This will put them all in version 4 format and much easier to work with. Just don't use linked clone. Remember that guests created >= 4.0 all you need to do is add them, even if they have snapshots.

So I do not have to collapse the snapshots first on the old install of Windows7 before cloning or is you reference to snapshots being able to exist apply post cloning? Is there any way of verifying which of my existing VMs < 4.0 and therefore have to be cloned?


Thanks for all the help by the way.

Any version 4 guest will be in a main folder called VirtualBox VMs. These you shouldn't need to deal with, just add them in the main manager.
The others will need to be dealt with by cloning. IIRC though if you clone the guest (current state) it will make a flat file with everything in it. I don't use snapshots so I can't promise.