Moving VM's between computers

[Echoroot]

So I did a little reading on this but wasn't finding what I was looking for.

I had a computer crash, and I was able to backup the VM's and XML files.
However, I have not been able to import them on another PC.

I see there is an export and import process, but I am looking for something easier.
Is it not possible to just move a VDI or VMDK to another computer? (Without Exporting)
This is how I would prefer to do it, just move the Virtual hard drive or machine without exporting... is there a way to do this?
Is there a VHD that's easier for this purpose than another?

[Echoroot]

The other thread I was looking at:

forums.virtualbox/ ( dot org /, unable to post links yet..)
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2754&start=15

I have not yet successfully edited the XML file. Will be working on this...

[Perryg]

What version of VirtualBox were the guest/s created with. Do you have the entire folder that has the guest/s files in them? If so is there a *.vbox file in the folder/s?

[tafeteach]

Hi
Moving VMs between host PCs is quite simple. I do this often as I often create VMs on my home PC (Host OS is Windows 7 Pro 64bit) which i then need to move to a PC at the college where I teach. All you need to do is to copy the complete VM folder (I assume that you backed up the complete folder??) from the original PC to some form of external storage. Then, on the 'new' PC copy this complete folder to where all of your other VM folders are stored (on Windows 7 this will be C:\users\username\VirtualBox VMs.

In the VirtualBox GUI click Machine on the Menu Bar and then click Add. Browse to the VM folder that you restored earlier and open the .vbox file. Your new VM should now appear in the list of available VMs.

Note that you do not use any form of Import or Export for this.

Hope this helps.
Cheers

[Perryg]

Just a note:
The reason I asked what version the guests were created in was, if they were created before version 4.* this will not work, unless you converted them to the new format containing an *.vbox file.

[Echoroot]

-What version of VirtualBox were the guest/s created with. Do you have the entire folder that has the guest/s files in them? If so is there a *.vbox file in the folder/s?

I am not sure... Am now currently using 4.2 downloaded yesterday.

-All you need to do is to copy the complete VM folder (I assume that you backed up the complete folder??)

I assume I have done this. I have a ".VirtualMachines" folder that contains HardDisks and Machines folders and VirtualBox.XML
I did not put them in the folder where the other VM's are stored, but simply pointed to the vdi file and attempted to mount and boot.
I do not have a ".vbox" file unless you are talking about the logs. In folder Machines, Logs, I have vbox.log and vbox.log.1


-The reason I asked what version the guests were created in was, if they were created before version 4.* this will not work, unless you converted them to the new format containing an *.vbox file.
This is what I was trying to ask, what format should I use for ease of transitions between machines?
VDI, VMDK, VHD, HDD?

[Perryg]

I assume I have done this. I have a ".VirtualMachines" folder that contains HardDisks and Machines folders and VirtualBox.XML

Here is the problem. This guest/s was/were created before version 4.0 of VirtualBox.
If you have no snapshots then you would create a new guest and attach the original *.vdi to the newly created guest instead of creating a new HDD. You would need to try to use the same settings or as close as you can.

If you have access to the original PC before it was changed then you should convert the old format to the new format. You do this by cloning (see users manual)