Loading an ISO onto VirtualBox

[Effy]

New yo VirtualBox.

Loaded 4.2.8 in Windows XP yesterday.
I used QuickStart for Drupal ovf and wow it ran first time. Very happy.
The Ubuntu version however was out-if-date.
So being ambitious I downloaded the Ubunru v12 (i386) iso.

Error message Could not get the storage format of the medium appears.

I tried the following isos

ubuntu-11.04-desktop-i386.iso
ubuntu-12.04.2-dvd-i386.iso
ubuntu-12.10-desktop-i386.iso

each time I get the same rttor message.

I am trying to load it using Settings>storage IDE Controller
having followed forums on the web *even a youTube video) to no avail. As soon as I select the iso i get the error message.

[mpack]

Is anything else able to open those ISOs? Also, check the file size: it needs to be an exact multiple of 512 bytes to be acceptable.

ps. I deleted your double post.

[Effy]

[quote="mpack"]Is anything else able to open those ISOs? Also, check the file size: it needs to be an exact multiple of 512 bytes to be acceptable.

Not sure what to use to test the "readability" of the ISOs. Having downloaded 4 I would have thought one might have worked. Downloaded from Ubuntu site.

[Effy]

All multiples of 512.

[mpack]

Then I recommend carrying out an md5 checksum check on the files.

Just FYI, I've never had any trouble getting VirtualBox to read any ISO downloaded from a reputable site. And, apart from the 512 byte issue, there is no history of others reporting problems either. So, there must be something odd about your situation.

[Effy]

I understand, I agree (based in the lack of threads across the web) but...
The fact that 4 iso-s fail makes me believe it is something else. Will try the same thin on a Vista machine.

Thanks in the meantime
Effy

[mpack]

I very much doubt that Vista vs XP makes a difference. I suspect your downloads might be corrupted, hence the suggestion to run an md5 checksum test.

[Effy]

Having copied the .iso to a 2nd XP machine I realize it (the iso) is actually a zip-type archive.

Do I need to do something prior to "mounting/loading" it in the CS?

[Perryg]

Where are you getting these from? Seems you need to go to the source and download the proper file. http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop

[mpack]

If all it is is a .zipped ISO then all you need to do is unpack it and mount the ISO. If it's a zip of the contents of the CD image (extracted from the original ISO) then it's probably useless.

And how did a zip pass the "multiple of 512" test I asked for earlier? The odds of that are surely 511:1 against.

[Effy]

I gave you file size on disk not the actual file size, sorry.

The iso was downloaded from the Ubuntu site but it is a zip/atchive that contains directories
[boot]
boot
casper
dists
install
isolinux
pics
pool
pressed

and
aurorun.inf
wubi.exe

I suspect this is not the iso for VirtualBox and if this is correct then where is it or how do I create it or extract it from my download? The installation page at Ubuntu describes DVD and USB but not a VM.

[FrodoHobbits]

Download the proper ISO from the site link given by Perryg.

[Effy]

I am doing it again from the Ubuntu site via the posted link
Downloading Ubunti-12.0-desktop-i386.iso
Guess what this download works 700M approx compared with 200 M on Monday.

Thanks to all

FFR How can I run an MD5 check on a download?