[Solved]How do I make a virtual machine bigger in size?

[Lee48]

I've been reading many threads about this but they are seriously lacking in properly explaining how it's done in a step-by-step manner. I'm new to this VirtualBox program and new to this forum,

Like the thread here viewtopic.php?f=35&t=50661# where the instructions were very vague and didn't elaborate on anything.

I need step-by-step instruction as to how I can make my virtual machines bigger. I need clear, well-explained, and effective instructions that'll help this noob out.

I would really appreciate your help.

Thank you,

Lee

[gg99]

open command prompt and run the code for thread you mentioned replacing filename and size of your own.

if you using fixed size vhd and you are using vista, w7 or windows 8.1 pro, or server 2008,
you can try after shutdown the vm fully the steps outlined in resize vhd thread . Of course the same limitation of snapshots, difference disk apply

[dlharper]

To spell things out in a little more detail:

If you wish to increase the size of the RAM, you can just do that from the machine Settings when it is stopped.

To increase the size of the hard disk:

a) As the thread you reference mentions, first make sure you are not using snapshots nor a fixed size disk.

b) Identify on your host the hard disk file which you wish to enlarge. Unless you have changed anything, Virtual Machines are store in a folder called "VirtualBox VMs" in the User area of the main hard disk. Do not confuse this with the ".VirtualBox" folder. The "VirtualBox VMs" folder contains a folder for each of your virtual machines. The hard disk file will be within this - most likely a .vdi file (unless you have chosen otherwise).

c) Open a command window on the host, and CD to the VirtualBox program folder - It is usually: "C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox".

d) Enter the command as in the other thread:

Code: Select all

VBoxManage modifyhd <absolute path of hard disk file> --resize <size in MB>

where obviously you replace the words in <...> with your own values.

e) You now have an enlarged hard disk. Remember, though, that this has not changed any of the partitions on the disk. (VirtualBox doesn't know anything about the disk contents.) The extra space is quite simply that - unallocated space. You can either create another partition within this space or else (depending on the guest operating system) enlarge one of your existing partitions. In any case you will have to do this from within the guest.

[Lee48]

open command prompt and run the code for thread you mentioned replacing filename and size of your own.

Thanks gg99. I did assume the "VBoxManage modifyhd <absolute path to file> --resize <size in MB>" was something typed in DOS. So that's what I did, with my own parameters of course, and it didn't work since VBoxManage is not an executable that is in the system path so it will not work in just any directory. Opening a command prompt from the Windows Start menu always lands you in the C:\Windows\System32> directory which threw me off at first.

Luckily though, I started out in computers using DOS like 20 years ago so today it occurred to me to navigate to the directory that contained the VBoxManage.exe file in order to complete the process. Within Windows, I made my way to the C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox directory (after searching for the file), held down the Shift key and right-clicked to see the option to open a command prompt in that directory.

So, now being in the right directory, I typed at the prompt the following and got a syntax error, and this is where I'm stuck now, I believe I typed it right, I copy/pasted the path and included the filename with the extension and I can't imagine what went wrong.

C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox>VBoxManage modifyhd C:\Users\Lee\VirtualBox VMs\Win7-VM Clone\Win7-VM Clone.vdi --resize 35840
Oracle VM VirtualBox Command Line Management Interface Version 4.3.10
(C) 2005-2014 Oracle Corporation
All rights reserved.

Usage:

VBoxManage modifyhd <uuid|filename>
[--type normal|writethrough|immutable|shareable|
readonly|multiattach]
[--autoreset on|off]
[--property <name=[value]>]
[--compact]
[--resize <megabytes>|--resizebyte <bytes>]

Syntax error: Invalid parameter 'VMs\Win7-VM'

C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox>

Any idea why it didn't work?

And btw, sorry for the delay, I posted that before I went to bed last night and just now am I able to get back to it. Also, sorry for not including what OS I'm on, it's Windows 7 as the host and Windows 7 as the guest, and I'm using v4.3.1.0 of VirtualBox. Thanks again.

[Lee48]

a) As the thread you reference mentions, first make sure you are not using snapshots nor a fixed size disk.

Thanks for your reply dlharper, and for spelling things out for me. The VM I'm trying to enlarge is not fixed nor does it have snapshots but it is a clone though, will it still work? I cannot enlarge the original VM since it does have 1 snapshot of it. Is it safe to assume that if I delete the snapshot, then I'll be able to enlarge it? Also, not trying to confuse things but I just learned how to move my VM's from my SSD to my 2TB HDD to free up SSD space. I left the clone on my SSD but I did successfully move the original VM to the HDD. I doubt that should have any affect on my trying to enlarge the clone but please correct me if I'm wrong. The only reason I left the clone on the SSD was because it runs considerably faster than the one now on my HDD.

d) Enter the command as in the other thread:

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VBoxManage modifyhd <absolute path of hard disk file> --resize <size in MB>

where obviously you replace the words in <...> with your own values.

I did that (see my reply to gg99) but was I supposed to exclude the "<" brackets or leave them there? I got a syntax error without them and just now, with the brackets in for just the path and filename, I got this:

C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox>VBoxManage modifyhd <C:\Users\Lee\VirtualBox VMs\Win7-VM Clone\Win7-VM Clone.vdi> --resize 35840
The system cannot find the file specified.

And then I also put those "<" brackets around the new size I wanted the VM to be and got this:

C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox>VBoxManage modifyhd <C:\Users\Lee\VirtualBox VMs\Win7-VM Clone\Win7-VM Clone.vdi> --resize <35840>
The syntax of the command is incorrect.

So since you said "replace the words in <...> with your own values", I think I left the brackets in the last attempt like the example shows and replaced with my own values but I'm apparently not doing something right. I feel I'm so close to my goal but I sure could use your input to tell me what I'm doing wrong.

Thank you

[Perryg]

The brackets are not actually to be used. They are to distinguish what it is you are supposed to replace.

[Lee48]

The brackets are not actually to be used. They are to distinguish what it is you are supposed to replace.

Thanks Perryg. I thought that was the case in the first place but doing that without the brackets gave me the following error: Syntax error: Invalid parameter 'VMs\Win7-VM'

So then typing "VBoxManage modifyhd C:\Users\Lee\VirtualBox VMs\Win7-VM Clone\Win7-VM Clone.vdi --resize 35840" (without the quotes) is actually the correct thing to type? If so, why do I keep getting this error?

I've been doing all this without the VirtualBox program running but I tried it again this time with the program up and running (with no VM running though) and still got the same error. And just now, in trying to rule out everything, I even got my Clone VM running and did it again to no avail, still the same error. What could I be doing wrong?

[loukingjr]

I don't know if this is the problem but at least in the past, I couldn't create a guest with a hyphen in it's name in VirtualBox. perhaps that is why you keep getting a syntax error.

edit: apparently not the case any more because I just duplicated the Win7-VM name and it resized just fine.

[Perryg]

"VBoxManage modifyhd C:\Users\Lee\VirtualBox VMs\Win7-VM Clone\Win7-VM Clone.vdi --resize 35840"

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VBoxManage modifyhd "C:\Users\Lee\VirtualBox VMs\Win7-VM Clone\Win7-VM Clone.vdi" --resize 35840

Simple placement of the " "

[Lee48]

I don't know if this is the problem but at least in the past, I couldn't create a guest with a hyphen in it's name in VirtualBox. perhaps that is why you keep getting a syntax error.

edit: apparently not the case any more because I just duplicated the Win7-VM name and it resized just fine.

Thank you, loukingjr. I think I've finally made some progress here. I just used what Perryg gave me to type at the command prompt in his most recent post and it worked! I was about to rename my guest to do away with the hyphen, figuring I would have to do some extra steps to get the program to recognize it by the new name but thought to first copy and paste what he gave me and it did the trick. Thanks again.

[loukingjr]

I don't know if this is the problem but at least in the past, I couldn't create a guest with a hyphen in it's name in VirtualBox. perhaps that is why you keep getting a syntax error.

edit: apparently not the case any more because I just duplicated the Win7-VM name and it resized just fine.

Thank you, loukingjr. I think I've finally made some progress here. I just used what Perryg gave me to type at the command prompt in his most recent post and it worked! I was about to rename my guest to do away with the hyphen, figuring I would have to do some extra steps to get the program to recognize it by the new name but thought to first copy and paste what he gave me and it did the trick. Thanks again.

I'm just glad you didn't rename the guest first. Luckily if you had it wouldn't rename the .vdi otherwise it would be a mess. I wasn't sure it was the problem anyway and if you ever see anyone questioning what might be the problem don't just try it because it could be wrong.

[Perryg]

For future reference:

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VBoxManage    modifyhd        "C:\Users\Lee\VirtualBox VMs\Win7-VM Clone\Win7-VM Clone.vdi"     --resize 35840

Program        command                             Parm. 1                                         Parm. 2

Parm. 1 is usually the one that contains spaces and needs to be wrapped in " " quotes

[Lee48]

Code: Select all

VBoxManage modifyhd "C:\Users\Lee\VirtualBox VMs\Win7-VM Clone\Win7-VM Clone.vdi" --resize 35840

Simple placement of the " "

Thank you, Perryg!! I did a copy and paste of that and it worked! I am so glad you figured it out for me, I truly appreciate it.

Now all I have to do is figure out how to combine the now-added 10GB's to my VM and I'll be in business. I know that's a Windows disk management issue, not a VirtualBox one, so I'm about to google it for the answer.

Thanks again!

[Lee48]

I'm just glad you didn't rename the guest first. Luckily if you had it wouldn't rename the .vdi otherwise it would be a mess. I wasn't sure it was the problem anyway and if you ever see anyone questioning what might be the problem don't just try it because it could be wrong.

I'm glad I didn't either. It probably would've opened up a big ol' can of worms on me. Although, I would've tried just to rule that out. I would've backed up the folder first (via copy/paste to a new location) and put everything back in case I couldn't make it work. I'm certainly not new to computers but I am to VM's so anybody on here helping me out has got to have a lot more experience and I'll try anything anyone says, within reason of course.

[Perryg]

As for the additional primary using the newly added in Windows 7 guests, just open the disk management and tell it to expand to use all of the drive.