virtualbox.org

Hello,
Might as well start off 2015 asking a dumb question. I make weekly backup copies of my existing XP virtual machine. I would like to get a copy of a file from one of those backups. Is it as simple as pointing VB at the external USB hard disk VM backup copy and starting that "old" VM to get to the file and save it in a shared folder with the host so it then can be transferred to the current VM after I start it? I'm running an XP VM on Windows 8.1 host using VB version 4.2.16 w/related guest additions. Thank you!
OmaSteak

Not quite. You would actually have to detach the current .vdi first, then remove it from the VirtualBox Media manager temporarily without deleting it of course. Then you can attach the old .vdi.

edit: I forgot. you would have to reverse the process once you get the file. remove the old .vdi etc.

I think I seriously messed up. I released my current XP VM in VB virtual media manager but I also removed it from the VB virtual media manager list (did not actually delete the existing VM stored on host drive). I see my current VM listed in VB Manager where I would normally start it, but it won't start and XP says it finds no boot media. How do I get VB to run my current XP VM again? Thank you.
OmaSteak

edit

I get the following when I try to "add" my current XP VM in VB

Failed to open virtual machine located in C:/Users/William/VirtualBox VMs/CyberpowerClone/CyberpowerClone.vbox.

Trying to open a VM config 'C:/Users/William/VirtualBox VMs/CyberpowerClone/CyberpowerClone.vbox' which has the same UUID as an existing virtual machine.

Result Code: E_FAIL (0x80004005)
Component: Machine
Interface: IMachine {22781af3-1c96-4126-9edf-67a020e0e858}
Callee: IVirtualBox {3b2f08eb-b810-4715-bee0-bb06b9880ad2}

you need to remove the .vdi file from the VirtualBox Media Manager first.

Sorry but I don't understand your response. I have a VB VM file on my host hard drive CyberPowerXPAppliance-disk1.vmdk that is my existing "CyberpowerClone" XP VM. In VB's Virtual Media Manager, there is now nothing showing on the Hard Drives tab. When I try to start the "CyberpowerClone" VM shown in VB's Virtual Manager screen, I get the previous posted XP "no boot media" error message. So how do I get my existing VMDK file back into the VB Virtual Media Manager list, so the VM will start? Not a backup but the "current" XP VM stored on host hard drive? I tried the "Add" function from the VB Manager menu but I get a "same UUID" error message. Thanks.
OmaSteak

In the Storage settings for your guest, attach the CyberPowerXPAppliance-disk1.vmdk to the IDE or SATA controller, wherever it was originally.

Thank you. Following your instructions, I was able to attach the existing XP VM file to the virtual IDE C: drive and my XP guest boots properly and is listed once again in VB's Virtual Media Manager. I'm giving up while I'm ahead at this point. Sorry for all the bother. Happy New Year!
OmaSteak

Well if you want to try again just follow my first post but replace the word .vdi with .vmdk. Happy New Year to you.

I'll just add that there are tools for Windows hosts that allow you to extract files from a VDI (among other formats) without bothering to boot up the VM. For example I'm familiar with PowerISO (not free), which however will only recognize Windows filesystems (e.g. you can't extract anything from a Linux EXTx volume). Other similar or better tools may also exist.

Thank you for the suggestion mpack and for the assistance loukingjr, I will take a serious look at the suggested software. I was able to do a "work around" for the file I was trying to recover from a VB backup file, so everything is working fine.
OmaSteak