[Solved] How to clone?

[MarkFoley]

I'm trying to "clone" a VM. The manual instruction at https://www.virtualbox.org/manual/ch01.html#clone say, "This wizard can be invoked from the context menu of the Manager's VM list (select "Clone") or the "Snapshots" view of the selected VM."

Where is this "context menu"? I cannot find it.

[mpack]

Right click the VM in the manager.

[MarkFoley]

There is no VM yet. Perhaps I'm using the wrong terminology. I have a VM that was created on another computer. I have the vdi file from the original computer. In fact, I have a backup of the whole user folder with .config/VirtualBox/ and the VirtualBox VMs/ directories. So, how to I import this vdi on the new computer? I've tried restoring the user's VM directories but that doesn't appear to work.

[mpack]

You're correct, that is the wrong terminology. You aren't cloning, you're just moving the original sheep from one paddock to another.

Howto: Move a VM.

Another error I see you making is talking about the VDI as if that's the VM. The VDI is just one file, and not the only important one. You need to think of the entire VM folder as "the VM", and not be so fixated on the most obvious, largest file in the folder.

[MarkFoley]

You're correct, that is the wrong terminology. You aren't cloning, you're just moving the original sheep from one paddock to another.

Howto: Move a VM.

Another error I see you making is talking about the VDI as if that's the VM. The VDI is just one file, and not the only important one. You need to think of the entire VM folder as "the VM", and not be so fixated on the most obvious, largest file in the folder.

Just to be sure, before I move my "sheep:, when you say "You need to think of the entire VM folder as "the VM", you are referring to the "myVM" folder in the path e.g. /home/user/Virtual VMs/myVM/. You are NOT including in that "entire MV" notion the folder /home/user/.config/virtualBox, correct? I do have a backup of both folders, so I should be OK if all I need is the 'myVM/' folder.

[MarkFoley]

I followed the instructions in the link you provided:

The basic procedure for moving VMs created by VirtualBox v4.0.0 or later is to copy the VM folder (with contents) to your preferred location, then use the GUI's Machine|Add menu item to register the .vbox file (found in the VM folder) from its new location.

Did that. The VM shows "running", Windows 7 64-bit, which is all correct, but the screen is black.

Is there something I can do?

[mpack]

That is really a subject for another topic. If you did nothing else but follow the VM copying procedure then the VM should be working, unless it failed an activation check. But, I'd expect the latter to give you a few days warning at least before it refuses completely.

Start a new topic, provide a VM log to demonstrate the problem.

[MarkFoley]

The VM I restored from must have been corrupted. I tried using an earlier saved version and it worked OK. Thanks.

[mpack]

Thanks for reporting back.