[Solved] Using a snapshot without the xml file that references it

[davedit]

Hello,

After my computer crashed, I went to restore a snapshot of a virtual machine that I previously had. I still have the original VDI file and I have the snapshot file. I can run the original VDI file as a new virtual machine fine, but when I look for snapshots it doesn't show my snapshot file. If I try to run the snapshot file as a new virtual machine directly, I get the "is not found in the media registry ("C:\........VirtualBox.xml"). Unfortunately I have no backup of VirtualBox.xml, but I have everything else, including logs, configurations etc. I did some searching on the forum but didn't find this problem, although I may have searched the wrong thing. Is it possible to somehow force VirtualBox to accept the snapshot as it's own independent machine?

[mpack]

First, a snapshot can't be "restored". It isn't a backup, it's just a fragment of a disk. You need all the remaining fragments plus the control information in the .vbox file.

Next, the error message is misleading, because unless the VM is ancient, VirtualBox.xml is not relevant. Snapshot control information is stored in the .vbox file, stored in the same folder as the base VDI. Presumably you have everything in that folder, since you surely wouldn't pick and choose which files to back up. If you have the entire VM folder then you just need to Machine|Add... back the .vbox file.

[davedit]

Thank you! I was overthinking the problem, and that worked! I am very grateful!

[mpack]

Thanks for reporting back, I'm glad you got it working.