Can't find this discussed

[steve407]

I have an Ubuntu 16.04 host and had Windows 10 running as a guest. I had several snapshots made and when my HD started to get flaky, I copied the entire Win10 folder from "Virtual Machines" directory to an external drive. Finally, new drive installed, Ubuntu re-loaded from scratch, new copy of VirtualBox 5.1 installed, I copied the entire Windows 10 folder back to the new Virtual Machines directory. Big problem right off the bat, Windows said it's not genuine. Went through the process and got it re-activated but... (and here's the REAL problem, It's only Windows 7 now. Apparently the upgrade to Windows 10 I did isn't showing up. I can try to re-run the Windows 10 upgrade CD (I still have it) but I have no idea what will happen. Will Microsoft refuse the upgrade due to the free upgrade time being over? Will that just screw the pooch totally?

Is there any way to boot the last snapshot I had (which was Win 10) even though the only vdi showing is for Win 7? I checked the folder and all the snapshots are there, but they don't show when you open the snapshot tab in VB. I'm really in over my head here but I hate having to buy another copy of Win 10 when I have a perfectly legal one via upgrade path. Help?? If you need any screen shots or anything to help let me know.

Thanks -- Steve

[mpack]

You didn't copy the VM folders correctly. It sounds like instead of re-registering the existing VMs, you built new VMs around the old base disks of each VM. In the case mentioned, the base disk contained Windows 7. The data which was in snapshots (including an upgrade to Win10) was most likely destroyed by this.

Hopefully you still have the external backup and therefore still have an opportunity to do it right.

Howto: Move a VM.

[steve407]

Thanks - I was awfully afraid this is the answer I would get. Sigh... I guess if I didn't RTFM I get what I deserve. Thanks for the time to answer.

steve