virtualbox.org

I remember I've tried this years ago and I messed up, because I missed one important thing to save, so before I do this again, let me ask here.

I have VirtualBox installed on Win10 pro and I have 5 different VMs of which I have the machine setup installed in the default folder, but for the virtual HDDs I have created a folder on an external HDD.

So the question is now: If I want to format my system drive to install a clean windows, then reinstall VirtualBox and get all my VMs back without having to reinstall those as well, what do I have to save from where in my system?
The .vdi files I have on the external drive already, so that's saved already, but what else is needed?

If I remember correctly, there's not only a Name.vbox for each VM, but also a ..... how shall I call that? .......... summary file that lists all the VMs (which is the one I missed saving last time).

Unless you decided to put them somewhere else they should all be in the same folder. On a Windows host they will be in Users\yourusername\VirtualBox VMs.

In that folder there is a sub-folder for each vm with all of its files (except the .vdi file in your case).

Markie wrote:there's not only a Name.vbox for each VM

BillG already answered that part...

Markie wrote:but also a ..... how shall I call that? .......... summary file that lists all the VMs

You're thinking of "VirtualBox.xml". See the location at the UserManual, ch. 10.1 Where VirtualBox stores its files. These are mostly preferences for the main program, and (as you remember) a list of all the registered VMs.

Thanks, that's the info I wanted, much apreciated.