virtualbox.org

I'm sorry if I use the wrong lingo in this message. I have a very limited understanding of computer terms, so my apologies for my ignorance.

My Mac recently crashed. I was using VirtualBox with Windows 7 to access a construction quoting software program. I have a Time Machine backup on an external hard drive, so I haven't lost everything. On the Time Machine hard drive there is a folder titled VirtualBox Vms, which then drops down to SCP_Win7, which then drops down to 1 folder with the title Logs; and 4 files, one of which is titled SCP_Win7.vdi. This file (SCP_Win7.vdi) is 45.98GB in size and is a Virtual Disk Image.

I have ordered a replacement Mac and I intend to install the VirtualBox software again. Once the software is installed will I be able to copy the VirtualBox Vms folder from my Time Machine Backup and recover all my data from the old VirtualBox?

Cheers for your help.
Sinclair

Sinclair_Breen wrote:will I be able to copy the VirtualBox Vms folder from my Time Machine Backup and recover all my data from the old VirtualBox?

Yes, you got it absolutely right. The way that you used to move/copy/backup a VM used to be to do that for the whole VM folder and then registering the VM with VirtualBox. See the FAQ "Moving a VM" and interpret it as "Backing up a VM" or "Copying a VM".

For a complete VirtualBox backup, you should also back up the "VirtualBox.xml" file. The location of that file depends on the host, see ch. 10.1. Where VirtualBox stores its files of the User Manual. For an OSX host, that would be "/Users/<you>/Library/VirtualBox/VirtualBox.xml", or even better the whole directory.

All the restoring should be done without VirtualBox running of course...


PS. I changed the thread from "Mac crashed with VirtualBox software installed" to "Mac crashed, how do I restore VirtualBox VMs?", when I first read your title I thought that VirtualBox was responsible for crashing your Mac...

Ok great! Thanks a lot for your reply.

I'm using a loan Mac (my father's) while I wait for the new one to get delivered. I tried installing VirtualBox to this one to view my data, but it wouldn't go past the final install step. Am I best to wait for the new computer, install VitualBox to it and then do the restore, that way everything is in the one place?

Cheers

Sinclair_Breen wrote:I tried installing VirtualBox to this one to view my data, but it wouldn't go past the final install step.

What does that mean? In complete details please...

Sinclair_Breen wrote:Am I best to wait for the new computer, install VitualBox to it and then do the restore, that way everything is in the one place?

Either... or... It really depends on what you want to do and how. Example...

I got a 2015 MBP with a 512 GB SSD, not enough to hold all my VMs. So, I "swap" them at will from an external USB3 HD. At the same time I have my old MBP with 1 GB HD, which besides being able to hold all my VMs, also serves as my 2nd, live backup. As the saying goes "There are more than one ways to skin a cat"...