[SOLVED] Using a Virtualbox 4.3.40 VM on Virtualbox 6.0.14

[Wirezfree]

Hello..

I needed to resurrect an old PC with Ubuntu 14.04, about 5/6 years old...
It had Virtualbox 4.3.40 on it, with a WinXP VM that I need to use, that still runs fine.
I don't really want to be running another PC just for this.(Hobby application, not available above WinXP)

My current PC install is Linux Mint 19.2(Ubuntu 18.04) with Virtualbox 6.0.14 (everything up to date)

I "have" re-searched, but got confused...
Do I need to upgrade the old PC 4.3.40 to 5.x..then somehow to 6.x before moving the the XP VM
Sorry... If I'm confusing matters.!!
I read many mixed messages over just copying the "entire" 4.3.40 WinXP VM folder to my new PC and using the Machine > Add

Any guidance/pointers/help much appreciated.

Thanks

[mpack]

Do I need to upgrade the old PC 4.3.40 to 5.x..then somehow to 6.x before moving the the XP VM

No. VirtualBox is mostly backwards compatible, there's no need to do it in stages. Going to VirtualBox 6.1.x would be a bigger jump, for that you'd want to prepare the VM (enable VT-x, disable 3D acceleration).

Anyway, what's the worst that could happen? VirtualBox destroys a copy of a working VM? I think you could survive that.

Howto: Move a VM.

[Wirezfree]

Hello mpack,

Thanks for the prompt response.

O.K, all noted about preparing the XP VM 4.3.40 prior to copying across..
My new PC is all set-up, and have it working already with a Win7 VM all O.K

I will have to update GA's when I open up the XP VM.

Thanks again

[Wirezfree]

Copied VM across to new PC, used Machine > Add
Initially had a VirtualBox Error when trying to "Add" the VM

Code: Select all

Failed to open virtual machine located in /mnt/vms/OpSys/WinXP-Live/WinXP-Live.vbox.
Cannot register the DVD image '/usr/share/virtualbox/VBoxGuestAdditions.iso'
{8b9839e5-b5dd-40d2-ae29-c922855711bd}
because a CD/DVD image '/usr/share/virtualbox/VBoxGuestAdditions.iso' with UUID
{8ae697f7-e0da-4696-963e-05505926c841} already exists.

Result Code: NS_ERROR_INVALID_ARG (0x80070057)
Component: VirtualBoxWrap
Interface: IVirtualBox {d0a0163f-e254-4e5b-a1f2-011cf991c38d}

So edited the .vbox file and removed the reference to the old install GA location:

Code: Select all

<DVDImages>
<Image uuid="{8b9839e5-b5dd-40d2-ae29-c922855711bd}" location="/usr/share/virtualbox/VBoxGuestAdditions.iso"/>
</DVDImages>

Then re-started the VM, booted up O.K, installed GA's O.K
"New Hardware Found"... Updated Driver for CPU, all O.K
Re-booted, All O.K no further prompts/message.

[mpack]

Thanks for reporting back. Actually, making sure that all the virtual CD drives are empty is indeed another thing you can do before upgrading VirtualBox. In particular the GAs, since that is known to definitely be affected by the change.

[Wirezfree]

Thanks for reporting back. Actually, making sure that all the virtual CD drives are empty is indeed another thing you can do before upgrading VirtualBox. In particular the GAs, since that is known to definitely be affected by the change.

Yes... I will remember next time... If there is a next time