virtualbox.org

Hello
Currently I have vbox on my workstation.
I'm getting a new workstation and doing a fresh install.
I currently have my vmachines on a separate drive (E); which will be put on the new machine.
I know I can re-install vbox, but what do I have to backup on my C drive so that all my created machines work?

Thank You
Terry

If you have the complete vm folder on the external hard drive, you do not really need to copy anything from the hard drive. All you need to do is to reregister your vms after you install VirtualBox and attach the external drive. It is just the same as moving the vms to a different host.

If you only have the virtual disks of the vms on the external drive, it is a bit more complicated.

Thank you for the reply.
I believe all is on the E drive. When I check settings, I don't see any other paths except for the paths on my E drive.

Thank you so much

Terry

For a good test of where your guest's files are, right-click each guest in the main Virtualbox window's guest list, choose "Show in Explorer". The window that opens will be the guest's base folder. Check that the path to this folder is on the E: drive. If any guests are not on the E: drive, you can right click the guest in the guest list and choose Move.

Also, open the main Virtualbox window's File menu, Virtual Media Manager. Open the Media Manager window wide, then check that each hard disk's path is on the E: drive. You can move drives to the E: drive by selecting a drive than clicking the Move button in the toolbar. The guest's .vbox file will be updated for where the drive is moved to. (You might also want to check Optical Disk ISO's and any floppy images, too.

Finally, there is a global settings file 'Virtualbox.xml' in C:\Users\{you}\.Virtualbox (note the period in the folder name). This global file saves settings in the main Virtualbox window's File menu, Preferences, as well as customized Host-Only and NAT networks. might want to take that along, too.

If you moved anything, be sure to close all Virtualbox windows and log off your host PC to force Virtualbox to write the .vbox files afresh.

FWIW I always take a backup disk image of my host drive before I wipe & reinstall, so if I forgot anything I can just mount the backup image and get the file. For Windows, Macrium Reflect is the bee's knees for disk imaging.

Thank you for that detailed reply.
I've checked everything out and everything points to the E Drive.
We've been using macrium reflect here for a few years now.... you're right, it is great and have had no major issues with it what-so-ever.

The only thing that points to the C Drive is the
<SystemProperties defaultMachineFolder="C:\Users\myusername\VirtualBox VMs" defaultHardDiskFormat="VDI" VRDEAuthLibrary="VBoxAuth" webServiceAuthLibrary="VBoxAuth" LogHistoryCount="3" proxyMode="0" exclusiveHwVirt="false"/>

I'm assuming that just tells vbox what to display when setting up a new machine etc.

Again, Thank you

Terry

Yes, the Default Machine Folder is where Virtualbox wants to put new guests. You probably have had to move or manually browse to the E drive for each new guest. This Default Machine Folder can be pre-set to the E drive in File menu, Preferences, General, Default Machine Folder.