[Solved] keeping virtual box settings in a new install

[luikki]

i'm about to upgrade my main pc from 2009 to 2010.1...
i'll do it by the book... formatting the whole disk.
is there a way i can save my actual virtualbox settings and use them on the new install?

[aherkey]

If you haven't changed any default locations like the virtual hard drives all the config files and Machine definitions are kept in your home directory under .VirtualBox. Backup that directory and restore it on your new install and you should be good to go.

- Andy

[luikki]

thanks for your reply.
i'll give it a try...

[menotu]

To add to Andy's post you may also want to backup the actual hardiskname.vdi somewhere separate and if anything goes awry you can just re-use the vdi hard drive.

[luikki]

menotu, thanks for your reply.
could you pls. elaborate? i'm a bit thick with this matters...

[menotu]

menotu, thanks for your reply.
could you pls. elaborate? i'm a bit thick with this matters...

Okey dokey!

Have a look in the folder .virtualbox/HardDisks (which is under your /home folders) you may need to select "Show Hidden Folders" in Dolphin

In that HardDisks folder you'll see a file with a .vdi extension which will correspond to the name of your Virtualbox VM (or it will have the name you gave it it you specified a certain HDD name when you created your VM)

Anyway, that .vdi file is actually the Hard Disk of your VM, therefore its just a matter of copying that somewhere safe and re-using when required.

Think of it as if you've taken your ACTUAL REAL hard disk out of your main PC for use in another PC.

So when you create a new VM you can point it to that hard disk and voila! it will boot to whatever OS you have installed on it.

I have half a dozen backup VDI's on another disk.  Its like a "remaster" but in Virtualbox's VDI format.

If you need any clarification luikki, please just holler.

[luikki]

thanks again menotu!
that was a very good lesson. 

[menotu]

Your very welcome - good luck.