Convert VMWare image to VirtualBox?

MacInWin · MacInWin #1 (**permalink**)

11-20-2009, 12:38 PM

I had previously converted an old WinXP PC to a virtual machine on VMWare. I'd like to try VirtualBox, but it doesn't seem to want to import the VMDK image. I keep getting an error from VirtualBox that there is no boot media. I did do some searching on the net, but most of the posts are about how to convert from an existing PC to an image VirtualBox can boot. I'm trying to avoid the "build it from scratch" approach that right now seems the only way to get what I want, and which is frankly not worth the effort. VMWare works just find, I just want to try the same VM on VirtualBox as comparison to make a decision on whether to switch.

Is there a simple way to open a VMWare image file in VirtualBox?

Raz0rEdge · Raz0rEdge #2 (**permalink**)

11-20-2009, 12:46 PM

This article suggests that the latest version of VirtualBox should be able to load a VMDK file from VMWare..

Regards

MacInWin · MacInWin #3 (**permalink**)

11-20-2009, 01:23 PM

Yeah, saw and tried that. Didn't work. My VirtualBox screens don't match what he shows. I've checked and according the the support site I have the latest version of VB, which may have changed things. My copy is reporting Version 3.1.0_BETA1 r54685.

MacInWin · MacInWin #4 (**permalink**)

11-20-2009, 02:11 PM

Update: I got it to start to boot (at least now it not reporting no media and ending fatally) but now it simply won't start. I get the window you see when windows has abnormally terminated, and the countdown timer counts down, but when it hits zero, nothing happens. It freezes.

Anybody got any ideas of what to try next?

cwa107 · cwa107 #5 (**permalink**)

11-20-2009, 02:40 PM

I'm not sure that it's worth the effort as VirtualBox is nowhere near as stable or fully featured as Fusion, but if you really want to do it, I'd remove VMWare Tools from the image before you try to attach it to VirtualBox.

vansmith · vansmith #6 (**permalink**)

11-20-2009, 06:09 PM

If VMWare works for you, there should be no need to switch. As a VB user, you won't be gaining anything that I'm sure isn't available in VMWare. If it does the job, just stick with it.

If you do want to try it, VB does load VMDKs (I've done it) and I'm pretty sure they had the VMWare Tools installed in the machine too.

leopard-user1 · leopard-user1 #7 (**permalink**)

11-20-2009, 06:19 PM

I have VB 3.0.10, but I don't use Fusion. I'll have to try that someday with a trial version or something.

vansmith · vansmith #8 (**permalink**)

11-20-2009, 07:21 PM

To support what I said earlier, I just finished building Chromium OS as a VMWare image (vmdk). I just booted up into it in VB and it ran like a champ. It crashed once but I'm going to peg that on the fact that it's very early release software.

MacInWin · MacInWin #9 (**permalink**)

11-20-2009, 08:57 PM

OK, I've given up on it for now. Eventually I found it's hanging on agp440.sys as it loads. There is an article at MS on how to disable that, but it's not worth it. I'll stick with VMWare. Works, works well and is stable. Thanks to all. You can move along, nothing to see here...

cwa107 #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 20, 2006 Location: Middletown, Pennsylvania Posts: 25,918 Mac Specs: 15" MBP, Core i7/2GHz, 8GB RAM, 256GB Crucial M4 SSD	11-20-2009, 02:40 PM I'm not sure that it's worth the effort as VirtualBox is nowhere near as stable or fully featured as Fusion, but if you really want to do it, I'd remove VMWare Tools from the image before you try to attach it to VirtualBox. Liquid and computers don't mix. It might seem simple, but we see an incredible amount of people post here about spills. Keep drinks and other liquids away from your expensive electronics!
	QUOTE Thanks

vansmith #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 19, 2008 Location: Ottawa Posts: 15,331 Mac Specs: 2012 13" MBP (2.5 i5, 8GB)	11-20-2009, 06:09 PM If VMWare works for you, there should be no need to switch. As a VB user, you won't be gaining anything that I'm sure isn't available in VMWare. If it does the job, just stick with it. If you do want to try it, VB does load VMDKs (I've done it) and I'm pretty sure they had the VMWare Tools installed in the machine too. Important Links: Community Guidelines : Use the reputation system if you've been helped. M-F Blog :: Write for the blog :: M-F IRC Channel - Chats every Sunday at 8PM EST.
	QUOTE Thanks

leopard-user1 #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 27, 2009 Location: New York, NY Posts: 531 Mac Specs: 17" MacBook Pro, 2.5 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 2 GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, not unibody	11-20-2009, 06:19 PM I have VB 3.0.10, but I don't use Fusion. I'll have to try that someday with a trial version or something. (from scienceteecher.com) 17" MacBook Pro, OSX 10.6.2 Snow Leopard
	QUOTE Thanks

vansmith #8 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 19, 2008 Location: Ottawa Posts: 15,331 Mac Specs: 2012 13" MBP (2.5 i5, 8GB)	11-20-2009, 07:21 PM To support what I said earlier, I just finished building Chromium OS as a VMWare image (vmdk). I just booted up into it in VB and it ran like a champ. It crashed once but I'm going to peg that on the fact that it's very early release software. Important Links: Community Guidelines : Use the reputation system if you've been helped. M-F Blog :: Write for the blog :: M-F IRC Channel - Chats every Sunday at 8PM EST.
	QUOTE Thanks

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MacInWin #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Jul 07, 2008 Location: Winchester, VA Posts: 711 Mac Specs: 2011 MBP, 2008 iMac, iPhone 4S, iPad (Retina), 13" MBP and MacMini	11-20-2009, 12:38 PM I had previously converted an old WinXP PC to a virtual machine on VMWare. I'd like to try VirtualBox, but it doesn't seem to want to import the VMDK image. I keep getting an error from VirtualBox that there is no boot media. I did do some searching on the net, but most of the posts are about how to convert from an existing PC to an image VirtualBox can boot. I'm trying to avoid the "build it from scratch" approach that right now seems the only way to get what I want, and which is frankly not worth the effort. VMWare works just find, I just want to try the same VM on VirtualBox as comparison to make a decision on whether to switch. Is there a simple way to open a VMWare image file in VirtualBox?
	QUOTE Thanks

Raz0rEdge #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Jul 17, 2009 Location: MA Posts: 5,852 Mac Specs: 27" i7 iMac with 16GB RAM and 1TB HDD, iPhone 3G & 4, iPod Nano 16GB, iPod Shuffle, iPad 2 16GB WiFi	11-20-2009, 12:46 PM This article suggests that the latest version of VirtualBox should be able to load a VMDK file from VMWare.. Regards
	QUOTE Thanks

MacInWin #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Jul 07, 2008 Location: Winchester, VA Posts: 711 Mac Specs: 2011 MBP, 2008 iMac, iPhone 4S, iPad (Retina), 13" MBP and MacMini	11-20-2009, 02:11 PM Update: I got it to start to boot (at least now it not reporting no media and ending fatally) but now it simply won't start. I get the window you see when windows has abnormally terminated, and the countdown timer counts down, but when it hits zero, nothing happens. It freezes. Anybody got any ideas of what to try next?
	QUOTE Thanks

MacInWin #9 (permalink)
Member Since: Jul 07, 2008 Location: Winchester, VA Posts: 711 Mac Specs: 2011 MBP, 2008 iMac, iPhone 4S, iPad (Retina), 13" MBP and MacMini	11-20-2009, 08:57 PM OK, I've given up on it for now. Eventually I found it's hanging on agp440.sys as it loads. There is an article at MS on how to disable that, but it's not worth it. I'll stick with VMWare. Works, works well and is stable. Thanks to all. You can move along, nothing to see here...
	QUOTE Thanks

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