How to make a virtual machine with .vdi file

Question

Recently I lost everything on my PC and reinstalled Windows. But I have my old Ubuntu virtual machine's .vdi file.

Can I make a virtual machine with that .vdi file? If so, how?

Answer 1

If you are using VirtualBox, then it is not too difficult to take a VDI and use it anywhere. Here's how:

• copy your .vdi file to a directory where VirtualBox will be able to access it
• run VirtualBox and create a new virtual machine
• choose Ubuntu Linux as the operating system and click "Next"
• under the "Virtual Hard Disk" option, choose "Use existing hard disk". This will open the "Virtual Media Manager".
• in the Virtual Media Manager, click the "Add" button and select the .vdi file that you copied, then click "Next"
• configure the rest of the virtual machine as you would like it to be
• start the virtual machine

So long as the .vdi file has not been corrupted, it will work just fine.

Answer 2

Convert VDI File to Full Install

You also have the option to convert a .vdi file to an .img file and flash that to HDD or USB.

• Log into Ubuntu.

• Open VirtualBox

• cd to folder that contains ubuntu.vdi and run:

VBoxManage clonemedium --format RAW ubuntu.vdi ubuntu.img

This will create the Ubuntu image file

Install Image File to target drive

Caution: The target drive will be overwritten.

• Use Gnome-Disks, Etcher, Rufus, dd or mkusb when you want to restore or clone the image to another HDD or USB drive.

For using Etcher or Rufus to flash an image to HDD see: https://askubuntu.com/a/1333112/43926