Ubuntu
virtualbox-ose package

How do I Resize my virtual HardDrive in VirtualBox

Asked by Peter Saxon

Subject:
I am attempting to resize my virtual HardDrive ("NewHardDisk1.vdi), Type Normal(VDI)
Ubuntu v10.10
According to the VirtualBox User Manual version 4.1.2
Section 8.22 VBoxManage modifyhd (or modifyvdi)
With the modifyhd command, you can change the characteristics of a disk image after it has
been created:
VBoxManage modifyhd
<uuid>|<filename>
[--type normal|writethrough|immutable|shareable|
readonly|multiattach]
[--autoreset on|off]
[--compact]
[--resize <megabytes>|--resizebyte <bytes>]

Attempted use by me:
Syntax error: unknown option: --resize
VBoxManage modifyhd <uuid>|<filename>
                            [--type normal|writethrough|immutable|shareable]
                            [--autoreset on|off]
                            [--compact]
I would appreciate knowing how to get around this.

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Peter Saxon
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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#1

What command did you run?

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Peter Saxon (bumpysax) said : 		#2

bumpy@bumpyputer:~$ VBoxManage modifyhd 51932c11-1ddb-49c1-858f-84108b860496 --resize 51200
Oracle VM VirtualBox Command Line Management Interface Version 3.2.8_OSE
(C) 2005-2010 Oracle Corporation
All rights reserved.

Usage:

VBoxManage modifyhd <uuid>|<filename>
                            [--type normal|writethrough|immutable|shareable]
                            [--autoreset on|off]
                            [--compact]

Syntax error: unknown option: --resize
--------------------------------------------
bumpy@bumpyputer:~$ VBoxManage modifyvdi 51932c11-1ddb-49c1-858f-84108b860496 --resize 51200
Oracle VM VirtualBox Command Line Management Interface Version 3.2.8_OSE
(C) 2005-2010 Oracle Corporation
All rights reserved.

Usage:

VBoxManage modifyhd <uuid>|<filename>
                            [--type normal|writethrough|immutable|shareable]
                            [--autoreset on|off]
                            [--compact]

Syntax error: unknown option: --resize

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#3

Try with the filename, may help

Revision history for this message
Peter Saxon (bumpysax) said : 		#4

What filename?

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#5

The vdi file....

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Peter Saxon (bumpysax) said : 		#6

I get Syntax error: unknown option: --resize even with the vdi file.
If you aren't able to provide a solution, please say so, & I'll get someone else to solve this.

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#7

Did you post on the virtualbox forum as well. It is FAR more specific to your issue. Surprised you even posted here. Maybe another Ubuntu user can help.

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delance (olivier-delance) said : 		#8

What I did was to create a second driver with bigge size, and with Gparted I copied partitions from small drive to bigger one, then increasing partition size. I never used modifyhd. The displayed usage doesn't display documentation, and in this case I trust more usage printing. Check that documentation and installed software are of same release of VirtualBox. I have resize option with VirtualBox 4.1.2 so I suppose you don't use documentation of 3.2.8_OSE.
As said Andrew, you could request to VirtualBox forum.
I have currently no time to search on issue.

delance@delance-desktop:~$ VBoxManage modifyhd --help
Oracle VM VirtualBox Command Line Management Interface Version 4.1.2
(C) 2005-2011 Oracle Corporation
All rights reserved.

Usage:

VBoxManage modifyhd <uuid>|<filename>
                            [--type normal|writethrough|immutable|shareable|
                                    readonly|multiattach]
                            [--autoreset on|off]
                            [--compact]
                            [--resize <megabytes>|--resizebyte <bytes>]

Syntax error: unknown option: --help

Revision history for this message
Peter Saxon (bumpysax) said : 		#9

The manual that came with VBox showed Version 4.1.2 - did not realize I had an older version. Will remove it & get the latest one.
Thanks for your help.