{"id":51149,"date":"2023-04-28T16:13:07","date_gmt":"2023-04-28T15:13:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/51149\/virtualbox-booting-from-the-usb-stick\/"},"modified":"2023-04-30T06:15:02","modified_gmt":"2023-04-30T05:15:02","slug":"virtualbox-booting-from-the-usb-stick","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/en\/51149\/virtualbox-booting-from-the-usb-stick\/","title":{"rendered":"VirtualBox &#8211; booting from the USB stick"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>How can I boot from a USB stick with VirtualBox?<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>In most cases, VirtualBox will boot you with an ISO file and then install the operating system of your choice. But how can I use a USB installation media and boot from it?<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of content<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/en\/51149\/virtualbox-booting-from-the-usb-stick\/#Instruction\" >Instruction<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/en\/51149\/virtualbox-booting-from-the-usb-stick\/#Install_operating_system\" >Install operating system<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/en\/51149\/virtualbox-booting-from-the-usb-stick\/#Update_for_VirtualBox_7\" >Update for VirtualBox 7<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Instruction\"><\/span>Instruction<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The function to boot from USB sticks is not directly included in the user interface of VirtualBox and is only accessible with a little trick. First we plug the <a href=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/en\/51961\/format-usb-sticks-larger-than-32-gb-with-fat32\/\" title=\"Format USB sticks larger than 32 GB with FAT32\">USB stick<\/a> into the computer. Then we open the disk management.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-20101\" src=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/vm_usb_1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"304\" height=\"278\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/vm_usb_1.png 304w, https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/vm_usb_1-300x274.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 304px) 100vw, 304px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The USB stick should now appear in the data medium management and also the number of the data medium. In my case it is number 1, which we will remember.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-20103\" src=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/vm_usb_2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"754\" height=\"479\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/vm_usb_2.png 754w, https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/vm_usb_2-300x191.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 754px) 100vw, 754px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Then we open the command prompt with administrator rights.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-20105\" src=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/vm_usb_3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"451\" height=\"242\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/vm_usb_3.png 451w, https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/vm_usb_3-300x161.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 451px) 100vw, 451px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Here we now change to the VirtualBox directory:<\/p>\n<pre>cd %programfiles%\\Oracle\\VirtualBox<\/pre>\n<p>Then we enter the following command:<\/p>\n<pre>VBoxManage internalcommands createrawvmdk -filename C:\\temp\\usb.vmdk -rawdisk \\.\\PhysicalDrive#<\/pre>\n<p>This command creates a virtual VMDK file for us, which is a shortcut to the USB drive. Instead of the hash, enter the number of the disk from Disk Management. You can adjust the path.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-20107\" src=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/vm_usb_4.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"629\" height=\"273\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/vm_usb_4.png 629w, https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/vm_usb_4-300x130.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 629px) 100vw, 629px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Our virtual data medium should then be stored in the target directory.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-20109\" src=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/vm_usb_5.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"281\" height=\"142\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Now we start VirtualBox with administrator rights.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-20111\" src=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/vm_usb_6.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"254\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/vm_usb_6.png 500w, https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/vm_usb_6-300x152.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We create a new virtual machine.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-20113\" src=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/vm_usb_7.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"373\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/vm_usb_7.png 480w, https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/vm_usb_7-300x233.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>In the settings page for the hard disk, however, we do not create a new one, but use the USB disk we created.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-20115\" src=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/vm_usb_8.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"373\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/vm_usb_8.png 480w, https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/vm_usb_8-300x233.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We can then start the virtual machine and it should now boot from the USB stick.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-20117\" src=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/vm_usb_9.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"590\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/vm_usb_9.jpg 700w, https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/vm_usb_9-300x253.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Install_operating_system\"><\/span>Install operating system<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>To install an operating system, we first need to add a hard drive. We can add this in the settings under Mass storage. It is important that the new data carrier is added to the list after the USB data carrier, otherwise the system will no longer boot from the USB stick.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-20119\" src=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/vm_usb_10.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"681\" height=\"529\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/vm_usb_10.png 681w, https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/vm_usb_10-300x233.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 681px) 100vw, 681px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-20121\" src=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/vm_usb_11.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"563\" height=\"617\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/vm_usb_11.png 563w, https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/vm_usb_11-274x300.png 274w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 563px) 100vw, 563px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-20123\" src=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/vm_usb_12.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"681\" height=\"529\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/vm_usb_12.png 681w, https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/vm_usb_12-300x233.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 681px) 100vw, 681px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>With the new hard disk, we can now boot from the USB stick and also install the operating system on our newly created data medium.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-20125\" src=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/vm_usb_13.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"770\" height=\"401\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/vm_usb_13.png 770w, https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/vm_usb_13-300x156.png 300w, https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/vm_usb_13-768x400.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Update_for_VirtualBox_7\"><\/span>Update for VirtualBox 7<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In VirtualBox 7, the <a href=\"https:\/\/forums.virtualbox.org\/viewtopic.php?f=6&amp;t=107659\">currently does not seem to work and is broken<\/a>. The following error message appears:<\/p>\n<pre>VBoxManage.exe: error: VMDK: Image path: 'C:\\temp\\usb.vmdk'. Getting config interface failed\r\nVBoxManage.exe: error: Error code VERR_INVALID_PARAMETER at F:\\tinderbox\\win-rel\\src\\VBox\\Storage\\VMDK.cpp(4481) in function int __cdecl vmdkRawDescParseConfig(struct VMDKIMAGE *,char **,unsigned int *,unsigned int *,void **,unsigned __int64 *,bool *,char **)\r\nVBoxManage.exe: error: VMDK: could get raw descriptor for 'C:\\temp\\usb.vmdk'.\r\nVBoxManage.exe: error: Error code VERR_INVALID_PARAMETER at F:\\tinderbox\\win-rel\\src\\VBox\\Storage\\VMDK.cpp(5296) in function int __cdecl vmdkCreateImage(struct VMDKIMAGE *,unsigned __int64,unsigned int,const char *,const struct VDGEOMETRY *,const struct VDGEOMETRY *,const union RTUUID *,struct VDINTERFACEPROGRESS *,unsigned int,unsigned int)\r\nVBoxManage.exe: error: Cannot create the raw disk VMDK: VERR_INVALID_PARAMETER\r\nVBoxManage.exe: error: The raw disk vmdk file was not created\r\n<\/pre>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-51145\" src=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/vboxmanage_fehler_1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1080\" height=\"324\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/vboxmanage_fehler_1.png 1080w, https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/vboxmanage_fehler_1-300x90.png 300w, https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/vboxmanage_fehler_1-1024x307.png 1024w, https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/vboxmanage_fehler_1-768x230.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The only remedy at present is to download a previous version.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How can I boot from a USB stick with VirtualBox?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7822,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1555],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-51149","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-software-en"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51149","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=51149"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51149\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7822"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=51149"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=51149"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ekiwi-blog.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=51149"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}