Problems installing ISO file into Virtualbox 4.1.14

[GLaDOS]

Hi everyone,

I have been trying to install a Fedora 16 ISO file into Virtualbox and I keep getting the error code below:


Failed to open the CD/DVD image C:\Virtual OS\Fedora 16.iso.

Could not get the storage format of the medium 'C:\Virtual OS\Fedora 16.iso' (VERR_NOT_SUPPORTED).

Result Code: VBOX_E_IPRT_ERROR (0x80BB0005)
Component: Medium
Interface: IMedium {53f9cc0c-e0fd-40a5-a404-a7a5272082cd}
Callee: IVirtualBox {c28be65f-1a8f-43b4-81f1-eb60cb516e66}


I've tried ISO files from 2 different places and I always seem to get the same error message. Has anyone tried this and been successful? I'd really appreciate the help. If you need my computer specs I have included them below as well:

Acer AO722
Windows 7 Home Premium (64 bit OS)
Processor: AMD C-60 APU with Radeon HD Graphics 1.00 GHz
RAM: 4G
HDD: 284 GB (255 GB free)

If you need any additional information, I would be happy to provide it. In the meantime, I'm going to keep trying different things.

Thanks so much for your advice and suggestions. They are greatly appreciated!!

[stroyal]

Sorry if I'm missing something, but are you burning the ISO image first?

I say this, because you don't install an ISO image, it is a Fedora CD, when it is installable.

[GLaDOS]

I'll be honest, I did not know that. I am new to the world of virtualization, and am trying to teach myself a lot of it.

I use a netbook that obviously does not have an optical drive. Is there any solution other than attaching a usb drive to burn the iso file on to??

[RicheemxX]

He's running Virtual Box trying to get it setup via VM so there shouldn't be an issue. From the VirtualBox forums and some Googling it looks like that error is generally related to a corrupted ISO or bad formatting. Where are you downloading it from? The filename shouldn't be Fedora 16.iso if you do rename it should be something like Fedora-16-i686-Live-Desktop.iso if you rename it don't leave spaces, sometimes that causes issues.

edit: You can install it to a virtual drive in the VirtualMachine and run it like any other OS. Even w/o burning the disk. You might check Google for an install guide that shows the settings you need. But you should be able to create a virtual box image from the iso w/o too many issues.

[GLaDOS]

He's running Virtual Box trying to get it setup via VM so there shouldn't be an issue. From the VirtualBox forums and some Googling it looks like that error is generally related to a corrupted ISO or bad formatting. Where are you downloading it from? The filename shouldn't be Fedora 16.iso if you do rename it should be something like Fedora-16-i686-Live-Desktop.iso if you rename it don't leave spaces, sometimes that causes issues.

edit: You can install it to a virtual drive in the VirtualMachine and run it like any other OS. Even w/o burning the disk. You might check Google for an install guide that shows the settings you need. But you should be able to create a virtual box image from the iso w/o too many issues.

I tried downloading it from at least 2 or different places:
Linux ISO Image Downloads | Linuxlookup
Fedora Project - Download Fedora and try it.

Only on the last try did I attempt to rename the file. The first few tries, I left the filename as it was originally.

Also, how big should an ISO file generally be? The first time I downloaded it, it was approx. 1 gig (maybe a bit less). The one I'm trying now is 3.5 gigs.

[RicheemxX]

You are downloading something totally wrong! It tells you right there on the Fedora site the ISO is only 605mbs. The total unpacked install will take a few GBs of hard drive space but the iso isn't that big.

And you shouldn't need to install it. You can just grab the iso, mount it in VirtualBox and it should run as a live disk. If you want to install it to your machine that will take a bit more work.

[stroyal]

Ah, missed virtual box.
It wouldn't mater, as I know nothing about it.

never mind.

[Taxmancometh]

What I have done with ISO's and mounting into a virtual machine was that I loaded the ISO file into a virtual DVD drive and pointed the Virtual machine ( in this case VMware) to the virtual drive. Never once did I have to burn the ISO.

[Taxmancometh]

You can use VMware for free by downloading VMware workstation which gives you a free trial. Then create your virtual environment. Now download VMware player which is free and run the VMDK file in there. Presto! free virtual OS.

[GLaDOS]

You can use VMware for free by downloading VMware workstation which gives you a free trial. Then create your virtual environment. Now download VMware player which is free and run the VMDK file in there. Presto! free virtual OS.

Right now I'm using Virtualbox, but given all the problems I'm experiencing, maybe I'll give VMware player a try.

[Taxmancometh]

Just fill out the form for VMware workstation and create your virtual environment then download VMware player and run the VMDK file in there.

This is what I used to create a virtual DVD drive of which I pointed to VMware.

Alcohol 52% Free Edition

[RicheemxX]

Either way he goes he needs to start with getting the right ISO. If he's downloading something larger than that 605mb file then he's downloading something else.

So it looks like you must be grabbing the "install media" from this page. That is 3.5gb. That would only be used if you want the entire installation package. If all you are doing is messing around with it to test out the features the live Disk would be the easier route to go. Otherwise you'll have to essentially run through a full on install even in the virtual machine. It won't stay loaded on your pc but it will run through all the install steps as normal.

[GLaDOS]

Either way he goes he needs to start with getting the right ISO. If he's downloading something larger than that 605mb file then he's downloading something else.

So it looks like you must be grabbing the "install media" from this page. That is 3.5gb. That would only be used if you want the entire installation package. If all you are doing is messing around with it to test out the features the live Disk would be the easier route to go. Otherwise you'll have to essentially run through a full on install even in the virtual machine. It won't stay loaded on your pc but it will run through all the install steps as normal.

Yep, you're right I was picking the wrong file. Thanks for helping me clarify that. I unfortunately do not have a Live disk handy (or an optical drive at the ready for that matter) so I thought an ISO file would be the easiest thing. I just don't understand if I am getting the file from fedoraproject.org why it wouldn't be working.

[RicheemxX]

To clarify the live disk is an ISO file, Live Disks, just like the installers are meant to be burn to DVD's. The difference is the Live Disk is bootable and runs like the OS just without the need for the full blown install. Either one should work with VitrualBox, the live disk just won't need to "create" an install. It will just load up.

The installer would be like doing a new install of any OS. You'd have run through the standard install procedures like you would if you were installing Windows for the first time. You'd just be doing it in the Virtual Machine.

If either one isn't working then it could be a bad download, bad setting or anything. Yu said this is a netbook so it could be something to do with that. I'd search the VirtualBox forums, they had several posts related to that error. One might explain it better.

[GLaDOS]

Well I have been looking around a bit and nothing jumps out at me quite yet. I was wondering however: I use a netbook with a 1 ghz processor. Is that not powerful enough to be used by both virtualbox and my windows 7 os?

EDIT: Or as I look now I just noticed that under the download link was:

605MB, ISO format image for Intel-compatible PCs (32-bit)

My Acer has an AMD processor. Could that be the issue??

[GLaDOS]

I tried going through these steps with a different ISO file (Ubuntu) and actually got it to work so it appears the problem lies with the Fedora 16 ISO file I'm using - I'm guessing it's the Intel-compatible thing but I could be wrong.

[DavidPecoraJr]

He's running Virtual Box trying to get it setup via VM so there shouldn't be an issue. From the VirtualBox forums and some Googling it looks like that error is generally related to a corrupted ISO or bad formatting. Where are you downloading it from? The filename shouldn't be Fedora 16.iso if you do rename it should be something like Fedora-16-i686-Live-Desktop.iso if you rename it don't leave spaces, sometimes that causes issues.

edit: You can install it to a virtual drive in the VirtualMachine and run it like any other OS. Even w/o burning the disk. You might check Google for an install guide that shows the settings you need. But you should be able to create a virtual box image from the iso w/o too many issues.