How to convert .img to usable VirtualBox format

Question

I have a .img file for Windows 10, and I need to turn it into something which I can use in VirtualBox, such as an ISO, or turning it into a bootable virtual disk for an ICT project.

If this was Linux, I'd suggest qemu-img convert. On Windows, it's more fun to install Win1 yourself from floppy images — u1686_grawity, Feb 20 '13 at 16:05

score 143 · Accepted Answer · edited Oct 18 '19 at 20:11

143

Select a virtual machine by clicking its name in the VirtualBox window
Click the Machine menu at the top of the VirtualBox window, and click Settings
Click the Storage category in the Settings window
Right-click in the storage tree pane, and click Add Floppy Controller
Right-click the Floppy Controller device, and click Add Floppy Device
Click the Choose Disk button in the prompt window that appears
Navigate to the floppy disk image file (.IMG) on your computer and double-click it

If that doesn't work, try renaming the .IMG as .ISO and mount it.

If that too doesn't work, use VBoxManage's convertfromraw command as follows:

VBoxManage convertfromraw --format VDI [filename].img [filename].vdi

Mount the VDI as a hard disk.

edited Oct 18 '19 at 20:11

DJCrashdummy

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answered Feb 21 '13 at 05:19

Karan

56,477

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Thanks so much! It worked, and a few days before the project was due. – Anthony Feb 21 '13 at 11:05
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Is this reversible? – ThorSummoner Sep 02 '14 at 23:46
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@ThorSummoner: Try VBoxManage clonehd --format RAW [filename].vdi [filename].img (syntax help for clonehd here). – Karan Sep 05 '14 at 23:58
Thanks! Renaming .img to .iso worked in my case, I had SharePoint 2013 Server. – Amit Bhagat Feb 20 '16 at 10:12
The fully quallified command path is: /Applications/VirtualBox.app/Contents/MacOS/VBoxManage clonehd --format RAW [filename].vdi [filename].img – Jorduino Mar 28 '17 at 11:02
convertfromraw was the only way that worked for me to convert a Volumio.img into a VirtualBox vdi and boot from it. – weberjn Jan 03 '18 at 21:46
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Just a note it will not work if the image file converted is built for a different architecture. For example, you cannot convert a Raspian (ARM) image for use in VirtualBox (x86) using this method. – vhs Jun 20 '18 at 11:56
convertfromraw is what worked for me. – Anton Andreev Dec 07 '20 at 18:21
Will it work with an android rom ? – NoOne Oct 16 '23 at 17:58

Bevan Collins · Answer 2 · 2017-11-13T19:02:03.713

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Windows 10 can mount .img files as a drive. This drive can then be accessed by a virtual machine.

In Windows Explorer, right click on the .img file, select Mount.
Start the virtual machine
In the Devices menu => Optical Drives => select the Host Drive created in step 1.

edited Nov 13 '17 at 19:02

answered Nov 13 '17 at 07:55

Bevan Collins

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sometimes it wont , for e.g. i tried to mount an octopi img file in windows 10 and it said the image file is corrupt – Gurpreet Feb 13 '20 at 20:31
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I'm also experiencing a "corrupted image file" which came from a raspberry pi. – GChuf Apr 01 '20 at 16:29
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The Rasberry Pi images might be ARM processor based, instead of x86-based. – Tim McElwee Oct 21 '21 at 15:58

How to convert .img to usable VirtualBox format

2 Answers2