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The file is located in Program Files/Oracle/VirtualBox/VBoxManage.exe and is used as a command-line interface with VirtualBox.

I'm using it to convert the .vdi image to a .vdmk (for VMware).

http://scottlinux.com/2011/06/24/convert-vdi-to-vmdk-virtualbox-to-vmware/

Here's an example script:

$ VBoxManage list hdds

But where do I run this command? In Windows cmd? I tried both in cmd and in Linux but I can't figure it out.

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3
  • What is the error message you see ?
    – user9517
    Mar 1, 2012 at 20:34
  • cmd.exe worked, I just had to navigate to the VirtualBox folder, I couldn't run the program from root.
    – AlxVallejo
    Mar 1, 2012 at 20:47
  • You need to add the VirtualBox installation folder (i.e. default: C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox) to the advanced system settings > system properties > system environment variables to be able to run this command from cmd or powershell
    – Foad
    Mar 7, 2019 at 14:00

3 Answers 3

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16

It's a pretty sure bet that running an exe file in Linux won't work. In Windows you do run it from the command prompt. If you get a message about the command not being found then either add the path to the command to your PATH environment variable or specify the full path to the command.

If the command runs but it's not doing what you think it should be doing then read the documentation.

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88

You need to either use the whole path for the command:

"C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox\VBoxManage.exe" list hdds

Or cd to the C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox directory, then:

VBoxManage.exe list hdds

Or you can add add the C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox directory to your PATH:

PATH=%PATH%;C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox

and then you can run VBoxManage from anywhere

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3
  • 2
    ...or you create a vboxmanage.bat “stub“, somewhere in your path (e.g. I collect those in d:\scripts) to avoid polluting your path to endless lengths... Content: @CALL "C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox\vboxmanage.exe" %*
    – Frank N
    Jan 26, 2016 at 11:13
  • 1
    @FrankNocke you could use mklink for a similar purpose
    – StayOnTarget
    Jun 2, 2021 at 12:58
  • To do the first option, put an amperstand before the full path, like & "C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox\VBoxManage.exe" list hdds
    – 2br-2b
    Oct 12, 2023 at 0:04
2
  1. From the Windows7 start menu go to search programs and files folder.
  2. Type in CMD. Do not press enter.
  3. Right Click on the CMD icon and select copy.
  4. Navigate to c:\"Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox\
  5. Right click in the window and select paste.

You should now be able to use VboxManage from the CMD window. Try typing in VboxManage /? If you see the help list then your on your way.

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2
  • I'm not overly familiar with Windows but this smells like a bad idea. Surely there's a better way to change your working directory on the Windows command line.
    – Ladadadada
    May 19, 2014 at 16:27
  • @Ladadadada agreed that "cd" should be the normal way, but in case of long path names i need to travel where i have already an explorer window open for that path, i tend to use this (copy/paste path) approach as well
    – Dennis Nolte
    Dec 9, 2014 at 10:32

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