Filed under: OS Updates, Google, Open Source, How-Tos
How to convert Hexxeh's Chrome OS build image to a VirtualBox .VDI
Been wanting to check out that Google Chrome OS developer build put together by Hexxeh, but don't have a spare netbook or laptop to run it on? Why not fire it up in Virtualbox instead?
Rolling your own .vdi for VirtualBox is actually a very simple process -- and necessary, since I was never able to get the .img file to boot (just a blinking cursor on a black screen). Here's how to do it on a system running Windows:
- Download or torrent the latest version from Hexxeh
- Extract the image from within .tar.gz file using an archiver like 7-zip
- Open a command prompt
- Change to the directory where you saved your download (e.g. c:\users\you\downloads\)
- Type path=c:\program files\sun\virtualbox\ and press enter (*note: your path may differ)
- Type vboxmanage convertdd ChromeOS-Cherry.img ChromeOS-Cherry.vdi and press enter
- Wait patiently
Input is still a little laggy, but it's definitely more usable than the first builds. If anyone manages to get guest additions working - by all means, share your tips in the comments!
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Each animal can do different things; the butterfly can obviously fly, but if it encounters a frog, the frog eats it, and you have to start over again. There's also a fox that runs fast and leaps far, but it eats any rabbits that cross its path. That means that, if you may need to be a rabbit later on, you need to take that into account ...
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Sinani201 said 7:05PM on 12-04-2009
Guest additions might be able to install since you can use the browser to browse files. Just type in "/" (without quotes) and it will list the files. However, I can't find any discs in the Media sections when I mount Guest Additions.
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astrotoyseven said 10:34PM on 12-04-2009
lolz.. you could get all nerdcore and do it this way, or just plug it into Starwind V2V free converter to get it to vmdk or vhd
http://www.starwindsoftware.com/download/1/StarWindConverter.exe
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JE said 10:11AM on 12-05-2009
"or just plug it into Starwind V2V"
Erm, its not exactly difficult - are the steps too complicated for you?
At least this original posting method above doesnt involve installing yet another unknown application (Starwind V2V,) that problaby just automates the above steps anyway.
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Richard said 12:51PM on 12-05-2009
The instructions produced the VDI file successfully. Followed the new virtual guest instructions to the letter on a MACOSX Snow Leopard up-to-date running VirtualBox 3.0.12. The following is the result:
"No bootable medium found"
VirtualBox has had issues before with MacOSX so that may be the problem.
I checked the IMG file. When DDed appropriately to a USB stick. it successfully boots into Chrome.
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Richard said 12:54PM on 12-05-2009
3rd time I booted the VDI with VirtualBox, it worked. Odd. Must be the Mac Host.
Anyone else notice these two?
(1) Very slow in VirtualBox
(2) No audio.
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cat3969 said 9:20PM on 12-06-2009
great tip
worked on windows 7 64bit
thanks
can i do this with other img or iso hmm just wondering ?
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cdgvbmu said 7:04AM on 1-21-2010
Didn't work for me.
It'll convert in cmd but when I run it in VB as master virtual drive it boots but only shows black screen. Won't load UI at all. Would it be a xconf problem?
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peejay said 11:25AM on 2-15-2010
I tried this on a Mac. I got the .vdi very quickly and installed it in a virtual machine, but like cdgvbmu, after booting, all I got was a black screen.
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Otafu said 1:57PM on 2-18-2010
Same here... it seems to boot, but it freezes and shows a blank screen (weird as the HD shows some activity)...
tried this with the Chrome OS - Flow image.
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