VirtualBox : increase the size of virtual disk

VirtualBox allows me on my MacBook, for a while, to use some applications unavailable with OSX. In example, applications related to Iridium connection. I produced, in my website, a video tutorial about installing a Windows7 system on a Mac with VirtualBox.

At the first installation, the application allows to create a default dynamic virtual disk 20 Go. The word « dynamic » means that the actual size used by the virtual volume will be those installed files, and that this size will increase with new files created, up to a maximum of 20 Go. As Windows 7 system needs only 12 to 13 GB space, thaGseems actually enough and one do not change this size.

But today, with more and more applications, my virtual disk is full. I cannot add more files, nor proceed the major update, as the Service Pack 1 recently available. Do not panic. Since version 4.0 VirtualBox allows you to increase the size of the virtual disk.

For this, must proceed in two steps.

1 – Use the command-line interface VBoxManage

VirtualBox is provided, as install, with a command line interface for performing actions on the implementation progress. Detailed explanations are provided in Chapter 8 User Manual (in English). VirtualBox must be closed before using this command.

Command in Terminal :
vboxmanage modifyhd ‘path / volume name’ –resize [size]

• Volume Name : To be sure not to make mistakes in entering the absolute path of the virtual disk, must select the file .vdi in the Finder and drag it with mouse in the terminal after vboxmanage modifyhd and between quotation marks. then type the following –resize 30000

• Size : 15000 = 15 Go, 20000 = 20 Go, 30000 = 30 G, etc..

Order entry and validation in the Terminal

This gives the new size in the user interface of VirtualBox :

2 – Increase the partition in Windows

Once restarted Windows in VirtualBox, you see that the hard disk seen in the file manager is always the same size as before. That's normal, the virtual disk has been increased, but Windows only sees the partition, it, was unchanged.

You will open the utility Command Prompt in All Programs / Accessories (Equivalent Terminal in OSX) to launch the utility DiskPart.
Once DiskPart launched in a new window, commands to follow are :

1. list volume (to see the number of boot volume, which displays the old size)
2. select volume x (where x is the volume number)
3. extend (no arguments, extend the partition to increase the size of the virtual disk)

You enter the command again :

1. list volume (to verify that the size is identical to the one you set in VBoxManage)

Launch DiskPart order entry window

You can close the window and check your hard disk is displayed with its new size :

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