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I ripped a Linux Mint partition into a file using the dd command:

sudo dd if=PART_PATH of=OUTPUT_PATH/ubuntu.bin

Then I converted it into a *.vdi

VBoxManage convertdd PATH_TO_ubuntu.bin ubuntu.vdi --format VDI

But when I try to boot into the vdi from Virtualbox I get an error

FATAL: No bootable medium found? System halted.

Even though I chose the *.vdi file as the hard drive.

So I tried booting into a live CD and the virtual hard drive shows up as /dev/sda, I was able to mount it and browse system files. So the *.vdi file is working but I can't boot.

I tried to chroot into the system in the VDI via the live system and ran the command to rebild GRUB but it didn't do anything. I also tried boot-repair.

*How do I make VirtualBox boot into the ripped .vdi instead of it just being read like a storage hard drive?

Destiny Fan
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  • To be bootable, a disk and therefore also a VDI file needs a partition table. It also needs Grub itself (MBR format: Grub resides in a gap between partition table and first partition; UEFI: Grub resides in an EFI partition), and the Grub config file, which is often in a separate partition mounted under /boot. Since you only copied a single partition to the VDI file, I guess that all of the above is missing in the VDI file. – berndbausch Feb 11 '21 at 01:16
  • I found instructions almost identical to your steps at https://askubuntu.com/a/34879/1039187, but at least two people report the same problem as you. Try copying the entire disk instead of just the partition. – berndbausch Feb 11 '21 at 01:16
  • Maybe the easiest thing to do is to install the same distro of Linux from scratch using the Virtual Box wizard, then attach the VDI, move it to a partition alongside the working system then finally from within the working install chroot into the partition and rebuild GRUB. – Destiny Fan Feb 22 '21 at 16:25

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