- The VERR_FILE_NOT_FOUND error occurs when VirtualBox cannot find a required file.
- It may be due to a change in the disk path, corrupt files or incorrect permissions.
- Solutions include checking the disk path, restoring files, or reinstalling VirtualBox.
- Examining the VirtualBox logs can help identify the exact cause of the problem.
If you've ever encountered the VERR_FILE_NOT_FOUND error in VirtualBox, you know how frustrating it can be. You try to start your virtual machine and are met with a message indicating that an essential file is missing. Fortunately, this problem has a solution, and here's how to identify and resolve it.
This error usually occurs when VirtualBox can't find a file required to run the virtual machine. This could be the virtual disk file (VDI, VMDK, etc.), the VM configuration file , or a problem with the VirtualBox installation . Let's analyze the possible causes and how to fix each one.
Causes of the VERR_FILE_NOT_FOUND error in VirtualBox
Before applying any solution, it's essential to understand why this error is appearing. The most common causes include:
- Missing VM configuration fileVirtualBox requires a .vbox file to manage the virtual machine. If this file has been deleted or moved, the VM will not be able to start.
- Incorrect virtual disk path: If the virtual disk file (.vdi or .vmdk) has changed location or has been deleted, VirtualBox will not be able to access it.
- Change the virtual machine directory: Moving virtual machine files manually without updating VirtualBox internal logs can result in this error.
- Corrupt files: A system crash or unexpected VirtualBox shutdown may damage some essential files.
- Permissions issues: If you don't have sufficient permissions to access the VM files on your operating system, VirtualBox may crash.
Solutions for the VERR_FILE_NOT_FOUND error
Now that we know the possible causes, let's see how to solve it.
1. Verify and restore the configuration file
The first step is to check if the virtual machine's .vbox file is in its correct folder. To do this:
- Open the File Browser and go to the folder where you save your Virtual machines.
- Look for the file with the .vbox extension.
- If it's missing, try restoring it from a backup or recreating the virtual machine with the same parameters.
If you need more information on how to install and use VirtualBox, you can check out this updated guide.
2. Check the virtual disk path
If the problem is that the virtual disk has moved, you need to update its path in VirtualBox:
- Open VirtualBox and select the affected virtual machine.
- Click on “Settings” and go to the “Storage” section.
- Check the path of the .vdi or .vmdk file and make sure it points to the correct location.
- If the path is incorrect, remove the reference and add it again. virtual disk from its new location.
3. Restore lost files or recreate the virtual machine
If you can't find some essential files , you can try to recover them with data recovery tools or, in the worst case, recreate the virtual machine from scratch and reconfigure the parameters.
4. Check access permissions
In some cases, VirtualBox cannot access VM files due to permission restrictions. To resolve this issue:
- make sure you have Administrator privileges in the system.
- En Windows, right-click on the virtual machine folder, select “Properties” > “Security” and grant full control permissions to your user.
- En Linux, use the command
chmod 777on the VM folder to make sure you have access.
It's also advisable to make sure you're not facing problems with the kernel driver on your system, for which you can check this article on kernel driver errors.
5. Review VirtualBox logs
If none of the above solutions work, you can check the VirtualBox logs for more details about the problem:
- Open VirtualBox and go to “File” > “Virtual Media Manager”.
- Check the logs in the path where you save the virtual machines.
- Search additional error messages that can help identify the missing file.
6. Reinstall VirtualBox
If you're still having problems after all that, VirtualBox may have corrupted files . To fix this:
- Join the Backup of your virtual machines.
- Uninstall VirtualBox completely from your system.
- Download the last version from the official website and install it again.
By following these steps, you should be able to fix the VERR_FILE_NOT_FOUND error in VirtualBox and run your virtual machines again without problems. If the error persists, check the logs and consider checking your hard drive for bad sectors.
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