VirtualBox XP - No bootable medium found running in Win7

Docfxit · 22 May 2014

I installed VirtualBox in Win7 to run one program that needs XP.

I'm getting an error when I start VirtualBox saying "Fatal: No bootable medium found!"

I have tried a number of combinations of settings and I can't get rid of the error.

Running Win7 Pro sp1 32bit
Physical HD SSD
Physical memory usable 3.33gb

I have googled this error and tried all kinds of solutions. I can't get rid of the error.

Please give me some idea on how to fix it.

Thank you,

Docfxit

Kari · 22 May 2014

Your system can only find a non-bootable CD/DVD image (VirtualBox Guest Additions) and an empty VHD without OS:

VirtualBox XP - No bootable medium found running in Win7-2014-05-23_00h01_22.png

You need to mount the XP install media (ISO file or CD/DVD) to your virtual machine in order to boot from it and start installation.

See this tutorial (Part 1, Step 13) for how to tell VirtualBox how to find the install media: Linux - Install on Windows 7 Virtual Machine using VirtualBox. Tutorial is made to show how to install Linux in an older version of VirtualBox but the principle is the same.

Kari

Docfxit · 22 May 2014

Thank you for the informative tutorial. I think I followed it correctly. I'm still getting the same error.

I hope you can figure out what I am doing wrong.

Thank you,

Docfxit

Kari · 22 May 2014

To start, you have an awfully small virtual hard disk for XP, only 500 MB. That's simply not enough. See this article: Hard disk space requirements for Windows XP Service Pack 3.

Other than that, if the install ISO file is bootable you should be ready to go.

Docfxit · 22 May 2014

For the next person that needs to enlarge the size of a virtual hard drive I created a bat file:
Please note: I had nothing in the hard drive. I have no idea if this would wipe out something if you have live information in it. Please make sure you have a backup of your data first.

----Start of bat file called VirtualBoxEnlargeHardDrive.bat
@Echo On
C:
CD\Programs\VirtualBox
VBoxManage modifyhd "C:\Users\Gary\VirtualBox VMs\VirtualBox\VirtualBoxXPHardDrive.vdi" --resize 3000
cmd
----End of bat file
NOTE: you need to modify the path, name of your .vdi and size to meet your needs.

I have increased the size of the hard drive. I have also tried a different XP ISO. I believe they are both bootable.
I'm still getting the same error.

Thank you,

Docfxit

Kari · 22 May 2014

When your vm is started, can you see the Starting virtual machine message?

VirtualBox XP - No bootable medium found running in Win7-2014-05-23_02h12_20.png

If yes, what is the exact error message that follows now when you have a bootable install ISO on virtual CD/DVD drive?

Docfxit · 22 May 2014

I tested both of the .ISO images I used with PowerISO to make sure they were bootable. It said they both were not bootable. I tried another XP image I have and it is bootable. It is starting the install. I will try to find a .ISO image with the latest MS updates included And a cut down version before I spend the time to install this one. I don't need most of the features in XP for this one program.

I'm very sorry I wasn't correct in knowing they weren't bootable.

Thank you very much for all your help.

Docfxit

Kari · 22 May 2014

Main thing is you got it running.

Docfxit · 22 May 2014

Thanks to your help.

Docfxit · 22 May 2014

During the install of XP I'm getting a BOSD. Could that have anything to do with the VirtualBox?

Thank you,

Docfxit