Recovering VirtualBox Image after deleting /etc/share/

Question

I'm working on a Linux mint virtualbox image hosted on Windows 10 where I accidentally deleted the /etc/share directory and subdirectories.

Now my Image can't boot and I have sensitive data that I want to recover.

How can I do so?

Answer 1

OK.. ok.. the problem you are going to have here is that the file system is probably ext4 (or similar) and even if you can open the VDI from windows, you probably won't be able to see the files.

There are windows drivers for some linux file systems but this is the PAINFUL way to solve this (IMHO).

I myself would:

1. Make a new Linux VM with a new VDI (or use an existing VirtualBox Linux image).
2. Add your existing VDI to the settings (as another HDD) for the VM in step 1.
3. After booting the new VM, mount your partition/volume from the VDI in step two into the folder of your choice. To figure out your disk ID, try this.
4. Copy off the files you need.
5. Collect Underpants
6. ?
7. Profit

Answer 2

It depends on how you created the VM in first place. If you chose to have all the machine in one file (.vdi file) or have separated file for configuration and for virtual drive in it (ie .vhd file).

Either way you want to mount the file as a virtual drive so that if it can't boot as it is for you, you will be able to read the data inside the file.

• You might want to try opening .vdi file with 7zip.
• Try using ImDisk if you have .vhd file and your host is windows.