In my case, Ubuntu 16 is the host OS, Windows 7 is the guest OS, with Virtualbox 5.0.40.<\/p>\n
Before starting, ensure your Virtualbox is a VDI file<\/strong>. VMDK files can’t be resized–though they’re useful for other reasons, being compatible with other virtualization software like VMWare.<\/p>\n First, run the guest OS. Delete temp files and clean up the drive. Use the windows Disk Cleanup<\/strong> feature to remove windows update and other garbage files.<\/p>\n Next, defrag the drive. Defragging crams all the files together with contiguous unused space at the end of the drive instead of scattered around.<\/p>\n Then run: sdelete<\/a> c: -z<\/strong>. You must run this from a command prompt having admin privileges. This step writes zeros across the unused space, which is critical because VirtualBox can’t compact the VDI unless the free space is full of zeroes<\/strong>. The sdelete command takes a long time after reporting 100%, appears to be hung. Be patient and let it finish.<\/p>\n Now shut down the guest OS<\/strong>. From the host OS command line, run: vboxmanage modifyhd file.vdi compact<\/strong>. Here, file.vdi is your VDI file.<\/p>\n Your’e done. The VDI file will be smaller. It will grow automatically as you use more of the guest OS disk space.<\/p>\n Note: don’t use the guest Windows 7 OS file management to shrink the volume. The free space it creates can’t be compacted by VirtualBox.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In my case, Ubuntu 16 is the host OS, Windows 7 is the guest OS, with Virtualbox 5.0.40. Before starting, ensure your Virtualbox is a VDI file. VMDK files can’t be resized–though they’re useful for other reasons, being compatible with other virtualization software like VMWare. First, run the guest OS. Delete temp files and clean … Continue reading How to Shrink Virtualbox VDI Volumes In-Place<\/span>