.VBOX-PREV File Recovery

Have files been deleted due to a user’s error or software error? Have you formatted a disk by accident and need to know how to recover the files? Read our .VBOX-PREV file recovery guide for Windows, MacOS, Android and IOS in 2024.

VBOX-PREV File Recovery

What is a .VBOX-PREV file?

Backup file created by Oracle VM VirtualBox, a program used for virtualizing guest operating systems; stores a backup of the previous state of a .VBOX file; created in the same directory as the VBOX file and can be used to restore previous settings.

What Are Common Causes of ".VBOX-PREV" Files Lost or Failure?

There are several common causes of ".VBOX-PREV" files being lost or failing:

  1. Accidental deletion: Users may accidentally delete the ".VBOX-PREV" files while managing or cleaning up their virtual machine configurations.
  2. Software or hardware issues: Issues with the virtualization software or the underlying hardware can lead to corruption or loss of ".VBOX-PREV" files.
  3. Power outages or system crashes: Sudden power outages or system crashes during virtual machine operations can cause the ".VBOX-PREV" files to become corrupted or lost.
  4. Incomplete or interrupted virtual machine operations: If a virtual machine operation, such as saving or restoring, is interrupted or not completed successfully, it can result in the loss or failure of ".VBOX-PREV" files.
  5. Disk or storage failures: Failures in the disk or storage devices where the ".VBOX-PREV" files are stored can lead to their loss or corruption.
  6. Malware or virus attacks: Malicious software or viruses can infect and damage the ".VBOX-PREV" files, rendering them unusable or causing them to be deleted.
  7. User errors: Users may inadvertently modify or delete the ".VBOX-PREV" files while attempting to perform other actions on their virtual machines.

It is always recommended to regularly back up virtual machine configurations, including the ".VBOX-PREV" files, to prevent data loss in case of any failures or accidents.

How to recover lost ".VBOX-PREV" files?

Sometimes while working with a computer, laptop or other stationary or mobile devices, you may encounter various bugs, freezes, hardware or software failures, even in spite of regular updates and junk cleaning. As a result, an important ".VBOX-PREV" file may be deleted.

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🧺 How to Recover Files and Folders After Sending Them to the Recycle Bin and Deleting? (Windows 11)

By no means should you think that the only way to recover a ".VBOX-PREV" file is always to create it once more.

Use programs for recovering ".VBOX-PREV" files if a file was lost after accidental or deliberate deleting, formatting the memory card or the internal storage, cleaning the storage device, after a virus attack or a system failure.

Programs to recover ".VBOX-PREV" files

Looking for a way to get files back? In cases when files were deleted and they cannot be restored by using standard operating system tools, use Hetman Partition Recovery.

The tool recovers data from any devices, regardless of the cause of data loss.

Follow the directions below:

  1. Download Hetman Partition Recovery, install and start the program.

  2. The program will automatically scan the computer and display all hard disks and removable drives connected to it, as well as physical and local disks.

    File Recovery Software
  3. Double-click on the disk from which you need to recover ".VBOX-PREV" files, and select analysis type.

    Hetman Partition Recovery - Analysis Type
  4. When the scanning is over, you will be shown the files for recovery.

    Hetman Partition Recovery - Files that Can be Restored
  5. To find a file you need, use the program’s interface to open the folder it was deleted from, or go to the folder "Content-Aware Analysis" and select the required file type.

    Hetman Partition Recovery - Deep Scan
  6. Select the files you have been looking for and click "Recovery".

    File Recovery Software - Files List for Recovery
  7. Choose one of the methods for saving the files and recover them.

    Saving recovered files in Hetman Partition Recovery

How to open file with ".VBOX-PREV" extension?

Looking for how to open a stereo oracle VM VirtualBox Settings Backup File image file file?

Programs that open ".VBOX-PREV" files

Windows
Oracle VM VirtualBox Oracle VM VirtualBox
Mac
Oracle VM VirtualBox Oracle VM VirtualBox
Linux
Oracle VM VirtualBox Oracle VM VirtualBox

Additional Information

  • File type: Oracle VM VirtualBox Settings Backup File

  • File extension: .VBOX-PREV

  • Developer: Oracle

  • Category: Backup Files

  • Format: Text

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Comments (1)

  • Hetman Software: Data Recovery
    Hetman Software: Data Recovery 18.12.2019 13:00 #
    Leave a comment if you have any questions about Recovering lost .VBOX-PREV files after deleting, cleaning or formatting!
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Vladimir Artiukh

Author: Vladimir Artiukh, Technical Writer

Vladimir Artiukh is a technical writer for Hetman Software, as well as the voice and face of their English-speaking YouTube channel, Hetman Software: Data Recovery for Windows. He handles tutorials, how-tos, and detailed reviews on how the company’s tools work with all kinds of data storage devices.

Oleg Afonin

Editor: Oleg Afonin, Technical Writer

Oleg Afonin is an expert in mobile forensics, data recovery and computer systems. He often attends large data security conferences, and writes several blogs for such resources as xaker.ru, Elcomsoft and Habr. In addition to his online activities, Oleg’s articles are also published in professional magazines. Also, Oleg Afonin is the co-author of a well-known book, Mobile Forensics - Advanced Investigative Strategies.

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Questions and answers

  • What is the purpose of a .VBOX-PREV file and how does it differ from a regular .VBOX file?

    The purpose of a .VBOX-PREV file is to serve as a backup or snapshot of a VirtualBox virtual machine configuration file (.VBOX file) before any changes are made to it.

    When you modify the settings of a virtual machine in VirtualBox, it creates a backup of the original .VBOX file and saves it with the .VBOX-PREV extension. This allows you to revert back to the previous configuration if any issues arise after making changes.

    The main difference between a .VBOX-PREV file and a regular .VBOX file is that the former represents the previous state or configuration of the virtual machine, while the latter represents the current or modified state. The .VBOX-PREV file is not actively used by VirtualBox unless you choose to revert to the previous configuration.

  • How can I open and access the contents of a .VBOX-PREV file? Are there any specific software or tools required?

    A .VBOX-PREV file is a backup file created by Oracle VM VirtualBox, which contains a backup of the configuration settings for a virtual machine. To access the contents of a .VBOX-PREV file, you can follow these steps:

    1. Open Oracle VM VirtualBox.
    2. Click on "File" in the menu bar and select "Preferences."
    3. In the Preferences window, go to the "General" tab.
    4. Under the "Default Machine Folder" section, note down or remember the path mentioned.
    5. Close Oracle VM VirtualBox.
    6. Navigate to the folder mentioned in step 4 using a file explorer.
    7. Locate the .VBOX-PREV file you want to access.
    8. Make a copy of the .VBOX-PREV file in a safe location as a backup.
    9. Rename the copied file, removing the "-PREV" extension, so it becomes a .VBOX file.
    10. Open Oracle VM VirtualBox again.
    11. Click on "File" in the menu bar and select "Import Appliance."
    12. In the Import Virtual Appliance window, click the folder icon and browse to the location where you saved the renamed .VBOX file.
    13. Select the .VBOX file and click "Open."
    14. Click "Next" to import the virtual machine configuration.
    15. Review and modify the settings if needed, then click "Import."
    16. Once the import process is complete, you can access the contents of the virtual machine as you would with any other virtual machine in Oracle VM VirtualBox.

    Note that the .VBOX-PREV file is a backup, so it may not contain the most recent changes to the virtual machine. It is always recommended to regularly backup your virtual machines using the built-in export feature in Oracle VM VirtualBox to ensure you have the latest configuration settings.

  • Is it possible to convert or restore a .VBOX-PREV file back to a regular .VBOX file? If so, what steps should be followed?

    Yes, it is possible to convert or restore a .VBOX-PREV file back to a regular .VBOX file. The .VBOX-PREV file is a backup of the .VBOX file created by VirtualBox.

    To convert or restore the .VBOX-PREV file, you can follow these steps:

    1. Make sure VirtualBox is not running.
    2. Locate the .VBOX-PREV file that you want to convert or restore.
    3. Rename the .VBOX-PREV file to remove the "-PREV" extension, so it becomes a regular .VBOX file.
    4. Move the converted .VBOX file to the appropriate location. The default location for VirtualBox VM files is usually in the VirtualBox VMs directory, which is typically located in the user's home directory.
    5. Open VirtualBox and go to the "Machine" menu.
    6. Select "Add" or "Add... (Ctrl+A)" to open the Virtual Media Manager.
    7. In the Virtual Media Manager, click on the "Add" button and browse to the location where you moved the converted .VBOX file.
    8. Select the .VBOX file and click "Open" to add it to VirtualBox.
    9. The restored .VBOX file should now appear in the VirtualBox Manager, and you can start the virtual machine as usual.

    Note: It's always recommended to create a backup of the original .VBOX-PREV file before attempting any changes or conversions.

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