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I posted an answer on ( Does Virtualbox support DMG files on non-Mac OSes? ), it was deleted, and cannot be undeleted. The reason being that it was declared as not an answer, but it is.

The OP's question said they were unable to mount dmg files with VirtualBOx on a non-OSX host. They said according to some posts they've found they believe it is a supported function, and then asked

Can someone who used DMG files with Virtualbox on Windows confirm or deny this?

So I took first hand test results with VirtualBox on Windows 8 that showed DMG is listed as supported when you browse for media, but that I too could not mount one. I also noted that our error messages were not the same, which I believe was a helpful note given that the OP has since discovered the error was caused by the dmg file they were using; they have successfully mounted a different dmg.

I'm not saying my answer is the worlds greatest. Obviously a quote from the VirtualBox manual confirming support of dmg would be better than first hand test results, but I couldn't find a quote so I provided the next best thing.

I believe the reason my answer was flagged, was that people mistook my comment about the error messages to mean that I wanted to get help solving a problem, when I was merely trying to point out that dmg mount failure can be caused by more than one thing. If I had had any information allowing me to elaborate on the errors I would have, but I didn't so I left it at that. Instead of telling me my answer is not an answer I would suggest people focus their energy on improving it by perhaps adding in what the OP, and I's errors mean.

For the record there are currently 3 answers on the page. Mine (which actually addresses what the OP asked "Is DMG supported"), the OP's (Saying the error was due to a bad dmg file), and another user (Suggesting a work around would be to convert the dmg to another format).

My answer should be undeleted, because while it does not addrress the later developed issue of what the error message means, it DOES answer the original question of DMG support on non-OSX hosts.

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  • you're just repeating what the OP asked. I dont see how it answers.
    – Sathyajith Bhat Mod
    Sep 19, 2014 at 19:47
  • @Sathya OP asked if dmg is supported. I added a screenshot (with text description) showing that VirtualBox lists DMG as a supported file type when browsing for media.
    – Robin Hood
    Sep 19, 2014 at 19:53

1 Answer 1

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I believe the reason my answer was flagged, was that people mistook my comment about the error messages to mean that I wanted to get help solving a problem.

This was a consideration, but not completely the crux of the matter.

Looking at the question and judging by the screenshot the user posted they would appear to be using Windows 7. The key part of your answer is the fact that you posted an image that shows that .dmg should be supported as it is shown in the file select dialogue, but OP would already have known this as they would have encountered this dialogue box in exactly the same manner as you did.

The remainder of your answer is effectively stating "it should work, but I get a weird error" which is not an answer at all as it is simply echoing the question. If that needed to be said at all then it should have been a comment.

OP has since answered the question (and probably the implied question in your answer) themselves with an answer stating that a different DMG file does actually work so there is something wrong with DMG support for certain files or the file he was using is corrupt. This is an answer as it clearly shows DMG support working.

If your answer raises more questions than it solves then generally it will be poorly received by the community.

In this case I believe there is currently too little benefit to reinstating your answer. You are free to edit it to include more information and re-flag it for undeletion though.

For the consideration of those who cannot see your answer:

enter image description here

When I try to mount a .dmg it does list dmg files in the explorer window.

enter image description here

It doesn't mount successfully though. My error does not seem to be the same as yours. Yours complains about header information, mine complains about the storage format.

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  • The OP may not have read the dialogue box as I did, it was not listed as one of his information sources, and even if he had how does that matter if it's a solid source? When you install a program it declares to the operating system what file types it supports (file association), when you browse for media from that program Windows Explorer will alter the browsing box to display "all files" or "supported files". My screenshot shows that VirtualBox declares it supports DMG. What more do you want, a confirmation from the developers? I have more to say, but running out of characters.
    – Robin Hood
    Sep 20, 2014 at 21:04
  • "it should work, but I get a weird error". No, my answer shows that VirtualBox supports DMG, but obviously that support is flaky. His DMG may have been damaged, but mine works fine other software. "raises more questions than it solves" I agree the answer could be better. It would be nice to be able to address the error message, but as discussed I don't have that information. Perhaps the second part of the answer about the error messages could be removed until it the errors can be identified, and addressed? After all the original question is answered well. I have more to say, but running out of
    – Robin Hood
    Sep 20, 2014 at 21:11
  • I will end by saying I think the answer could benefit from better wording, perhaps a bit more detail about the file association menu, and removal of the error code part until it can be addressed. I do not think the answer ever should have been deleted, I cannot vote for undelete, or edit it because it was done by a moderator.
    – Robin Hood
    Sep 20, 2014 at 21:14
  • @RobinHood Sorry, missed your comment notifications. I've undeleted the answer if you wish to edit it. I was sure that it should be editable when deleted...
    – Mokubai Mod
    Sep 26, 2014 at 15:59
  • Thankyou for undeleting, I've edited my answer. It no longer has the error section, and I've expanded on the associations part. @Mokubai
    – Robin Hood
    Sep 28, 2014 at 18:48

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