Installation file for windows 11 hpprodesk unzips to 8 files and virtualbox won't boot

BobinSF · September 7, 2026, 3:57pm

Greetings, I’ve been in AI hell trying to get this installation going. I have a hpprodesk and I’m trying to get a zigbee sensor and dongle to work in addition to other govee sensor and plugs. I’m stuck on the installation of windows HA and oracle virtual box boot. When I download
https://github.com/home-assistant/operating-system/releases/download/18.2/haos_ova-18.2.vdi.zip it extracts into 8 files.

Appreciate any guidance since I can’t get virtual box to boot.
Thanks!
Bob

fleskefjes · September 7, 2026, 4:16pm

The file unzips to a single .vdi file here.

BobinSF · September 7, 2026, 4:24pm

Thanks. So i clicked and downloaded.

So now just use this in virtual box and all is good I hope?!

fleskefjes · September 7, 2026, 4:26pm

You can follow the guide here Alternative - Home Assistant

BobinSF · September 7, 2026, 5:27pm

Thanks but it still downloads as zip and extracts into 8 files. I’m using zip/unzip.
Thanks
bob

fleskefjes · September 7, 2026, 5:29pm

How? It’s a zip with a .vdi inside it. You don’t unzip the .vdi, just point to it in Virtualbox.

In windows just double click the file, drag the vdi outside it somewhere and then point to it in VB.

BobinSF · September 7, 2026, 5:37pm

I’ll try some more but when I click on link. It downloads and looks like this

I can’t get oracle virtual box to accept. If I click it unzips to 8 files.
Bob

BobinSF · September 7, 2026, 5:50pm

Tried more ways. Seems progress but can’t get this to finish..

fleskefjes · September 7, 2026, 5:54pm

You don’t want to create a new disk,you want to use the existing vdi you unzipped. Follow the guide closely. Use the option below the one you have checked, point that to the vdi.

BobinSF · September 7, 2026, 6:42pm

Thanks. That below one was the one AI etc pointed me too. It doesn’t like the download. If i click on the file it extracts as 8 files… ground hog day.

fleskefjes · September 7, 2026, 6:53pm

I don’t get it, I tried downloading the file from the link you provided (which is the official link), and I get a zip, which I then extract a .vdi from. If you want I can host the pure .vdi file for you for download on my webserver, just give me a DM.

boheme61 · September 7, 2026, 8:00pm

Honestly, You should Not install A VM, under your User-Profile , im sure you have an additional separate "Partition, or better of an additional Separate Disk
Most of All, Not in your User-Profile ( Or in your Windows System Partition )

BobinSF · September 7, 2026, 8:16pm

Thanks.. It seems the root problem is the unzip part. Googling is not helping though I did find a cmd approach to glue together the 8 files. Haven’t tried yet.
Thanks for the DM offer, not sure if DM is allowed yet since my first day here. Or yet another challenge!
Bob