Modify VM Machine Information

By Dan Aukes

Sometimes its useful to declare your computer type in virtualbox as something other than a virtual machine.

Step 1: Create a Random string generator

put the following lines in a script or paste them into bash before running the next lines

#!/bin/bash

get_random_string () {

    openssl rand -hex "${1}" | cut -c "1-${1}"

}

Find the string that describes your desired VM

vboxmanage list vms

Step 3: Modify VM properties

This works for non-UEFI bioses.

my_vm = 'Win10'

VBoxManage setextradata "${my_vm}" "VBoxInternal/Devices/pcbios/0/Config/DmiBIOSVendor" "American Megatrends Inc"
VBoxManage setextradata "${my_vm}" "VBoxInternal/Devices/pcbios/0/Config/DmiBIOSVersion" "2.1.0"
VBoxManage setextradata "${my_vm}" "VBoxInternal/Devices/pcbios/0/Config/DmiSystemVendor" "ASUSTek Computer"
VBoxManage setextradata "${my_vm}" "VBoxInternal/Devices/pcbios/0/Config/DmiSystemSerial" "$(__get_random_string 9)"
VBoxManage setextradata "${my_vm}" "VBoxInternal/Devices/ahci/0/Config/Port0/SerialNumber" "$(__get_random_string 20)"
VBoxManage setextradata "${my_vm}" "VBoxInternal/Devices/ahci/0/Config/Port0/FirmwareRevision" "$(__get_random_string 8)"
VBoxManage setextradata "${my_vm}" "VBoxInternal/Devices/ahci/0/Config/Port0/ModelNumber" "SEAGATE ST3750525AS"

For windows 11, though, or where UEFI is required, you need to change the commands a bit.

my_vm = 'Win11'

VBoxManage setextradata "${my_vm}" "VBoxInternal/Devices/efi/0/Config/DmiBIOSVendor" "American Megatrends Inc"
VBoxManage setextradata "${my_vm}" "VBoxInternal/Devices/efi/0/Config/DmiBIOSVersion" "2.1.0"
VBoxManage setextradata "${my_vm}" "VBoxInternal/Devices/efi/0/Config/DmiSystemVendor" "ASUSTek Computer"
VBoxManage setextradata "${my_vm}" "VBoxInternal/Devices/efi/0/Config/DmiSystemSerial" "$(__get_random_string 9)"
VBoxManage setextradata "${my_vm}" "VBoxInternal/Devices/ahci/0/Config/Port0/SerialNumber" "$(__get_random_string 20)"
VBoxManage setextradata "${my_vm}" "VBoxInternal/Devices/ahci/0/Config/Port0/FirmwareRevision" "$(__get_random_string 8)"
VBoxManage setextradata "${my_vm}" "VBoxInternal/Devices/ahci/0/Config/Port0/ModelNumber" "SEAGATE ST3750525AS"

exit

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