Import Appliance fails on WinXP 32 bit host

[Rony Shapiro]

Trying to import an appliance via VirtualBox's GUI interface, I get a non-descriptive failure message. Trying the same using VBoxManage provides a *little* more information. Fllowig is the output:

$ ./VBoxManage.exe import C:\tmp\pws-deb32.ova  --vsys 0 --unit 6 
   --ignore --vsys 0 --unit 10 --disk C:\local\VirtualBox\HardDisks\pws\pws-deb32-disk1.vmdk
0%...10%...20%...30%...40%...50%...60%...70%...80%...90%...100%
Interpreting C:\tmp\pws-deb32.ova...
OK.
Disks:  vmdisk1 8589934592      -1
        http://www.vmware.com/interfaces/specifications/vmdk.html#streamOptimized   
        pws-deb32-disk1.vmdk    -1      -1

Virtual system 0:
 0: Suggested OS type: "Debian"
    (change with "--vsys 0 --ostype <type>"; use "list ostypes" to list all possible values)
 1: Suggested VM name "pws"
    (change with "--vsys 0 --vmname <name>")
 2: Number of CPUs: 1
    (change with "--vsys 0 --cpus <n>")
 3: Guest memory: 768 MB
    (change with "--vsys 0 --memory <MB>")
 4: USB controller
    (disable with "--vsys 0 --unit 4 --ignore")
 5: Network adapter: orig NAT, config 2, extra slot=0;type=NAT
 6: Floppy -- disabled
 7: CD-ROM
    (disable with "--vsys 0 --unit 7 --ignore")
 8: IDE controller, type PIIX4
    (disable with "--vsys 0 --unit 8 --ignore")
 9: IDE controller, type PIIX4
    (disable with "--vsys 0 --unit 9 --ignore")
10: Hard disk image: source image=pws-deb32-disk1.vmdk, target path=C:\local\Vir
tualBox\HardDisks\pws\pws-deb32-disk1.vmdk, controller=8;channel=0
0%...
Progress state: E_FAIL

VBoxManage.exe: error: Details: code ERROR_SUCCESS (0x0), component , interface, callee
Context: "ImportAppliance" at line 757 of file VBoxManageAppliance.cpp

Please advise. I've tried importing another appliance with the GUI (FreeBSD host), same result. This is a very nasty showstopper for me.

Thanks,

Rony