No problems formatting a Virtual Hard Drive in Virtual Box program. It will even say "formatting c: drive" and scare you until you realize and remember it's just a VHD file, not your entire physical drive. If you want to install Linux in a VDI or VHD, then don't even bother to format it first. Just create it and then from the ISO file run the Linux distro as a virtual CD/DVD while in Virtual Box program, and let the install program see the virtual drive you created and it will continue to do all the formatting if you use the default install, or you can choose "something else" and manually adjust things as wanted for the install. I would suggest using the 32 bit Linux versions for use in Virtual Box instead of the 64 bit ones.
hello, im a noob to this virtualbox (virtualbox.org/) thingy.i wanna install linux in virtualbox. my os is windows7 n i have 4 gb ram. i want to install it in my one and only hdd because i dont have other secondary or external hard disk drive. do i have any risks?
my questions
1. i want to make 10000% sure that i wont lose any data on my hdd. i saw video where it says "FORMATTING....." while installing linux in virtualbox....... which made me scared.
so my main question is, i wont lose any of my data right? nothing will be formated or deleted..
2. i have 4 gb ram. my pc wont be slow when im NOT using vbox?
3. will it be too slow when i use linux in virtualbox? i mean 4 gb ram isnt that bad right?
and if theres any other risks or things i need to know about virtualbox linux pls let me know. im a real noob about this 2 things.
thnx

Chowhound
Comic Vine
GameFAQs
GameSpot
Giant Bomb
TechRepublic