(The OVA should read OVF in the subject).
I'm trying to install CentOS as a VM. Have VirtualBox installed and it wants .ovf file but I can find only .torrent files. Can the .torrent file be used or do I need a .ovf file?

Why not install from the ISO?

If you must use an OVA or OVF, understand that an OVA is a tar compressed file that contains typically .ovf .vmdk and .mf files.

You can untar an .ova with this command:
A .torrent is a method to download files with a p2p program. "Transmission" is a popular torrent program.

In my experience, using OVA / OVF files in virtualbox is hit and miss depending on the vendor that created the OVA/OVF. OVA's/OVF's on the internet are typically packaged for VMWare.

What would you recommend?
Here's how I came to ask the initial question:
I want VM CentOS on a Win7 machine.
Someone recommended installing VirtualBox and then CentOS.
VirtualBox wants a .ovf file (Import Appliance ...)
Is there a way to install VM CentOS from an ISO file?

Absolutely, that would be the preferred method. Download a CentOS ISO file. Since you are just playing, go ahead and do the 32bit version -- it will reduce any possible issues since you are beginning. If you have problems with CentOS 7, try CentOS 6 -- sometimes virtualization does not handle the latest as well as it does the previous (seldomly).

Create a New VM and choose Linux then "RedHat" since you are using CentOS. All the defaults should be fine except maybe more memory if you can spare it.

After the new VM exists, go into the "Storage" tab and set the CD: Highlight the "Empty", then click the little icon-picture of the CD and select the ISO you downloaded.

Now you should be able to start the new VM you created and it should boot from the virtual CD allowing you to install.

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I started the CentOS 7 install (from reboot) and aborted when it asked which hard drive to use. Didn't want to risk overwriting existing stuff. It would be reassuring for it to ask about the VM setup earlier in the process.
Does an install like this support using a VM?

noooo don't install on your physical machine, install in a Virtualbox VM. you'll need to follow the VirtualBox documentation if you really don't "get" this scenario. Think of virtualbox just as that, a virtual-computer... virtualbox is a program emulating a computer inside a window.

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well if you INSTALL centos7 to the HARDDRIVE and wipe out Windows 7
then YES CentOS can use KVM ( built into cent) to run windows7 AS A VIRTUAL INSTALL!!!

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lmao, yes, BUT don't confuse this poor guy -- he WANTS a virtual centos on a physical win7

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I think I got through the install under the VM without doing any damage but there doesn't seem to be an X window manager. The ISO was a "minimal" set, so maybe that wasn't included. I'm going to get the 3.7G version and try that.

You probably had to checkmark to install a Desktop Environment when you installed. Since you did not, you can probably install it at the commandline:
But you can of course try the larger iso if you've already deleted/re-started.

Since you sound like a true ground-zero beginner, i will share this: I have find that beginner's often need to start with distros that are almost fully pre-configured. Xubuntu, LinuxMint XFCE, or Fedora or my recommendations for beginners.

RedHat, CentOS, Fedora are of one Family. If you want this family, I recommend Fedora for a Desktop.

Ubuntu, Mint, Debian are of another Family. If you want this family I recommend LinuxMint XFCE.

Your freind has recommended CentOS. CentOS is a great stable distro, binary compatible with RedHat Enterprise Linux. However, i find it is best suited to server, because there is much less desktop pre-configuration. Things often don't "just work". For that reason you should consider my above recommendations.

Also you should note that graphics especially 3D graphics & compositing will not work so well or or maybe not at all in a Virtual Machine.

Using a linux in a virtual machine is a great start, but when you are ready for fancy graphics or games, you'll need to graduate to a physical machine.

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CentOS is the target because RHEL experience is listed for a position I'm considering.
I tried the big-file install and it doesn't recognize startx.
The command string you gave me doesn't work; it can't resolve the link to mirrorlist.centos.org.
Is there a way to fix that or get it to look at the DVD?

Most probably, your virtual network (vNIC) needs to be set to NAT with an Intel Pro/1000. That should give your VM internet access. (Configure your VM via the Virtualbox Networking tab)

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The networking setup is
Attached to: NAT
Adapter type: Intel PRO/1000 MT Desktop (82540EM)

That's how mine is and it works. (of course my hosts are linux and osx, not windows)

Is it working yet? If not, is "enabled" and "connected" both checkmarked on (vbox network tab)?

What is your guest IP and contents of /etc/resolv.conf ?

This is starting to feel like a crash course in virtualization AND linux! You're doing good, jumping head first learning as you go. Hope you learn enough for the gob, but there is a whole universe yet to learn.

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It's not working.
The checkboxes for Enable Network Adapter and Cable Connected are checked.
The /etc/resolv.conf file exists but has no content.

Question: It would be nice to get the network to work but there are a lot of gnome-<name>.rpm files in the /packages directory of the install disk. Is it possible to get what's needed from that?

Thanks for the continued help and encouragement.