Separate installation for v.7.0.6

This is for discussing general topics about how to use VirtualBox.
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GheekyGurl
Posts: 4
Joined: 21. Mar 2023, 16:04

Separate installation for v.7.0.6

Post by GheekyGurl »

Hi everyone,
I've been running Version 6.1.40 r154048 (Qt5.6.2).
Do I need to install and run v.7 separately?
If I install v.7, will it recognise and load my existing VMs that are in my v.6 installation?
Thanks for your help.
G-G
scottgus1
Site Moderator
Posts: 20965
Joined: 30. Dec 2009, 20:14
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Windows, Linux

Re: Separate installation for v.7.0.6

Post by scottgus1 »

GheekyGurl wrote:Do I need to install and run v.7 separately?
If you mean, Can I have 7.0.6 as well as 6.1.42, then no. Only one version of Virtualbox can be on any system at once.
GheekyGurl wrote:If I install v.7, will it recognise and load my existing VMs that are in my v.6 installation?
Yes. The VMs are like the documents for Word or pictures for Paint, and will remain through version changes.

However, 7.0 is relatively new and is still in bug-hunt phase. It is likely everything will go well, but we have had some reports of VMs that won't boot after being tried in 7.0, and won't boot anymore even when reverting to the old version.

Make good backups of the whole host before attempting.
GheekyGurl
Posts: 4
Joined: 21. Mar 2023, 16:04

Re: Separate installation for v.7.0.6

Post by GheekyGurl »

@scottgus1, Thanks so much for seeing my message in a bottle!
This
However, 7.0 is relatively new and is still in bug-hunt phase.
is exactly why I was hesitating about "upgrading" too quickly.
Your note was much appreciated.

While I'm here, would you happen to know why my Win10 VM would start to lag and max out (Disque 100%) when running essentially nothing? It's unusable like that. I've made no significant changes to it. :(

Cheers,
G-G
scottgus1
Site Moderator
Posts: 20965
Joined: 30. Dec 2009, 20:14
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Windows, Linux

Re: Separate installation for v.7.0.6

Post by scottgus1 »

It could be something happening in the host OS or the VM OS. Take a look at Task Manager on both host and VM. If the host is doing something, the VM's Task Manager won't show activity. If the VM OS is doing something, both the VM Task Manager and the host Virtualbox process in the host Task Manager will show activity. Could be Windows Updates too.

Start the VM from full normal shutdown, not save-state. Run until you see the problem happen, then shut down the VM from within the VM's OS if possible. If not possible, close the Virtualbox window for the VM with the Power Off option set.

Right-click the VM in the main Virtualbox window's VM list, choose Show in Explorer/Finder/File Manager. In the "Logs" subfolder, zip the VM's "vbox.log", and post the zip file, using the forum's Upload Attachment tab. (Configure your host OS to show all extensions so you can find the "vbox.log", not "vbox.log.1", etc.)
GheekyGurl
Posts: 4
Joined: 21. Mar 2023, 16:04

Re: Separate installation for v.7.0.6

Post by GheekyGurl »

@scottgus1 Thank you so much! I will follow your instructions, executing everything with fingers crossed.... :)
GheekyGurl
Posts: 4
Joined: 21. Mar 2023, 16:04

Re: Separate installation for v.7.0.6

Post by GheekyGurl »

@scottgus1 With all the lagging, it took a while, but I was able to use the VM's OS to shut down normally.
Attaching the logs as requested.
Thanks for your help in looking into this.
Attachments
VBox.zip
Log files after normal shut down on severely lagging Win10 VM
(36.3 KiB) Downloaded 1 time
scottgus1
Site Moderator
Posts: 20965
Joined: 30. Dec 2009, 20:14
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Windows, Linux

Re: Separate installation for v.7.0.6

Post by scottgus1 »

Host CPU status:
00:00:04.895262 CPUM: Logical host processors: 8 present, 8 max, 8 online, online mask: 00000000000000ff
00:00:04.895264 CPUM: Physical host cores: 4
00:00:04.895523 Full Name: "Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4790 CPU @ 3.60GHz"

Guest CPU settings:
00:00:03.631727 NumCPUs <integer> = 0x0000000000000001 (1)

RAM settings:
00:00:03.077032 Host RAM: 8029MB (7.8GB) total, 1737MB available
00:00:03.631730 RamSize <integer> = 0x0000000040000000 (1 073 741 824, 1 024 MB)
00:00:03.631967 VRamSize <integer> = 0x0000000010000000 (268 435 456, 256 MB)

Video settings:
00:00:03.631962 3DEnabled <integer> = 0x0000000000000000 (0)
Windows 10 needs 2 processors to run nicely, and your host has room for this increase: Set to two processors.

W10 also needs at least 2GB RAM to run decently, and 3 or 4 GB to really feel comfortable. You'll need to start the 10 VM before starting other memory-hungry apps on your host.

Additionally, your VM is using the old-school no-3D-acceleration VboxVGA video card. Windows 10 runs better on the VboxSVGA card (note the S) and with 3D acceleration enabled:
Uninstall the Guest Additions, reboot the VM then shut it down.
Change the video card to VboxSVGA and enable 3D acceleration.
Start the VM, then install Guest Additions again.
Go to one of these places and disable Windows 10's Transparency Effects:
Settings > Personalization > Colors > Transparency Effects
Ease of Access > Display > Simplify and personalize Windows > Show transparency in Windows
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