[Solved] Cannot get Ubuntu to install

This is for discussing general topics about how to use VirtualBox.
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JD5684
Posts: 3
Joined: 20. Dec 2018, 23:21

[Solved] Cannot get Ubuntu to install

Post by JD5684 »

Hi. I've searched high and low, and I must be missing something painfully basic because apparently installing Ubuntu or its variants is a super simple task yet I cannot get it to work. I'm trying to install a lightweight but user friendly linux distro to re-acquaint myself with Linux.

Host:
HP Envy x360, Ryzen 5 2500U
Win10 Home (clean install, no manufacturer bloatware)
8GB RAM
Host runs on SSD, VMs will run on internal 1TB "spinny drive"
Virtualbox 6.0.0 (Previously tried 5.2.22 as well)

Desired Guest:
Lubuntu 18.04.1 32bit install via ISO
2048 MB RAM assigned
10GB fixed sized VDI

Other guests tried:
Lubuntu 18.10 32 & 64
Ubuntu 18.04 32 & 64
Ubuntu 16.04.05 32

Hyper V is disabled, and the BIOS virtualization setting (can't remember the name) is turned on. I've tried running VBox as admin. Every time I try to install, it makes it as far as the screen that displays "Lubuntu" with the scrolling dots underneath, runs for a few seconds then just hangs. I looked at the session information, and one thing I noticed is that it reflects no bytes written. I made sure all users have read, write, and modify privileges to the VDI file associated with this machine, but no luck. Obviously this is the first time I've tried to use VirtualBox, so any help would be appreciated.
Last edited by socratis on 22. Dec 2018, 17:44, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Marked as [Solved].
socratis
Site Moderator
Posts: 27330
Joined: 22. Oct 2010, 11:03
Primary OS: Mac OS X other
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Win(*>98), Linux*, OSX>10.5
Location: Greece

Re: Cannot get Ubuntu to install

Post by socratis »

JD5684 wrote:I've tried running VBox as admin.
Don't! The Virtual Machines (VMs) are registered for the user that runs VirtualBox. So, if you run it as Admin, then the Admin will have a new VM, not your normal user. Always, always run VirtualBox as you. An Admin doesn't have more "powers", on the contrary...

We need to see a complete VBox.log, from a complete VM run:
  • Start the VM from cold-boot (not from a paused or saved state) / Observe problem / Shutdown the VM (force close it if you have to).
  • With the VM completely shut down (not paused or saved), right-click on the VM in the VirtualBox Manager and select "Show Log".
  • Save only the first "VBox.log", ZIP it and attach it to your response. See the "Upload attachment" tab below the reply form.
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Do NOT send me Personal Messages (PMs) for troubleshooting, they are simply deleted.
Do NOT reply with the "QUOTE" button, please use the "POST REPLY", at the bottom of the form.
If you obfuscate any information requested, I will obfuscate my response. These are virtual UUIDs, not real ones.
JD5684
Posts: 3
Joined: 20. Dec 2018, 23:21

Re: Cannot get Ubuntu to install

Post by JD5684 »

Attached is a log of my most recent attempt. Thanks.
Attachments
Lubuntu-2018-12-21-08-15-32.zip
(22.87 KiB) Downloaded 56 times
andyp73
Volunteer
Posts: 1631
Joined: 25. May 2010, 23:48
Primary OS: Mac OS X other
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Assorted Linux, Windows Server 2012, DOS, Windows 10, BIOS/UEFI emulation

Re: Cannot get Ubuntu to install

Post by andyp73 »

Couple of obvious things in your log file:
VBox.log wrote:
00:00:02.786113   VRamSize         <integer> = 0x0000000001000000 (16 777 216, 16 MB)
This setting is probably a bit low for a modern OS with a GUI. You should try increasing it to 64MB or 128MB.
VBox.log wrote:
00:00:02.785787   NumCPUs           <integer> = 0x0000000000000001 (1)
00:00:03.435045 CPUM: Physical host cores: 4
You could probably allocate a second core to the guest.

-Andy.
My crystal ball is currently broken. If you want assistance you are going to have to give me all of the necessary information.
Please don't ask me to do your homework for you, I have more than enough of my own things to do.
JD5684
Posts: 3
Joined: 20. Dec 2018, 23:21

Re: Cannot get Ubuntu to install

Post by JD5684 »

andyp73 wrote: This setting is probably a bit low for a modern OS with a GUI. You should try increasing it to 64MB or 128MB.
It never occurred to me to mess with the default video memory. I bumped it up to 128.
andyp73 wrote: You could probably allocate a second core to the guest.
Went ahead and gave it access to a second core.

This fixed it! Thank you so much. I presume it was the video memory.
socratis
Site Moderator
Posts: 27330
Joined: 22. Oct 2010, 11:03
Primary OS: Mac OS X other
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Win(*>98), Linux*, OSX>10.5
Location: Greece

Re: Cannot get Ubuntu to install

Post by socratis »

It was the VRAM. The defaults I think need to be upgraded to at least 32 MB...

Marking as [Solved].
Do NOT send me Personal Messages (PMs) for troubleshooting, they are simply deleted.
Do NOT reply with the "QUOTE" button, please use the "POST REPLY", at the bottom of the form.
If you obfuscate any information requested, I will obfuscate my response. These are virtual UUIDs, not real ones.
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