Can't install Firefox

Discussions about using Windows guests in VirtualBox.
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Holygamer
Posts: 21
Joined: 31. May 2016, 22:07
Primary OS: MS Windows 7
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Windows 7 64-bit

Can't install Firefox

Post by Holygamer »

I downloaded Firefox from the Firefox website and tried running the installer in my guest. It says "Now installing" but there's no progress and after a while I see a popup says "For some reason, we could not install Firefox". Any idea why it won't install?

System Details
Windows 7 64-bit SP1 with a Windows 7 64-bit SP1 guest.
24 GB RAM installed in host. 2.6 GB RAM available to Guest
VirtualBox Version 6.1.26 r145957 (Qt5.6.2) installed
Guest Additions installed in the Guest

VBoxHardening.log attached.
Attachments
FeralHosting UK VPN - Windows 7 64-Bit SP1-2021-09-29-13-40-31.zip
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scottgus1
Site Moderator
Posts: 20965
Joined: 30. Dec 2009, 20:14
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Windows, Linux

Re: Can't install Firefox

Post by scottgus1 »

Hardening log was taken before the VM window was closed, so the exit code and hardening conclusion are unknown. To the best of my knowledge, Hardening is not going to block VM programs from running.

Most often, what happens in the VM stays in the VM. So you'd have to troubleshoot with Firefox's help channels on how to fix a failed Firefox install.
fth0
Volunteer
Posts: 5668
Joined: 14. Feb 2019, 03:06
Primary OS: Mac OS X other
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Linux, Windows 10, ...
Location: Germany

Re: Can't install Firefox

Post by fth0 »

Perhaps you have to make sure that your Windows 7 has SHA-2 support.
mpack
Site Moderator
Posts: 39156
Joined: 4. Sep 2008, 17:09
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Mostly XP

Re: Can't install Firefox

Post by mpack »

... and note that VirtualBox 6.1.x does not support Windows 7 hosts.
Holygamer
Posts: 21
Joined: 31. May 2016, 22:07
Primary OS: MS Windows 7
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Windows 7 64-bit

Re: Can't install Firefox

Post by Holygamer »

mpack wrote:... and note that VirtualBox 6.1.x does not support Windows 7 hosts.
I didn't realise. Why isn't Windows 7 supported any more when I thought the whole point of VirtualBox was to support old software? What's the last version that supports Windows 7 64-bit?

I've just used Windows 7 as I know it works without issues. Didn't like Windows 10 as despite me disabling updates, the updates turn back on. I had some batch scripts I got from somewhere which disabled Windows 10 annoyances but they don't work in later versions of Windows 10. Do you know how to disable updates, tracking, and other annoyances?
mpack
Site Moderator
Posts: 39156
Joined: 4. Sep 2008, 17:09
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Mostly XP

Re: Can't install Firefox

Post by mpack »

Holygamer wrote: I thought the whole point of VirtualBox was to support old software?
That is far from being the whole point. At best it is one minor use case...

...and that only as regards the guest OS. There has never been any expectation regarding support for obsolete hosts.

See the user manual section 1.4 for the current list of supported hosts.
Holygamer
Posts: 21
Joined: 31. May 2016, 22:07
Primary OS: MS Windows 7
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Windows 7 64-bit

Re: Can't install Firefox

Post by Holygamer »

Fair enough regarding hosts. Do you know what's the last Virtualbox version that supports Windows 7 hosts?

Just found it a bit weird that a Windows 7 VM created in an older VirtualBox version boots quickly while a new Windows 7 VM created in the current Virtualbox version takes 1 minute to boot. I guess it's because Windows 7 hosts aren't supported any more but why would the older VM still boot quickly?
mpack
Site Moderator
Posts: 39156
Joined: 4. Sep 2008, 17:09
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Mostly XP

Re: Can't install Firefox

Post by mpack »

VirtualBox 6.0.x was the last version to support Win7 hosts. However permanent use of 6.0.x is not a long term solution either.

And there is no guarantee that your problem has anything to do with the choice of host.
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