How often should I install Virtualbox Guest Additions?

Discussions about using Windows guests in VirtualBox.
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yoloClin
Posts: 17
Joined: 31. May 2018, 03:02

How often should I install Virtualbox Guest Additions?

Post by yoloClin »

I'm currently playing a lot with different paravirtualisation modes, but have over the years needed to change various settings with virtualbox (GPU Mode, etc).

I'm unclear on how often I should be installing guest additions drivers after a guest hardware change. Are all drivers deployed on the system, or only drivers that are opportunistically required?

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

Re: How often should I install Virtualbox Guest Additions?

Post by scottgus1 »

I'm not completely sure, but I think Guest Additions installs a mouse driver for Mouse Integration, a Shared Folder setup and some other things that are common to all hardware settings. But the video card driver is probably going to be dependent on the chosen card type, and I'd guess the installer will likely not load drivers for the video cards that aren't present.

So I'd wager that a quick GAs reinstall after changing video cards should be required. Other hardware changes, probably not, but it couldn't hurt.
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