Version 6.1.12 Guest OS Won't Save Resolution Across Reboots
-
- Posts: 3
- Joined: 18. Aug 2020, 00:21
Version 6.1.12 Guest OS Won't Save Resolution Across Reboots
So, I'm running Linux Mint 20 as a guest in 6.1.12. My host, Linux Mint 20, which has been successively upgraded several times from earlier versions, is running 1920x1080 with the proprietary nVidia driver, and it's fine.
The Guest, also Mint 20, but a clean install meant for doing some Python stuff, should be running 1440x900, but when I reboot the VM, the display always reverts to 800x600. I can change it back to 1440x900, and it stays as long as the session is active, but once I reboot again, it goes back to 800x600. I can change the wallpaper, and other things, and those changes get saved, but the resolution always resets.
I've created a video demonstrating this, and posted it to YouTube - watch?v=1VayZ2If4ew (new account - can't post URLs for the first 24 hours) so you can see what I'm talking about, as well as attaching a compressed copy of the runtime log to this post.
I've used VirtualBox for many things over the years, and I've never seen this behaviour before so I don't know if it's a VirtualBox problem, or if it's a Linux Mint problem. If you need any other info, let me know and I'll post it for you.
**Edit: Yes, in case you were wondering, I did install the Guest Additions stuff for VBox6.1.12.
The Guest, also Mint 20, but a clean install meant for doing some Python stuff, should be running 1440x900, but when I reboot the VM, the display always reverts to 800x600. I can change it back to 1440x900, and it stays as long as the session is active, but once I reboot again, it goes back to 800x600. I can change the wallpaper, and other things, and those changes get saved, but the resolution always resets.
I've created a video demonstrating this, and posted it to YouTube - watch?v=1VayZ2If4ew (new account - can't post URLs for the first 24 hours) so you can see what I'm talking about, as well as attaching a compressed copy of the runtime log to this post.
I've used VirtualBox for many things over the years, and I've never seen this behaviour before so I don't know if it's a VirtualBox problem, or if it's a Linux Mint problem. If you need any other info, let me know and I'll post it for you.
**Edit: Yes, in case you were wondering, I did install the Guest Additions stuff for VBox6.1.12.
- Attachments
-
- VBox.log.gz
- VBox Log File from run shown in video clip
- (47.42 KiB) Downloaded 135 times
-
- Posts: 3
- Joined: 18. Aug 2020, 00:21
Re: Version 6.1.12 Guest OS Won't Save Resolution Across Reboots
Update: using as suggested in the virtualbox manual in ch09 (customvesa) to force the resolution didn't work.
Code: Select all
vboxmanage setextradata
-
- Volunteer
- Posts: 5677
- Joined: 14. Feb 2019, 03:06
- Primary OS: Mac OS X other
- VBox Version: PUEL
- Guest OSses: Linux, Windows 10, ...
- Location: Germany
Re: Version 6.1.12 Guest OS Won't Save Resolution Across Reboots
Use the following command to add the missing line to the "Mint 20 VM.vbox" file:
Then start the VM, change the display resolution, and shut down the Linux guest OS. Afterwards, the resolution will probably be remembered. You can verify this with (note the get/set difference ):
Edit (2022-02-06): The command given above actually removes the GUI/LastGuestSizeHint setting. The correct command to add the missing line to the "Mint 20 VM.vbox" file is:
Code: Select all
VBoxManage setextradata "Mint 20 VM" "GUI/LastGuestSizeHint"
Code: Select all
VBoxManage getextradata "Mint 20 VM" "GUI/LastGuestSizeHint"
Code: Select all
VBoxManage setextradata "Mint 20 VM" "GUI/LastGuestSizeHint" "1440,900"
Last edited by fth0 on 6. Feb 2022, 12:27, edited 3 times in total.
-
- Posts: 3
- Joined: 18. Aug 2020, 00:21
Re: Version 6.1.12 Guest OS Won't Save Resolution Across Reboots
This is just what the doctor ordered. Problem solved now. Thanks!fth0 wrote:Use the following command to add the missing line to the "Mint 20 VM.vbox" file:
Then start the VM, change the display resolution, and shut down the Linux guest OS. Afterwards, the resolution will probably be remembered. You can verify this with (note the get/set difference ):Code: Select all
VBoxManage setextradata "Mint 20 VM" "GUI/LastGuestSizeHint"
Code: Select all
VBoxManage getextradata "Mint 20 VM" "GUI/LastGuestSizeHint"
Re: Version 6.1.12 Guest OS Won't Save Resolution Across Reboots
I'm running VirtualBox 6.1.18 r142142 on a Windows 10 host with Linux Mint 20 Cinnamon and...
This solution no longer works.
I run:
VBoxManage setextradata "Linux" "GUI/MaxGuestSizeHint"
then check the config file (c:\users\me\VirtualBox VMs\Linux\Linux\Linux.vbox) and there is nothing added to the file. I run the VM, change the resolution, do a Shutdown (selected from the Mint menu rather than the VM window's File menu), and then check with:
VBoxManage getextradata "Linux" "GUI/MaxGuestSizeHint"
Nothing in the Linux.vbox file has changed. The resolution isn't preserved through a reboot/restart.
To those who have this working... is Mint the only VM you have set up? Perhaps this isn't working because I also have one set up for FreeBSD?
This solution no longer works.
I run:
VBoxManage setextradata "Linux" "GUI/MaxGuestSizeHint"
then check the config file (c:\users\me\VirtualBox VMs\Linux\Linux\Linux.vbox) and there is nothing added to the file. I run the VM, change the resolution, do a Shutdown (selected from the Mint menu rather than the VM window's File menu), and then check with:
VBoxManage getextradata "Linux" "GUI/MaxGuestSizeHint"
Nothing in the Linux.vbox file has changed. The resolution isn't preserved through a reboot/restart.
To those who have this working... is Mint the only VM you have set up? Perhaps this isn't working because I also have one set up for FreeBSD?
-
- Volunteer
- Posts: 5677
- Joined: 14. Feb 2019, 03:06
- Primary OS: Mac OS X other
- VBox Version: PUEL
- Guest OSses: Linux, Windows 10, ...
- Location: Germany
Re: Version 6.1.12 Guest OS Won't Save Resolution Across Reboots
Did you perhaps confuse "Last" with "Max"?
Re: Version 6.1.12 Guest OS Won't Save Resolution Across Reboots
It seems I did.fth0 wrote:Did you perhaps confuse "Last" with "Max"?
Oddly, even though I corrected this, I still get a "No value set!" message from VBoxManage. But resolution is preserved across reboots, so I'm good.
Thanks!
Re: Version 6.1.12 Guest OS Won't Save Resolution Across Reboots
I tried this same procedure with a GhostBSD guest, but it's not working.
After changing the resolution and shutting down the VM, I check with:
VBoxManage getextradata "GhostBSD" "GUI/LastGuestSizeHint"
which reports:
value: 1400, 1050
I then boot up the GhostBSD guest. It tries to open in 1400x1050, but then reverts to 800x600. Checking again with VBoxManage reports:
value: 800, 600
I double-checked for typos (I wasn't going to get caught on that again.) but no luck.
Any suggestions?
After changing the resolution and shutting down the VM, I check with:
VBoxManage getextradata "GhostBSD" "GUI/LastGuestSizeHint"
which reports:
value: 1400, 1050
I then boot up the GhostBSD guest. It tries to open in 1400x1050, but then reverts to 800x600. Checking again with VBoxManage reports:
value: 800, 600
I double-checked for typos (I wasn't going to get caught on that again.) but no luck.
Any suggestions?
-
- Volunteer
- Posts: 5677
- Joined: 14. Feb 2019, 03:06
- Primary OS: Mac OS X other
- VBox Version: PUEL
- Guest OSses: Linux, Windows 10, ...
- Location: Germany
Re: Version 6.1.12 Guest OS Won't Save Resolution Across Reboots
This feature depends on working VirtualBox Guest Additions (GA). Are there any GA for GhostBSD?
Re: Version 6.1.12 Guest OS Won't Save Resolution Across Reboots
GhostBSD is based on FreeBSD, so yes. According tofth0 wrote:This feature depends on working VirtualBox Guest Additions (GA). Are there any GA for GhostBSD?
Code: Select all
pkg info
Code: Select all
virtualbox-ose-additions-5.2.44_3 VirtualBox additions for FreeBSD guests
virtualbox-ose-kmod-5.2.44_4 VirtualBox kernel module for FreeBSD
Code: Select all
/usr/bin/VBoxClient/ --vmsvga-xll
Code: Select all
/usr/local/bin/VBoxClient/ -- vmsvga-x11
-
- Volunteer
- Posts: 841
- Joined: 14. Sep 2019, 16:51
- Primary OS: Mac OS X other
- VBox Version: PUEL
- Guest OSses: WIN11,10, 7, Linux (various)
- Location: United Kingdom
Re: Version 6.1.12 Guest OS Won't Save Resolution Across Reboots
Unfortunately the Guest Additions Version doesn't match the VirtualBox Version. Try updating to the matched version.
Re: Version 6.1.12 Guest OS Won't Save Resolution Across Reboots
Thanks for jumping in, multiOS.multiOS wrote:Unfortunately the Guest Additions Version doesn't match the VirtualBox Version. Try updating to the matched version.
The package manager reports that it's up to date and version 5.2.44_4 of Guest Additions is the latest one showing up.
There seems to be some debate in the FreeBSD community about whether or not the v. 5.2.44_4 Guest Additions works with v. 6.1.18 VirtualBox. Some have no trouble with that combo while others do.
Also, I looked on FreshPorts and 5.2.44_4 seems to be the latest version available as of 2021-01-26, so I'm unclear on how I'd get a matching version or if, indeed, one exists. Suggestions?
-
- Volunteer
- Posts: 5677
- Joined: 14. Feb 2019, 03:06
- Primary OS: Mac OS X other
- VBox Version: PUEL
- Guest OSses: Linux, Windows 10, ...
- Location: Germany
Re: Version 6.1.12 Guest OS Won't Save Resolution Across Reboots
You could try and set Display > Graphics Controller to the old VBoxVGA setting. The current VMSVGA (Linux guests) and VBoxSVGA (Windows guests) came out with VirtualBox 6.0, so using either of these is not supported with VirtualBox Guest Additions < 6.0.
PS: I don't know what is contained in the FreeBSD GA 5.2.44_4, so I cannot speak for that.
PS: I don't know what is contained in the FreeBSD GA 5.2.44_4, so I cannot speak for that.
Re: Version 6.1.12 Guest OS Won't Save Resolution Across Reboots
Thanks for the idea, fth0. Alas, it didn't work. I may just have to downgrade to VB 5. I'm wasting far too much time on this.fth0 wrote:You could try and set Display > Graphics Controller to the old VBoxVGA setting. The current VMSVGA (Linux guests) and VBoxSVGA (Windows guests) came out with VirtualBox 6.0, so using either of these is not supported with VirtualBox Guest Additions < 6.0.
PS: I don't know what is contained in the FreeBSD GA 5.2.44_4, so I cannot speak for that.
Re: Version 6.1.12 Guest OS Won't Save Resolution Across Reboots
After some fooling around, I've realized that in the latest version of VBoxManage:
... actually removes the given key from the config. (See virtualbox UserManual.html#vboxmanage-extradata)
I was able to use
(Note the added resolution value)
...and that gave me the above defined resolution...
However changing the resolution within the guest (I'm using Linux Mint -> Display settings) doesn't change this value in the extradata... With that guest OS, I have to use VMSVGA graphics controller and I have limited knowledge on what that actually means for this issue and how to resolve it properly (i.e. to be able to change and persist from within the guest OS settings)
Code: Select all
VBoxManage setextradata "Mint 20 VM" "GUI/LastGuestSizeHint"
I was able to use
Code: Select all
VBoxManage setextradata "Mint 20 VM" "GUI/LastGuestSizeHint" "1680,1050"
...and that gave me the above defined resolution...
However changing the resolution within the guest (I'm using Linux Mint -> Display settings) doesn't change this value in the extradata... With that guest OS, I have to use VMSVGA graphics controller and I have limited knowledge on what that actually means for this issue and how to resolve it properly (i.e. to be able to change and persist from within the guest OS settings)