ext pack 6.1.14 fails to install

[j194]

Using Manjaro stable, updated recently.
Virtualbox Version 6.1.14 r140239
Downlaoded Oracle_VM_VirtualBox_Extension_Pack-6.1.14.vbox-extpack from Oracle website today.
Tried install by double click, and by Preferences, Extensions, but it fails.
Also tried the Oracle_VM_VirtualBox_Extension_Pack-6.1.14-140239.vbox-extpack, which also will not install.
No other ext pack shown installed under Preferences,Extensions.
I verified the sha256.

Error msg:
Failed to run /usr/lib/virtualbox/VBoxExtPackHelperApp --stdout /tmp/VBoxExtPackHelper-25qxxh/stdout --stderr /tmp/VBoxExtPackHelper-25qxxh/stderr --elevated install --base-dir /usr/lib/virtualbox/ExtensionPacks --cert-dir /usr/share/virtualbox/ExtPackCertificates --name 'Oracle VM VirtualBox Extension Pack' --tarball /tmp/mozilla_joe0/Oracle_VM_VirtualBox_Extension_Pack-6.1.14-140239.vbox-extpack --sha-256 b224e796e886b19bce69f0aaedf6ca82bad0ca29c61fb0ed86166efb84356942.

Failed to execute child process “/usr/lib/virtualbox/VBoxExtPackHelperApp --stdout /tmp/VBoxExtPackHelper-25qxxh/stdout --stderr /tmp/VBoxExtPackHelper-25qxxh/stderr --elevated install --base-dir /usr/lib/virtualbox/ExtensionPacks --cert-dir /usr/share/virtualbox/ExtPackCertificates --name 'Oracle VM VirtualBox Extension Pack' --tarball /tmp/mozilla_joe0/Oracle_VM_VirtualBox_Extension_Pack-6.1.14-140239.vbox-extpack --sha-256 b224e796e886b19bce69f0aaedf6ca82bad0ca29c61fb0ed86166efb84356942” (No such file or directory)

Suggestions? Thanks.

[manjaronoob]

I had the same problem. I solved it by installing the extention pack from commandline, using vboxmanage. Don't remember the exact command I used, but I'm sure you'll find it when you look into vboxmanage.

[j194]

Thanks for a useful suggestion, but

NEW DATA
I was able to use vboxmanage discardstate idNum to drop the vm state and thus be able activate the VM for use, but VBox will still not install the matching extpack from the Prefs, Ext, getting same error, and vboxmanage
I did remove the old extension pack.

Also, I ran VBoxManage extpack cleanup and it fails too:
Failed to execute child process “/usr/lib/virtualbox/VBoxExtPackHelperApp --stdout /tmp/VBoxExtPackHelper-yf2vsr/stdout --stderr /tmp/VBoxExtPackHelper-yf2vsr/stderr --elevated cleanup --base-dir /usr/lib/virtualbox/ExtensionPacks” (No such file or directory)

And there is such a directory but no files in it.
BTW, I had also changed permissions on the extpack to rw for everyone using the file manager GUI.

Tried the extpack install from vbox manage but no luck:

VBoxManage extpack install Oracle_VM_VirtualBox_Extension_Pack-6.1.14.vbox-extpack --accept-license=b224e796e886b19bce69f0aaedf6ca82bad0ca29c61fb0ed86166efb84356942

License accepted. For batch installation add
--accept-license=33d7284dc4a0ece381196fda3cfe2ed0e1e8e7ed7f27b9a9ebc4ee22e24bd23c
to the VBoxManage command line.

0%...
Progress state: NS_ERROR_FAILURE
VBoxManage: error: Failed to install "/home/joe/Oracle_VM_VirtualBox_Extension_Pack-6.1.14.vbox-extpack"
VBoxManage: error: The installer failed with exit code 1:
VBoxManage: error: Details: code NS_ERROR_FAILURE (0x80004005), component ExtPackManagerWrap, interface IExtPackManager
VBoxManage: error: Context: "RTEXITCODE handleExtPack(HandlerArg*)" at line 1424 of file VBoxManageMisc.cpp

I have done system updates to Manjaro in the last few months.

Any developers out there with a work around? Would an install from source into my home directory for vbox and then install the extpack be a way to go, or is this problem more fundamental to how the extension installation in vbox works?

Meanwhile I will go back a few versions and try that.

Thanks.

[manjaronoob]

Could it be that the user that starts the vbox process does not have write access to some of the vbox config files? (normally ~/.config/VirutalBox )

[scottgus1]

On Windows hosts, Virtualbox must be run as admin to install the Extension Pack. Can you try your commands via sudo? Or run the main Virtualbox GUI as sudo, then use the File menu, Preferences, Extensions to install the EP?

[manjaronoob]

Upgraded vbox to 6.1.16. When trying to upgrade extension pack with gui, there was the same error as in 6.1.14.
My solution:
1) quit all vbox processes (management window, running vm's, headless vm's...)
not sure if this was necessary, but I did so anyway.

2) start terminal
3) $ su
4) # VBoxManage extpack install --replace /tmp/Oracle_VM_VirtualBox_Extension_Pack-6.1.16.vbox-extpack
5) press 'y' when it asks if you accept the license terms.

[scottgus1]

3) $ su

Yup, that sounds like Windows's "Run As Admin". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Su_(Unix)

[multiOS]

My understanding:

su = Substitute User, used by a computer user to execute commands with the privileges of another user account (frequently 'Root') and requires that user's password to be input to confirm the change. Can be more 'risky', than 'sudo' because all further commands will be performed as that user until another user change occurs.

sudo = more akin to Windows Run as Admin, as it only requires a user account to be a member of the admin group. Initially asks for the User password and the effect is temporary (eventually times out).