Virtual Box Freeze my PC

Discussions related to using VirtualBox on Linux hosts.
Jeff Bourdeau
Posts: 38
Joined: 17. Dec 2017, 18:53

Virtual Box Freeze my PC

Post by Jeff Bourdeau »

I am using VirutalBox 5.2.8 r12 on Ubuntu 17.10

When I launch my GUest : Ubuntu vm, after a while ( 2 minutes, 10 minutes) the PC completely freeze

I will try with the GUest : Windows 10 VM to see if the same thing happen.

Mu host PC is " very stable " when not using Virtual Box. HP i5 computer, 8 gig ram, running on a SSD crucial drive

JF
When should I start looking ?
Last edited by Jeff Bourdeau on 29. Mar 2018, 14:19, edited 4 times in total.
mpack
Site Moderator
Posts: 39156
Joined: 4. Sep 2008, 17:09
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Mostly XP

Re: Virtual Box Freeze my PC

Post by mpack »

Assuming that the log you provided in another topic still applies, it is helpful to leave some CPU for the host to use. Currently you have assigned 100% of the available cores to the VM, leaving the host with 0 cores for its own use.

In future, please provide a VM log file when asking questions concerning a VM.
Last edited by socratis on 18. Mar 2018, 22:20, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Added missing URL.
Jeff Bourdeau
Posts: 38
Joined: 17. Dec 2017, 18:53

Re: Virtual Box Freeze my PC

Post by Jeff Bourdeau »

Tks @mpack for your help

See my host System monitor : show 8 processor but it's may be a " multi Core " thing I don't understand well... My knowledge with hardare are not as good as with sofware

See my vm config

JF
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Jeff Bourdeau
Posts: 38
Joined: 17. Dec 2017, 18:53

Re: Virtual Box Freeze my PC

Post by Jeff Bourdeau »

ok intermittent problem....

WM Windows or Ubuntu 18.04 has been running for a while without problems... I a moving from one to the other... Mean : Launch it, let it run a while, stop it and launch the other one for now no crash.... ( since I restarted the pc since the last crash

I now know how to send a VM log, but the next time it crash, do I need to send " some other logs too" ? Host log ? Or it is already included in the VM log ?

JF
mpack
Site Moderator
Posts: 39156
Joined: 4. Sep 2008, 17:09
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Mostly XP

Re: Virtual Box Freeze my PC

Post by mpack »

Your processor has 4 cores, 8 threads. Only cores matter to VirtualBox.

So, you have 4 cores. I suggest that you assign no more than 2 cores to any VM. Anyway, if your VM isn't actually using the extra cores then providing them will only slow down the VM, as well as starving the host.

On the logs question: we only need to see one relevant log, usually that will be "VBox.log", the log of the most recently completed session. If we need others we'll ask.
Jeff Bourdeau
Posts: 38
Joined: 17. Dec 2017, 18:53

Re: Virtual Box Freeze my PC

Post by Jeff Bourdeau »

ok tks a lot !!
Will change the Processor config and let you know how it went
Jeff Bourdeau
Posts: 38
Joined: 17. Dec 2017, 18:53

Re: Virtual Box Freeze my PC

Post by Jeff Bourdeau »

Not freezing anymore since I am not using ( my mistake) all the 4 host processors
tks !

JF
mpack
Site Moderator
Posts: 39156
Joined: 4. Sep 2008, 17:09
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Mostly XP

Re: [Solved] Virtual Box Freeze my PC

Post by mpack »

Good, thanks for reporting back.
Jeff Bourdeau
Posts: 38
Joined: 17. Dec 2017, 18:53

Re: Virtual Box Freeze my PC

Post by Jeff Bourdeau »

OOPs Not Solved

My Ubuntu station is very stable... The only CRASH I experience are when suing VirtualBox
I though allocating the memory properly to the VM solved the problem but I just " RESUME " a vm from a SAVED state and it FREEZED my station while doing it

any ideas how I could troubleshoot how/Why VirtualBox is making my Ubuuntu 17.10 host freeze ?

JF
Jeff Bourdeau
Posts: 38
Joined: 17. Dec 2017, 18:53

Re: Virtual Box Freeze my PC

Post by Jeff Bourdeau »

What is the easy path to downgrade version onf virtualbox if I want to see if VB would still Freeze my PC ?
JF
5.2.8 r12 VM would work if I downgrade version ?
mpack
Site Moderator
Posts: 39156
Joined: 4. Sep 2008, 17:09
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Mostly XP

Re: Virtual Box Freeze my PC

Post by mpack »

The main no-nos are newer GAs with older VirtualBox, and mismatched extension pack. So, I would uninstall the Guest Additions inside the guest, then uninstall VirtualBox and delete the program folder (which also deletes the extension pack). Data (VMs) will of course not be affected.

Then install the older VirtualBox software, then install the matching Guest Additions.
Jeff Bourdeau
Posts: 38
Joined: 17. Dec 2017, 18:53

Re: Virtual Box Freeze my PC

Post by Jeff Bourdeau »

There are a lot of post about VB crashing problems with some kernel versions ( starting with .26 release for Spectre problems etc)
https://askubuntu.com/questions/994315/ ... -4-13-0-26

JF
I am using version 4.13.0-37-generic but I think I need to do some trial and error to find the good match...
Jeff Bourdeau
Posts: 38
Joined: 17. Dec 2017, 18:53

Re: Virtual Box Freeze my PC

Post by Jeff Bourdeau »

I will try with VB 5.1.30-dfsg-1 suggested by my ubuntu software installer and will let you know if it helped
And, yes will uninstall VB and GA the cleanest way I can
Jeff Bourdeau
Posts: 38
Joined: 17. Dec 2017, 18:53

Re: Virtual Box Freeze my PC

Post by Jeff Bourdeau »

If my VM were in SAVE State, mean snapshot of their axctual state
And forgot to shut them off before going to a previous version of Virtual Box, is there a way to open them in the new version ?

Is seems to complain ( not open) about the save state of the VM

JF
Jeff Bourdeau
Posts: 38
Joined: 17. Dec 2017, 18:53

Re: Virtual Box Freeze my PC

Post by Jeff Bourdeau »

LOL
Discard Save state in the VM manager solved it Sorry
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