[Solved] VBox usb-ehci issue on Ubuntu Studio 18.10

[Lantic]

Fresh install of Ubuntu Studio 18.10 and Vbox test build 6.0.5-129797-Linux_amd64. Copied Win XP VM to folder in Home. All good so far. Try to open VM - gets to 100% and then error comes up:

Failed to open a session for the virtual machine Windows XP.
Failed to load unit 'usb-ehci' (VERR_SSM_LOADED_TOO_LITTLE).
Result Code: NS_ERROR_FAILURE (0x80004005)
Component: ConsoleWrap
Interface: IConsole {872da645-4a9b-1727-bee2-5585105b9eed}

Have unchecked all USB connections and tried again - same error.

From log file:

00:00:05.618075 ERROR [COM]: aRC=E_ACCESSDENIED (0x80070005) aIID={872da645-4a9b-1727-bee2-5585105b9eed} aComponent={ConsoleWrap} aText={The virtual machine is being powered down}, preserve=false aResultDetail=0
00:00:05.618821 GUI: UIFrameBufferPrivate::performResize: Size=1366x768, Using fallback buffer since no source bitmap is provided
00:00:05.621131 ERROR [COM]: aRC=E_ACCESSDENIED (0x80070005) aIID={872da645-4a9b-1727-bee2-5585105b9eed} aComponent={ConsoleWrap} aText={The virtual machine is being powered down}, preserve=false aResultDetail=0
00:00:05.640834 Changing the VM state from 'DESTROYING' to 'TERMINATED'
00:00:05.644963 Console: Machine state changed to 'Saved'
00:00:05.702991 ERROR [COM]: aRC=NS_ERROR_FAILURE (0x80004005) aIID={872da645-4a9b-1727-bee2-5585105b9eed} aComponent={ConsoleWrap} aText={Failed to load unit 'usb-ehci' (VERR_SSM_LOADED_TOO_LITTLE)}, preserve=false aResultDetail=-1833
00:00:05.704062 Power up failed (vrc=VERR_SSM_LOADED_TOO_LITTLE, rc=NS_ERROR_FAILURE (0X80004005))
00:00:47.721044 GUI: UIMachineLogicFullscreen::adjustMachineWindowsGeometry
00:00:47.721082 GUI: UIMultiScreenLayout::update: GUI/AutomountGuestScreens is disabled
00:00:47.721674 GUI: UIMachineViewFullscreen::adjustGuestScreenSize: Adjust guest-screen size if necessary.
00:00:47.721707 GUI: Aborting startup due to power up progress issue detected...

VM was in saved state when VB first failed to open it after a kernel update on a previous OS (see topic 92434). Is this the problem? Can one shut down a VM from the 'outside'? What does Discard saved state actually do? How unsaved is it - back to a previous snapshot or back to day 1 (which is 2014 in this case)? I have tried to find info on it but so far failed...

[mpack]

You updated VirtualBox while the VM was suspended. That is the equivalent of replacing the motherboard of a PC while the PC is hibernated. You must be a very optimistic person if you expected no problems with that.

You need to right click the VM in the manager and choose "Discard saved state". Then it will boot, though the guest OS will detect an abnormal shutdown, and everything in RAM will be lost. Checking the guest filesystem for errors is advisable.

I find it much easier to simply shut down the VM after every use. A few seconds saved is not worth the extra fragility.

[Lantic]

Thank you mpack

I discarded saved state and it all works perfectly (and I didn't lose any data - whew!).

Yes, I did not mean to update VB at all, but I must have hit the wrong button (or followed the wrong advice, or something) because the whole linux kernel updated along with all the software. I will be more present in future! Lesson learnt. On the other hand, the whole experience has given me a brand new fabulous OS and tons of new functionality (in all computing areas) and lots of new discoveries.

One last question: I am aware that I'm using a test build, but is it not possible for it to use my system-wide font settings? The text (menus etc.) on VB is tiny. Or is there a way to increase font size on the program itself? I haven't found anything under settings/preferences...

[socratis]

There are no font-specific settings in VirtualBox, it goes with the Qt5 ones. Sometimes if a non-standard theme is used, it may turn out to be problematic. It could be the theme, it could be VirtualBox looking at the wring settings.

For example there's an open issue with 6.0.x, see Known Issues in the "Discuss the 6.0.0 release" post:

• #18258 VirtualBox does not respect dark themes

[Lantic]

Thanks, socratis.

I am using a light theme. I have been trying to find how to change QT_STYLE_OVERRIDE or similar, but all I can find on the net are comments that say "use qt_style_override" but nowhere does it tell one how to do that. I'm assuming it's in terminal but beyond that I'm lost. I realise this is not a qt forum, but if anyone could help I'd be most grateful.

[socratis]

Not only is this not a Qt forum, but we've (both you and me) violated the One issue, one thread rule...

[Lantic]

Eep! Will start new thread when I've done some more testing on the style issue.

[socratis]

That would be great...

Thank you for marking the thread as [Solved].