After upgrading VirtualBox to 7.1.4 the Guest Additions don't work

[Josemari]

Hi. I've been using VirtualBox for years on Linux Mint (host) and I maintain a Windows 10 virtual machine (guest).

I have added the Oracle repositories to the system, and I just changed the version of VirtualBox 7.0 (7.0.20) to 7.1 (7.1.4), including the Extension Pack. I didn't need to because version 7.0 worked perfectly.

Everything is fine until I try to install the Guest Additions on Windows 10. I've tried everything:
- Install the new version over the existing one.
- Uninstall the old version before installing the new one.
+ Uninstall the old version completely (RevoUninstaller), and also uninstall the driver from the Windows 10 Device Manager, before installing the new one:
+ When I did this I was surprised that from the virtual machine window it indicated that there were some Guest Additions installed, but of a different version than the one in the VirtualBox Manager (7.0.18):
- VM > Machine > Session Information > Execution Information > Guest Additions > 7.0.18

The thing is that in no case does what should work work:
- The resolution does not increase.
- The 2nd monitor does not appear.
- There is no mouse integration.

I attach the log file.

[poncho524]

Same. I upgraded and additions don't work.

Specifically the Graphics don't work. no resizing.

Tips?

[Josemari]

Well, after a lot of testing I have made some progress. YOU HAVE TO UNINSTALL THE GUEST ADDITIONS (GA) FROM THE MACHINES FROM THE OLD VERSION OF VIRTUALBOX (VB) IN WHICH THEY WERE IN USE:
- In this way when you move to version 7.1 (it doesn't matter if it's subversion 7.1.X) the GAs of the new version are installed correctly.
- Otherwise, both versions end up installed at the same time (7.0.X and 7.1.X), and neither of them works.

If you do this the correct version is detected everywhere:
- MV > Machine > Session Information > Execution Information > Guest Plugins: 7.1.4
- Add/Remove Programs: 7.1.4
- Device Manager: System Devices > VirtualBox Guest Device > 7.1.4
- Device Manager: Display Adapters > VirtualBox Graphics Adapter (WDDM) > 7.1.4

In my case it worked:
- The resolution is now increased.
- There is mouse integration.
BUT... the 2nd monitor doesn't appear. I've tried with the two types of Chipset that VB offers, and it doesn't solve the problem (PIIX3 and ICH9), so I'm sticking with the one that the program itself recommends (PIIX3).

One thing. It is not a good idea to uninstall GA from external applications, even if they clean up the remains (RevoUninstaller). In my case I had to go back to a restore point because I had used it. It is better to uninstall GA from the native W10 application "Add or remove programs".

I am still investigating.


EDIT: The 2nd monitor works by changing the VirtualBox graphics mode: VBoxSVGA -> VBoxVGA.
The configuration says "invalid configuration" and recommends using VBoxSVGA, but it works with VBoxVGA and the 2 monitors. I'm not happy about not using VBoxSVGA mode because I understand that it is more advanced, but it is what it is. Anyway, one of the advantages of VBoxSVGA mode is that you can activate 3D acceleration... but it doesn't work either. The screen appears black. I think the machine works but it doesn't display an image.
Anyway, for now I'm still using VBoxVGA mode. I'm not closing the topic because I understand that it hasn't been completely solved.

[janpeter]

I also updated to 7.1.4 and found similar problems with my VM Windows 10.

I could see that both GA 7.0.20 and 7.1.4 were installed and since I work from VBox 7.1.4 I used Windows uninstall of the corresponding GA.

Questions is if I REALLY need role back to VBox 7.0.20 and eliminated GA 7.0.20 as suggested in the post,
or I can delete GA 7.0.20 when running in VBox 7.1.4 in a similar way as above.

Then install a new GA 7.1.4.

Will this work, or will it screw up my VM Windows 10?

It is unclear for me how to role back VBox from 7.1.4 to 7.0.20 and that is why I ask.

My host is macOS 12.7.6 (Intel)

[Josemari]

My host is Linux Mint, but I assume you can do something similar on your macOS. To go back to VB7.0.20:
- I turn off the virtual machine and VB7.1.4.
- I have the Oracle repositories added to the system, so I have access to the latest versions of VB7.0 and VB7.1. Otherwise, you can also download the installers for the platform from the VirtualBox website.
- From the software manager, I uninstall the VB7.1.4 version.
- I install the VB7.0.20 version.
- I start VB7.0.20 and from there I uninstall EP7.1.4 and install EP7.0.20.
- I start the W10 VM (it should have been detected automatically) and uninstall the GA7.0.20 from "Add or remove programs"
- I turn off the VM and now I have to repeat the whole process, to change the VB7.0.20 version for the new VB7.1.4 (it's a pain, I know).
- Once in VB7.1.4 I start the VM and install the GA7.1.4 normally.

It worked for me. I hope it helps you.

[janpeter]

I took the pains and did roughly what you outlined - and It works!

Roling back to previous VBox 7.0.20 was actually easy using macOS Time Machine. Just select the application VBox and go back in time and bring back VBox 7.0.20 and worked directly. And then later role forward to VBox 7.1.4 same way. (At one occasion I actually needed to manually fix the icon in the task bar, but otherwise no problem).

So first in 7.1.4 I un-installed GA 7.1.4 there.

Then in 7.0.20 un-installed GA 7.0.20 there.

And then back to 7.1.4 and re-install GA 7.1.4.
The extension pack I have not used for long time but in 7.1.4 I at the end installed that.
I think the display handling became a bit better. Stick to standard VBoxSVGA though.
Even extra display work well. And the VM Windows 10 when dragged over to the laptop the icons remain the same.
The scaling is now relative the chosen screen size. So if I drag out the VM Windows "window" then the icons becomes bigger.
Not sure I like it, and experience it as a new property, not too sure though.

Thanks anyway for your detailed instruction!

[helmat]

You can also download the 7.0.20 GA package, extract the VBoxGuestAdditions.iso from it (7-Zip is your friend), and use that for reinstalling/deinstalling the GA. This way, all can be done without downgrading VBox at all but you can keep it on 7.1.4. Note that after each deinstall a reboot is necessary.