Which version of VirtualBox for Windows XP.

[scottgus1]

how you install Windows XP Guest PCs and what settings do you use?

I'll just add one suggestion: put two processors in the XP guest (not more). XP was designed for one processor but it runs better on two.

Note that this will not solve the certificate problem, it just lets the OS respond more nicely to user input if an app is fully loading a processor.

Also, two processors must be set before the OS is installed; XP will not automatically use a second processor if you add the second processor after XP is installed.

[ermete74]

Some users are reporting problems installing 6.1.32 Guest Additions on XP, some are saying they install OK. We're not sure where the problem is yet.

If you go to https://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/ you can get an earlier version of the Guest Additions ISO from 6.1.x. Chances are there aren't any new features that would affect XP, so an earlier Guest Additions would be compatible with up-to-date Virtualbox.

I thought back to the tests I performed.
When installing the Guest Additions, unchecking "Protect your computer and data from unauthorized use program" in the version before VirtualBox-6.1.32-149290-Win and Oracle_VM_VirtualBox_Extension_Pack-6.1.32 completed the installation.
With the new version of VirtualBox-6.1.32-149290-Win and Oracle_VM_VirtualBox_Extension_Pack-6.1.32 does not complete the installation.
I haven't tried the old version of VirtualBox again, I ask, what was changed that caused the installation to hang again?
How can I contact the VirtualBox developers?
Is there a log file to check where is the error?
Not interested in fixing this error?

[scottgus1]

what was changed that caused the installation to hang again?

Good question, we on the forum don't know yet.

How can I contact the VirtualBox developers?

https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/IRC Be polite and patient, they are busy. Treat others the way you want to be treated.

Is there a log file to check where is the error?

I strongly suspect that the Windows Guest Additions installer uses the Microsoft MSI installer system. Web-search how to enable MSI logging in the XP OS and a log should be made of the installation steps, which probably will show where the error happens.

Not interested in fixing this error?

Just because the error can't be fixed on your schedule doesn't mean we aren't interested in seeing it fixed. Two things to help you get the proper view of the matter:

1. You as a user of free Virtualbox are entitled to absolutely no support whatsoever. We know you are a free Virtualbox user because you'd remember the super hit to your bank account if you paid for a support contract, and you'd be exercising that contract instead of talking to us on the forum.
2. We on the forum are not the developers, and we only provide support to free Virtualbox users like you because we want to, for our own personal interests, not because we're paid to, which we're not.

Care to revise that statement?

[ermete74]

Maybe I have been misunderstood.
I don't expect anything, thank you for your support.
After a long time I had found the solution to my mistake.
Installing the next version didn't work, I was discouraged.

[scottgus1]

Thanks for your expressions.

While the 6.1.32 Guest Additions are being investigated, older 6.1.x Guest Additions should still install in XP and work with 6.1.32 Virtualbox.

Also, which service pack is your XP?

[ermete74]

[quote="scottgus1"]Also, which service pack is your XP?[/quote]

I already wrote this

"I retried the procedure that I indicated above, after the new version of VirtualBox-6.1.32-149290-Win and Oracle_VM_VirtualBox_Extension_Pack-6.1.32.
on:
Windows XP Pro SP3 32-bit;
Windows XP Pro SP2 32-bit;
Windows XP Home SP3 32-bit
It does not work anymore."

I also tested the Windows XP Pro SP3 Lite version and it doesn't work.

I had also asked, why in safe mode can I install it?

[scottgus1]

I already wrote this

Oops! Sorry about missing that, this is a long topic now.

So SP2 & 3 both fail in regular running, but Safe Mode install works.

Yet my SP3 fresh install test installed 6.1.32 GAs in regular mode. 'Tis a puzzle.

Why this is happening is way beyond me. Did you ever open a Bugtracker ticket about it?

Also, are the XP VMs you tried 6.1.32 GAs on pre-existing VMs or fresh new VMs?

[mpack]

I also tested the Windows XP Pro SP3 Lite version and it doesn't work.

This raises red flags for me. There was never an official product called "XP Pro SP3 Lite". If the OP is using non-standard XP installers then all bets are off.

[science2002]

I had the same problems in installing Guest Additions (GA) in my laptop, with Win10Pro 64bit as host and WinXPSP3 32bit as guest, using VB v.6.1.26
Eventually I succeeded. For what is worth, this is my experience.
1. Before succeeding I notice that in Hardware resources of WinXP there was no controller driver VGA. Attempts to install from WinXP disk and other sources failed.
2. I tweaked the settings of the VM, as follows (see image in the attachment below, other settings not shown were not changed).
3. I used the general GA installer inside the CD within the guest WinXP.
4. I noticed that one needed to be patient (10min or more) when the installer stacks at the point shown (video driver) at the beginning of this thread.
5. At that point I get the warning that the driver to be installed was without Windows certification: install or not? I say yes, and it was ok.
6. On Hardware resources the question mark of the controller driver VGA (see point 1) disappeared: now it says VirtualBox Graphic Adapter, and I should say that drag and drop (bidirectional) works better than with Win10Pro 64 as a Guest.

[ermete74]

Did you ever open a Bugtracker ticket about it?

No, can you explain to me what it is?

Also, are the XP VMs you tried 6.1.32 GAs on pre-existing VMs or fresh new VMs?

Always virtual PCs of new installations.
I tried everything, first I deleted the virtual PCs and also uninstalled the VirtualBox program, reinstalled and created new virtual PCs.
I also tested it on 2 different operating systems, Windows 10 and Windows 11.
I'm tired of testing, from August to today I have had problems using VirtualBox to virtualize operating systems.
First with Windows 7, now with Windows XP.

[ermete74]

I also tested the Windows XP Pro SP3 Lite version and it doesn't work.

This raises red flags for me. There was never an official product called "XP Pro SP3 Lite". If the OP is using non-standard XP installers then all bets are off.

If you have read all my posts, I have indicated all the versions used which are official versions.
I have also indicated this to report that all the versions of Windows XP I tested did not work.

"Windows XP Pro SP3 32-bit;
Windows XP Pro SP2 32-bit;
Windows XP Home SP3 32-bit
It does not work anymore."

[ermete74]

4. I noticed that one needed to be patient (10min or more) when the installer stacks at the point shown (video driver) at the beginning of this thread.
5. At that point I get the warning that the driver to be installed was without Windows certification: install or not? I say yes, and it was ok.
6. On Hardware resources the question mark of the controller driver VGA (see point 1) disappeared: now it says VirtualBox Graphic Adapter, and I should say that drag and drop (bidirectional) works better than with Win10Pro 64 as a Guest.

Also I have noticed that the installation of the Guest Additions hangs in the installation of the video driver.
Waiting 10 minutes is a long time, congratulations for the patience you have had and that I never imagined having to wait.
I have come to the conclusion, at least in my configuration, that the problem is always due to the optical reader I use.
This had also given me problems with the installation of Windows 7, then I solved it.
Tomorrow I also try to wait about 10 minutes and check what happens.
So I select the ISO image from the VirtualBox settings, start the Guest OS, start the installation of the Guest Additions and then I have to wait at least 10 minutes, is that correct?

[ermete74]

A curiosity that I want to remove.
Could you please indicate me the steps you use to install the Guest PCs?
Which is the order you use between:
Installing the Guest PC ISO image;
Guest PC settings from VirtualBox;
Installation of Guest Additions;
Installation of Extension Packs.

[science2002]

Could you please indicate me the steps you use to install the Guest PCs?

If you are asking me, the steps I followed were traditional ones, i.e. similar to the ones I used to install other VMs (Win10, Android).

1. I had a Iso WinXPSp3 (32bit).
2. I Setup initially the VM, chosing the obvious options for the Guest OS I wanted.
3. I installed WinXP, with no extra users, similar to the installation I had in a working old laptop.
4. I changed the Virtual CD Drive from WinXP to Guest Additions (GA).
5. I tried to install GA (with generic installer and with x86 one), and I had your problem (my host had a separate video card, if this matters).
6. After having searched in this forum and elsewhere if the problem was known (at that time I did not find much), I started tweaking the settings (see the previous image).
7. I tried also to install the VGA controller driver myself from Intel and other sources, seeing that it was with a question mark in hardware resources (I did not know that it should be installed by GA). I did not succeed.
8. I try again to install GA (generic installer) and eventually I got the "right" warning to install no-signed drivers. I said eventually, because it was at this point that I waited, since also to have the warning of point 5 there was a time lag.
9. I said yes to the installation without signed certificate and at the end I checked the VGA driver in hardware resources: it was ok (see previous post).
10. I did not install the extension pack at this time. To be fair I do not even know what it is for. I just notice that there is a folder with that name in VB: so I installed it (same version) with VB itself last year.

I hope it helps.

[scottgus1]

One recent report on Guest Additions install oddness on XP said, if I remember correctly, that disconnecting the network to the XP VM while installing GAs might clear up the 10-minute delay.