Guest doesn't notice host window size changes

[dmjones500]

If I briefly describe the problem I've encountered, perhaps someone can help me identify if this is intended behaviour or a potential bug.

I use a laptop with a wide-screen display. I like to run my guest OS in a maximised window on my host, with auto-resize enabled. Thus, the guest OS alters its resolution to completely fill the host window.

Now, let's suppose I shut down my guest OS and turn off my laptop. I take it to work and turn it back on, now attached to an external monitor. My host machine boots and naturally has a different resolution (which matches the monitor).

If I open VirtualBox and boot my guest OS, the guest OS will no longer fill my maximised host window. It seems like the auto-resize code has not been triggered. To get my guest OS to fully fill the host window, I need to un-maximise and re-maximise the host window. This change of window size kicks the guest OS into action and it changes the resolution to fit perfectly.

The same issue will occur when I next start up my laptop without the external monitor.

I've observed this behaviour on (host/guest) Windows XP/Ubuntu and Ubuntu/Windows XP. Does this seem like expected behaviour? Or have I uncovered a small bug, which is only noticeable to people who regular change monitors?

Please let me know if my description was not clear enough and I'll do my best to refine it.

Edit: I should point out that I'm using the latest version of VirtualBox, however, I've noticed this issue on every version of VBox I've used.

[AntiMatter]

I have the same issue, install or re-install the Guest Addition and the problem is gone (Menu Device, Install Guest Additions). In my case Host = Ubuntu 8.10, Guest = Win 2008.

[Sasquatch]

I have the same issue. I share my VMs with my laptop and pc. Laptop has resolution of 1280x800, pc has 1280x1024. Whenever I start the VM with set resolution to the laptop on my pc, it will keep that resolution, until I trigger it myself. I'm not bothered by it, but I can understand why you don't like this. It happened with all versions I used (since 1.5.x).

[dmjones500]

I have the same issue, install or re-install the Guest Addition and the problem is gone (Menu Device, Install Guest Additions). In my case Host = Ubuntu 8.10, Guest = Win 2008.

I always keep my guest additions up-to-date. This morning, I upgraded to 2.1.4 on my Windows XP host and also updated the guest additions on my Ubuntu guest. The problem persists.

[AntiMatter]

I always keep my guest additions up-to-date. This morning, I upgraded to 2.1.4 on my Windows XP host and also updated the guest additions on my Ubuntu guest. The problem persists.

Then may be unregister (delete the VM entry, KEEP the VDI file). And register it a gain to see if this could improve anything?

From what I remember, the auto-adjustment of the guest screen stopped working for one VM. All I did was re-install Guest Additions, or may be I did both update Vbx to 2.14 and reinstall Additions. When installing additions, I accepted all drivers that Windows ask for confirmation before install.

Apparently you did all that. The only difference between us is that the OS of Host/Guest are reversed.

Hope you can sort out the issue (and please share it).

[Sasquatch]

Windows is kinda picky about this resolution thing. When it's started, it will try the resolution it had when it was shutdown. If it can use that resolution, it won't change. If it can't, it will try the next best suited resolution. Linux Guests have a little bigger margin for that, as xorg will look for the highest resolution possible. This is only possible if the Guest window was maximized, so the resolution can be detected.

[AndrewMc]

I'm on a Mac OS10.5 using VB 2.1.2 to run a WinXP guest pc. I'm having a similar problem, but I'm not switching between monitors. I'm unable to resize my guest-pc's desktop. Regardless of the size of my host window, the size of my guest desktop remains thhat of VB's default window-size. I am unable to change the size using "Fullscreen Mode" , "Adjust window size" , or by the mac-embedded window resize options. The resize-script doesn't seem to be responding to the resize commands i'm doing from the host-side. Or Is this an OS issue (monitor/display settings, etc) ?

Thanks

[Sasquatch]

I'm on a Mac OS10.5 using VB 2.1.2 to run a WinXP guest pc. I'm having a similar problem, but I'm not switching between monitors. I'm unable to resize my guest-pc's desktop. Regardless of the size of my host window, the size of my guest desktop remains thhat of VB's default window-size. I am unable to change the size using "Fullscreen Mode" , "Adjust window size" , or by the mac-embedded window resize options. The resize-script doesn't seem to be responding to the resize commands i'm doing from the host-side. Or Is this an OS issue (monitor/display settings, etc) ?

Thanks

Did you actually install the Guest Additions in the VM? And if it's a Linux Guest, does it have any resolutions in it's xorg.conf file? Since the 2.1.4 additions, automatic resizing is disabled when a resolution is detected in the file.

[wjern]

I have the same problem with auto resizing not work.

So what are you recommending? Remove any specific resolution entry in xorg.conf? Won't that cause other problems with screen mode such as going to full screen size (i.e. Ctrl+F)?

Thank you.

[Sasquatch]

I have the same problem with auto resizing not work.

So what are you recommending? Remove any specific resolution entry in xorg.conf? Won't that cause other problems with screen mode such as going to full screen size (i.e. Ctrl+F)?

Thank you.

The GA will take care of the resizing, so any modes are not needed in the xorg.conf file. There are nummerous examples in the Linux Guests forum.

[wjern]

Can you point me to a specific posting or example in the Linux Guests forum? I have been searching through the postings there but haven't come up with an example yet. My search might be too broad, so any pointer you have would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[Sasquatch]

Search for "xorg.conf" and you're sure to find a few. I can post mine here again, but that beats the purpose.

[elpollodiablo]

Code: Select all

VBoxManage setextradata global GUI/MaxGuestResolution any

[Sasquatch]

Code: Select all

VBoxManage setextradata global GUI/MaxGuestResolution any

Will that fix this issue? Have you tested this? Giving a command and not explain why you used/need it is not good etiquette.

[bentnhaf]

Both noelc's “silly question” and dmjones500's “Guest doesn't notice....” dilemma was my problem from an upgrade to vbox 2.2.2 but it was almost more annoying all the crap they had to put up with and from the looks of the thread, I'm not sure either has gotten this problem solved. The crap we all had to put up with I guess is the price you pay for something that's *free*. My brother held my hand through the GA config install that I wouldn't have figured out, but I had to bludgeon him into the actual xorg.conf file edit that was the magic pill that solved this problem for me.

Eventually,the first hint was the statement on the “Configure-KDesktop config window's Display>Size & Orientation tabbed window which says, “Your X server is using the RandR extension at versioin 1.2 or greater which doesn't have any configuration yet.”

I have Vista Supreme on my HP lapper with vbox attempting to run openSUSE 11 when the upgrade to vbox v 2.2.2 started the refusal to resize the resolution of the SUSE install. Yes, part of the answer is in the GA(Guest Additions) installation that has to follow but you probably missed, as I did the first time, the caveate printed out at the end of that install which showed on the Konsole screen at the end of a supposed successful GA install. It said,...

“Disabling dynamic resizing as the X server is configured to only use static resolutions. To fix this, edit the server configuration file, remove all "Modes" lines from the "Screen" section and any Option "PreferredMode" lines from "Monitor" sections and restart the server.”

I thought it was rude to not tacitly refer to the actual name of that file, “xorg.conf” at this point but also why didn't any of the respondents in these forum threads also refer to this specific statement printed out at the end of the GA install?

The 9th line down in xorg.conf, “PLEASE DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE!” leaves one with an unfavorable feeling of premonition as I began to look for the “Screen” and “Monitor” sections. But I plowed ahead.

I didn't actually remove those 5 lines but but merely “commented out” those lines by placing a “#” sign at the beginning of each which effectively removes those lines, not allowing them to be seen by the machine reading the file.

The result, nirvana. Whether in window or full screen mode, vbox now presents a desktop of the vm os gui that is truly dynamic in resolution in either view.

I'm not sure my experience is applicable to all those in dmjones500's thread, but I think it cuts to the source of the problem and the solution for those following the “silly question” thread.

Now, if I can just figure out how to get my SUSE vm to recognize my HP imbedded microphones and webcam. Any suggestions?

MOD Edit: Multi-posting the same information in separate posts is not needed. Other post deleted