WinXP Guest OS on Ubuntu Jaunty has transparent background

[xmount]

Just updated my system to ubuntu jaunty and restored my VM OS's from a backup. Problem is though XP has a transparent background making it very difficult to work. I've attached a screenshot so you can see how my linux bg is showing through on the windows side. I looked around and couldn't find a setting for this. Any help would be much appreciated.
Ubuntu 9.04
VM 2.2.2

Tried enabling and disabling 3d acceleration with no luck.
Tried adjusting video memory settings with no luck.

Thanks.

[Sasquatch]

Search the forums here a bit better. Terms to use: cairo argb visuals. That should give you a topic where a similar issue was mentioned from users that were running Cairo Dock or something.

[xmount]

Didn't find any posts for cairo argb visuals or just cairo dock but killing cairo, restarting x and then running vm before cairo fixed it.

Thanks for the hint.

[Sasquatch]

In the topic I referred to (which you can't find, and I don't actually have the time to search either), the user changed the launcher so it had a variable which disabled ARGB. Something with X_VISUAL_ARGB=OFF or something.

[quackking]

I have the same problem; Jaunty, VBox 2.2.4, Thinkpad T40 with Radeon graphics, *any* Win guest is transparent, at all times except if I raise the VBox shutdown dialog, then sometimes the Win guest becomes opaque. No Cairo apps at all, This occurs with Windows guests from Win2K to WinXP to Win7 beta (all versions.)

Help! Makes no difference if 3D effects are enabled.

No documentation on this issue that I can find.

[Sasquatch]

I have the same problem; Jaunty, VBox 2.2.4, Thinkpad T40 with Radeon graphics, *any* Win guest is transparent, at all times except if I raise the VBox shutdown dialog, then sometimes the Win guest becomes opaque. No Cairo apps at all, This occurs with Windows guests from Win2K to WinXP to Win7 beta (all versions.)

Help! Makes no difference if 3D effects are enabled.

No documentation on this issue that I can find.

Check my last post here http://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=18207

[ml2mst]

I have the same problem; Jaunty, VBox 2.2.4, Thinkpad T40 with Radeon graphics, *any* Win guest is transparent, at all times except if I raise the VBox shutdown dialog, then sometimes the Win guest becomes opaque. No Cairo apps at all, This occurs with Windows guests from Win2K to WinXP to Win7 beta (all versions.)

Help! Makes no difference if 3D effects are enabled.

No documentation on this issue that I can find.

Check my last post here http://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=18207

Hi!

I have no real solution but a work around (temporary change your Windows manager to Metacity):

- If not done already, install the Compiz-Fusion icon (from synaptic);
- launch it;
- Right click on it (in the panel);
- chose the menu option "Select Window Manager";
- choose Metacity.

If your done using VirtualBox, you can choose Compiz again as your Windows manager, using the same procedure.

HTH

[nlinux]

I'm having the exact same issue with a Vista Guest OS. If I disable Compiz and and use Metacity everything is great, but when I use Compiz my Vista Guest has a transparent background which is making it pretty much unusable. On another note, my Windows 7 Beta guest os works fine and does not have this problem. I'm using the latest 2.2.4 build of Virtualbox also.

[edkmho]

I am also having the same problem with host Ubuntu 9.04 with XP guest. The problem is with compiz.

I have tried this from the compiz forum. Disable the ARGB for virtualbox, this will solved the problem.

First of all, you have make sure the latest version of compiz installed. The go to CompizConfigs Settings Manager and look for "Windows Rules" under Windows Management category. enable "Windows Rules" and go to "No ARGB visual" and add in the virtualbox. You should be fine after that.

[tienhn]

I can confirm that this fixed the problem!
...Thanks for the search function on this forum.