Strange graphics problem using VB 3.0.0

Discussions related to using VirtualBox on Windows hosts.
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MrCode
Posts: 3
Joined: 6. Jul 2009, 00:22
Primary OS: MS Windows XP
VBox Version: OSE other
Guest OSses: Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty

Strange graphics problem using VB 3.0.0

Post by MrCode »

Hi, all. I'm new here, so this question might have been answered already, but even using the search function, I couldn't find a thread related to this issue, so here goes...

I've been running an Ubuntu 9.04 guest OS for a while. It's "survived" the updates I've done to VirtualBox so far, but now I'm seeing something rather odd in version 3.0.0. The guest has 3D acceleration and Compiz enabled, and under normal circumstances it works fine. However, at the login screen, the display seems to be scrunched at the top of the virtual display. I don't know if this might have something to do with the video drivers installed with the guest additions or what, but it's really quite annoying.

Here's a screenshot that should clarify what I'm talking about:

Screenshot

The input/button locations are correct, but it's just impossible to see anything correctly here (I have to log in blindly). When I do log in, though, everything is fine.

Is there anything I can do to fix this?
Perryg
Site Moderator
Posts: 34369
Joined: 6. Sep 2008, 22:55
Primary OS: Linux other
VBox Version: OSE self-compiled
Guest OSses: *NIX

Re: Strange graphics problem using VB 3.0.0

Post by Perryg »

There are a couple of things that might help.
First I have been working on this and solved my problem with enabling PAE in the settings area of the guest.
Now I know this sounds stupid but I was having this exact same problem and that is what fixed it for me. Would you be so kind as to try and see if this does work or was just a fluke?

Also another thread states that you can run this from terminal.
VBoxManage setextradata global "GUI/RenderMode" sdl
MrCode
Posts: 3
Joined: 6. Jul 2009, 00:22
Primary OS: MS Windows XP
VBox Version: OSE other
Guest OSses: Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty

Re: Strange graphics problem using VB 3.0.0

Post by MrCode »

Well, I had it on to begin with, and I tried disabling it, but that doesn't seem to have helped...

Just as a note: my comp's processor (a P4) doesn't support Intel VT-x, but I noticed that the option to enable it has been checked in the settings, and I can't uncheck it because it's greyed out. Maybe that's part of it?
Perryg
Site Moderator
Posts: 34369
Joined: 6. Sep 2008, 22:55
Primary OS: Linux other
VBox Version: OSE self-compiled
Guest OSses: *NIX

Re: Strange graphics problem using VB 3.0.0

Post by Perryg »

Another suggestion for the VBox Dev team was to revert back to the 2.2.4 guest additions and see if it works. See below:

http://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic. ... 52&start=0

Edit: The grayed out part for VT-x/AMD-v just means it is not available. They all have the check mark even when disabled. (very confusing)
ltorrent
Posts: 11
Joined: 6. Jul 2009, 14:25
Primary OS: MS Windows XP
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: Fedora, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 2000, Windows Me, DOS and so on

Re: Strange graphics problem using VB 3.0.0

Post by ltorrent »

I had something like this on Fedora 11 Guest and fix the problem by setting 64 Mb of video memory in Virtual Machine settings, not 128 Mb.
gisone
Posts: 4
Joined: 6. Jul 2009, 14:33
Primary OS: MS Windows Vista
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: win xp, win 7 rc1

Re: Strange graphics problem using VB 3.0.0

Post by gisone »

i hade this same problem when upgrading my ubuntu 9,04 from vbox 2.2.4 to vbox 3.0.0 because the guest additions where not updated but where the ones of 2.2.4 , i solved installing the new guest additions
MrCode
Posts: 3
Joined: 6. Jul 2009, 00:22
Primary OS: MS Windows XP
VBox Version: OSE other
Guest OSses: Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty

Re: Strange graphics problem using VB 3.0.0

Post by MrCode »

Well, it seems that the problem has been solved... I set the video RAM back to 64MB, and the login screen is back to normal. I was afraid to do this at first because I thought maybe Compiz would have issues with running out of texture memory, but it seems to work just fine, too. Thanks for the help!
unmannedleech
Posts: 2
Joined: 7. Jul 2009, 00:09
Primary OS: MS Windows 7
VBox Version: OSE other
Guest OSses: Ubuntu 9.04 x86

Re: Strange graphics problem using VB 3.0.0

Post by unmannedleech »

Got the same error. First off not really a fix but a quick work around....

I had to drop ubuntu out of X by pressing Ctrl+alt+F1
Then just pressed Ctrl+alt+F7

Viola X worked again... Kind of annoying though.

Also tried disabling/enabling 3d Accelleration but had no effect.
Also got some weird ghosting with compiz enabled. I just disabled it and rolled without visual effect.

Host: Win 7 RC1 x64
Guest: Ubuntu 9.04 x86
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