virtualbox.org

Kernel driver not installed (rc=-1908)

The VirtualBox Linux kernel driver (vboxdrv) is either not loaded or there is a permission problem with /dev/vboxdrv. Re-setup the kernel module by executing

'/etc/init.d/vboxdrv setup'

as root. Users of Ubuntu, Fedora or Mandriva should install the DKMS package first. This package keeps track of Linux kernel changes and recompiles the vboxdrv kernel module if necessary.

That's what the error says everytime I try to start up my VM. I was not having this problem yesterday and I have no idea what I did to create this problem. As a Linux (Ubuntu 9.04) noob, I have no idea what any of that means. What's a DKMS package? How do I install it? Where am I supposed to put that /etc.. stuff? And what does it mean by 'as root'. I completely do NOT understand this at all. Can I get a little help here?

Probably need to add yourself to the vbox users group.

If you want to install dkms all you need to do is open a terminal window and type the following. Further instructions on how to use Ubuntu can be found here: https://help.ubuntu.com/

I was added to vboxusers a long time ago. And according to Users and groups, I still am. Installing and reinstalling DKMS doesn't change anything.

It could be that your kernel and headers are out of step. Have you done a update/upgrade yet?

Anyway did you run the statement that the error asked you to?

Hi..!

I got the same problem as described above...

I got it solved by following what you said, sudo /etc/init.d/vboxdrv setup, however, I could not start anymore my XP because of another problem...

FATAL: Could not read from the boot medium! System halted.

What else should I do to recover my XP.

Also, where I could see the files I saved on my XP desktop?

Thanks in advanced....

ysNoi wrote:Hi..!

I got the same problem as described above...

I got it solved by following what you said, sudo /etc/init.d/vboxdrv setup, however, I could not start anymore my XP because of another problem...

FATAL: Could not read from the boot medium! System halted.

What else should I do to recover my XP.

Also, where I could see the files I saved on my XP desktop?

Thanks in advanced....

You have to check the VM settings, maybe the hard drive got detached. There is a sticky here that shows you how to open the VDI file on Linux and read the data from it, so you can copy the files from your windows desktop to another location on your computer.

Sacred Nym wrote:I was added to vboxusers a long time ago. And according to Users and groups, I still am. Installing and reinstalling DKMS doesn't change anything.

DKMS on it's own doesn't do anything, you have to build a kernel module, i.e. do what PerryG suggested, only then does it kick in and do things for you automatically when you install a new kernel. I'm sure your problem came because of the kernel upgrade from a day or two ago.

What's a DKMS package? How do I install it? Where am I supposed to put that /etc.. stuff? And what does it mean by 'as root'. I completely do NOT understand this at all. Can I get a little help here?

We expect a little knowledge here from the user about the OS he's using as Host. Since you've just started, it's a good idea to borrow or buy a book about Linux, read some help pages of your distribution and general Linux information sites. These will certainly help you get the best out of your Linux experience. We all start somewhere, and this forum is not exactly where you should be for beginners questions about your Operating System.
Don't get the wrong idea, we're still willing to help you, but we do expect users to know what the 'root' user is, how to become root or run things as root. Also basic knowledge for Linux is how the file system is build up. This Wikipedia article for example explains what each does, and what files you can expect in them.

Good luck, and have fun with Linux. If you don't understand something, use Google (or your favorite search engine) to look for the answers. Some other, more specialized forums can help you with OS questions a lot better than we can (it's not in the scope of this forum). If there's anything you need to know about VB, this is the right place .

Sasquatch wrote:

ysNoi wrote:Hi..!

I got the same problem as described above...

I got it solved by following what you said, sudo /etc/init.d/vboxdrv setup, however, I could not start anymore my XP because of another problem...

FATAL: Could not read from the boot medium! System halted.

What else should I do to recover my XP.

Also, where I could see the files I saved on my XP desktop?

Thanks in advanced....

You have to check the VM settings, maybe the hard drive got detached. There is a sticky here that shows you how to open the VDI file on Linux and read the data from it, so you can copy the files from your windows desktop to another location on your computer.

Yup, it was detached...! I saw it on my Virtual Media Manager..! Now it's already okey..!

Thanks for the hands...!