Safest version to use at the moment?

NeBlackCat · Post by **NeBlackCat** » 30. Aug 2009, 17:24

I'm using a 2.1.4 (WS2003 host, XP/WS2003 guests) and should probably upgrade to something more recent, but 3.0.4 seems problematic going from its discussion thread.

What is generally considered the most reliable one at the moment (I don't need 3D gfx)?

I saw mention of a 3.0.5 that some people have - is it any better?

Cheers for any input.

Post by **vbox4me2** » 30. Aug 2009, 17:48

2.08, 2.0.10, 2.1.4, 2.2.4 imho.

Post by **Sasquatch** » 30. Aug 2009, 17:50

Version 3.0.5 is a development release people are using because it has a fix for something they are having issues with. The best version is still 3.0.4. It's also the safest one, because in previous versions, I don't know exactly since when, there was a small security issue that was fixed in 3.0.4. Some are having problems with it, but I don't. I hardly have issues others are mentioning, so either I'm lucky, I have a stable and problem free environment, or haven't triggered the right variables to cause these errors.

Post by **mpack** » 30. Aug 2009, 20:06

I've been using 3.0.4 for a couple of days - and no problems so far.

Judging the stability of software by counting the number of complaints can be misleading. People don't generally post to say everything is working great.

Post by **Sasquatch** » 30. Aug 2009, 22:24

And, not everyone uses it the right way. A user can say something doesn't work, just because he/she doesn't use it properly, or tries to use it on the old way.

NeBlackCat · Post by **NeBlackCat** » 31. Aug 2009, 06:47

Cheers for the feedback, I'll give 3.0.4 a shot!

NeBlackCat · Post by **NeBlackCat** » 31. Aug 2009, 06:50

mpack wrote:I've been using 3.0.4 for a couple of days - and no problems so far.

Judging the stability of software by counting the number of complaints can be misleading. People don't generally post to say everything is working great.

Yes I know, hence the question. I generally read the official release comments thread and try to sense whether its a more problematic release than usual, and in particular if multiple people are having a similar basic problem, but it was a hard call this time.

patski · Post by **patski** » 3. Sep 2009, 09:17

Sorry, lots of newbie questions.

I've been happily running VB since May. According to the About screen I'm on version 2.2.4 running on Mac. Clicking on check for updates though tells me I'm on the latest version but I assume this is only checking within 2. releases?

How do I upgrade to 3.0.4? Do I need to uninstall 2.2.4 or can I just run it. I don't have Time Machine running. What happens if I need to revert?

If I need to uninstall 2.2.4 before upgrading, will I need to set everything up again?

Thanks in advance...

Post by **mpack** » 3. Sep 2009, 10:48

patski wrote:How do I upgrade to 3.0.4? Do I need to uninstall 2.2.4 or can I just run it.

Check the downloads area: I see v3.0.4 for Intel Macs available there.

patski wrote:I don't have Time Machine running. What happens if I need to revert?

Sorry, I'm not a Mac user, I have no idea what Time Machine is - though I can guess it's some kind of backup/restore feature. Taking a backup of your system before installing a new version of VBox is a very good idea.

patski wrote:If I need to uninstall 2.2.4 before upgrading, will I need to set everything up again?

Again, I can't speak with certainty about Macs, but I assume it's the same as on other platforms. Yes, you should uninstall before installing the new version (not always necessary in theory, but it IMHO avoids certain problems people often seem to encounter). Un-installing will leave all your VMs behind, if you reinstall with the same folder options etc as last time then it will pick up the existing VMs - you won't lose them, and even if you do: well, that's why backups are a good idea.

ps. This thought only occurred after I already answered you: it would be better in future if you did not tack tangential questions onto someone else's thread. It would have been better for you to ask your own question in the Mac hosts forum.

Post by **Sasquatch** » 3. Sep 2009, 10:53

For the Mac, you don't have to uninstall VB. You can just install it on top of the version you already have. The settings files will be updated though, so if you want to revert back to a previous version, you have to restore those files too. A backup is automatically created when you start VB.

patski · Post by **patski** » 3. Sep 2009, 11:40

Thanks - have just upgraded and all went fine. Was just a bit nervous about having to set everything up again...

And sorry for not posting a separate thread...

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Safest version to use at the moment?

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