[Solved] Fedora 11 guest installation fails on Win XP host

[johns777]

Hi all,

I posted my issue to the public bug list about three weeks ago, and the issue has not been review yet.

http://www.virtualbox.org/ticket/4773
Description copied below.

Perhaps someone could shed some light on my issue.

Thanks,
John

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Host: Windows XP Pro fully updated (32 bit)
VB: PUEL 3.0.4
Guest: Fedora 11
Original bug description:
Host is Windows XP fully updated. Guest is Fedora 11 (F11) from stock DVD ISO. Using default F11 installation settings, VirtualBox crashes when installing files from installation media to virtual hard drive. I'm not sure if it's related, but the crash always happens when installing the glibc-common package.

I tried a myriad of virtual hard drive configurations (e.g. piix3, piix4, additional controllers, slots, differencing, etc.). Saw a post about reducing VM memory below 2 GB, but that setting was never above 2 GB.

Originally started-out with a rather customized F11 install, but in the course of trouble-shooting, simplified to the default install. Downloaded a fresh copy of the DVD ISO too; did not help.

Searched the Internet for similar issues but did not see any.

Many VB log files attached. Hopefully you can find something.

[Perryg]

Have you tried to install with a lower memory setting? Your log file shows a guru mediation and that you are assigning about 1.5 gig when you only have 1.8 available. Usually only 1/2 of the available memory can be assigned to the guest.

[johns777]

I changed the memory to about 900 MB and the install completed.

On the bug side of this issue, a couple of comment arrived, saying the VRAM need not be over 512 MB. For a little more information, check it out:
http://www.virtualbox.org/ticket/4773

I'm curious what is the relationship between VRAM in my VM versus RAM on my host. My host has 3 GB and in VMWare, the guest's RAM is normally set to about 50% or a little more.

Thank you for the fix and any additional information.

John

[Perryg]

Your host may have 3 gig of RAM but after you start the Host it is going to use some of it so it will not be available to use right?
Your log file says that you only had about 1.8 gig available because the host and other programs were using the rest.
As for the VRAM that actually comes from the system RAM as well. It is presented to the virtual video adapter.
As a rule you can operate almost all Linux OS at 256 to 512 with the video RAM of 10 meg just fine.
I have a full Ubuntu 8.04 LAMP server with everything in it that I can install and it is working at 256 meg just fine.

Edit: I just noticed that they closed the ticket and said pretty much the same thing as I did. If you run into more problems you should ask here first. We usually can turn the answer around a little faster if it is not too complicated.