virtualbox.org

I have just installed vb and every time I try to install a guest os the install takes hours. For instance, I am installing xp now and it is copying files. The cd drive will work for maybe 10 or 15 seconds and then stop for 10 minutes or so. Sometimes longer. I wonder if this is normal. Is it?

No it is not normal. Why not share with us some of your system information?
Host side and what you are using for the settings in the guest.

Thanks. I'm using an RC 410 (Radeon Xpress 200) video card, a 300 G sata hard drive, an ATI IXP SB400 mb, and a Celeron 3.2 GHz.

448 meg of memory, acpi enabled, 12 meg video, 10 gig hard disk. Other than that I'm not sure what you may need to know. If you need other data, let me know what.

How much RAM is on the Host?

There is 1 gig.

Well there's your problem. Everything is pretty much running from swap. Try it with at least 2 gig and it will be faster.

Ok. Thanks a bunch Perryg.