GA service won't start

[Duhhh]

I recently installed 3.1.2 on Ubuntu Karmic 64-bit, with an Intel Xeon X5472. I installed a Windows 7 and Windows Vista VM (both 64-bit), and installed GA in both. The mouse integration works, seamless works, but I noticed the clocks were drifting. When I looked in the system log on both guests, I saw that the GA service wouldn't start. When I try to start it manually, I get error 1067. Both VMs are using virtual SATA for the HD. VT-x is enabled. Uninstall/reinstall of GA doesn't change anything.

Ideas?

[MarkCranness]

Try debugging it from the guest command line:

Code: Select all

VBoxService -f -vvv

and see if any more detailed error messages are displayed.

[Duhhh]

In looking at the log, I see a few errors. The first is hard to decipher, because it looks like two threads called the debug print at the same time:

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vboxservice: Starting 'timesync' in the main thread
vboxservice: Host:    2010-02-18T16:55:15.476000000Z    (MinAdjust: 200 ms)
vboxservice: Guest: - 2010-02-18T16:55:21.897850900Z => -6 421 850 900 ns drift
vboxservice: Windows time adjustment: Drift=-6421ms
vboxservice: Windows time adjustment: OrgTA=189062, CurTA=189062, NewTA=170156,
DiffNew=18906, DiffMax=94531
vvbbooxxsseerrvviiccee::  errWor:r itiSng egtuSeysstt epmrToipmeerAtdyj u"stm/en
tV ifratiulaeldB,o xe/rGruoers=tAd1d/C3o1m4pon
ntsv/VBbooxxHsoeorkv.idclel:"
rror:v bSoxseetrSvyiscteemT:ime AdjWustrmietnitn(g, dgiuseasbtl ep)r ofpaeirltey
d ," er/rorV=irt1ual3B1o4x/G
estvAddb/oCxosmeprovniecnets/:VBo xeDrirsopr.:d llS"et
ystemvTimbeo xfsaeirlveidc,e er:ror =W1r3i1t4ing
guest property "/VirtualBox/GuestAdd/Components/VBoxMRXNP.dll"
vboxservice: Writing guest property "/VirtualBox/GuestAdd/Components/VBoxService.exe"

It looks like there's an error message in there...

Later, I see:

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vboxservice: Writing guest property "/VirtualBox/GuestAdd/Components/VBoxTray.exe"
vboxservice: No file information found! File = C:\Windows\system32\VBoxGINA.dll, Error: VERR_FILE_NOT_FOUND
vboxservice: Writing guest property "/VirtualBox/GuestAdd/Components/VBoxGINA.dll"
vboxservice: No file information found! File = C:\Windows\system32\VBoxCredProv.dll, Error: VERR_FILE_NOT_FOUND

And indeed, those two files aren't there (only VBoxDisp.dll, VBoxHook.dll and VBoxMRXNP.dll)

I tried a reinstall, and even a safe-mode re-install with no change.

[MarkCranness]

The debug print indicates that the service might be running after all. Does Task Manager show VBoxService.exe running after boot? Maybe set the service to Disabled to un-munge the error message displayed.

I've had time sync problems even with the GA running. Do you have messages in the VBox.log (or in the -vvv output) about 'TM: Giving up catch-up attempt ...'? Not much can be done about those for Windows guests.

[Duhhh]

Does Task Manager show VBoxService.exe running after boot?

Nope. If I try to start the service manually, it fails. I put a debugger on it to see that it's trying to read a null pointer. I need to get some symbols to find out where.

Do you have messages in the VBox.log (or in the -vvv output) about 'TM: Giving up catch-up attempt ...'?

Nope.

I've had time sync problems even with the GA running.

I'm seeing the VM get ahead by about an hour after 3-4 hours of running builds. Source control isn't lovin' that.

Since it wasn't until the time drift that I even noticed the service didn't start, I wonder how many people are in the same boat - since mouse integration worked, I assumed GA was happy. I'll have to hunt down the missing DLLs and see if I can get something working. It may be just 64-bit clients, I'll have to install a 32-bit VM and see if it works.

[MarkCranness]

I recently installed 3.1.2 on Ubuntu...

Aha! There is a known bug with 3.1.x GA on Linux where the guest time advances faster than real time. VirtualBox 3.1.4 has a fix, or the 3.0.x versions of GA don't have the problem.

[Duhhh]

I was already into the debug/data gathering when 3.1.4 was released, so I didn't want to add another variable. I didn't see anything in the release notes about GA service not starting, so I wanted to keep hunting. Now that I've tested 32 bit (and found it working), I have more to go on. It may be time to download source and start looking for the specific problem, but I might just go to 3.1.4 first.