virtualbox.org

I have now installed Windows XP Home three times in VirtualBox on my Mac running Snow Leopard (10.6.2).
Each time, after installing the virtual machine during the booting procedure I get as far as the "Welcome" screen and then Windows XP aborts. I have the same installation on an identical computer that has been running with no problems. Mac Pro with 12 GB RAM. How can I troubleshoot this? Can this be "fixed" or do I need to erase and start over again?
Thanks.
John

That would depend on the problem.
Post the guest log for the install and let's take a look.

Thank you Perryg for your prompt response and offer of assistance. I will not be on site with the problematic computer until tomorrow AM. I will get the information you requested at that time and respond. I am assuming that the "guest log" is the "VBox.log.x" files in the "Logs" folder. I believe there are at least 2 or three of these files if I recall.
John

Here is one of the three log files:
I can send the others if needed.
Thanks to anyone who can help.
John

If this is a 64 bit version of XP or you are trying to install with SMP support you need to turn the IO APIC on.
If this is not or you do not want SMP then do not turn IO APIC but turn off VT-x/AMD-v

This is a 32 bit version of XP and I am not necessarily interested in SMP support (unless this would provide significant improvement in speed).
When I can get back to the computer with the problematic installation I will try your suggestions. Will this require a complete reinstall of a new VM or can I just modify the one I have by making the changes in "Settings"?

While I am availing myself of your expert assistance I would like to ask you about a couple of other settings. Should Nested Paging be enabled? How about PAE/NX.

On my VB installation on my home computer (identical clone of hardware and software, OS, etc.) I have IO APIC set to off but VT-x/AMD-V are enabled. Nested Paging and PAE/NX are NOT enabled. On this computer everything works fine. Should I deselect the VT-x/AMD-V on this computer as well?

I will get back with the results of making these changes.
I can't thank you enough for taking the time to help a total novice like me.
John

The configuration changes suggested by Perryg did not fix my problem. But I have discovered the cause for failure of WXP to boot under VB. It turns out not to be a software configuration problem but a hardware incompatibility problem. The only difference between my home computer and the computer exhibiting the problem is that the problem computer has a Firewire sound interface device installed. By disconnecting the Firewire sound device (Presonus Firebox) prior to starting the VM the problem was resolved. I could plug in the Firewire device after WXP started up but there were problems with distorted sound.

So my new problem is how can I run VB virtual machines AND use the Firewire audio interface simultaneously? Or is this even possible? I don't want to use the Firewire Sound interface within the virtual machine. But I don't want to have to disconnect it each time I use the VM. I'm not knowledgeable enough to even hazard a guess as to why WindowsXP on VB is incompatible with an attached Firewire sound interface. Any ideas?
Thanks.
John

I installed Windows XP in Every Version of Virtualbox after 3.0 and it installs and runs fine but as soon as I shutdown the virtual machine and reload, XP starts aborting.

I have to clear out everything but the hard drives and recreate the machine for it to work again.

Attached is VBox.log.3 for the last time i tried it

Help this is very annoying

Host Specs:
Hardware Overview:

Model Name: iMac
Model Identifier: iMac8,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 3.06 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 6 MB
Memory: 4 GB
Bus Speed: 1.07 GHz