Ubuntu 9.10 screen not resizing

[Mike Hogan]

I have a fully updated Ubuntu 9.10 (kernel 2.6.31-20-generic) running in Virtual Box 3.1.4r57640 on a fully updated windows vista host. When I re-size the Ubuntu windows, the screen resolution isn't being updated. How do I fix this?

[Perryg]

Did you install the guest additions (in the guest)
If so use the host+G toggle to see if the re-size was not turned on.

[Mike Hogan]

I did install guest additions, resize host is turned on, I tried turning it off and back on and resizing again and going full screen and turning it off and on and it does not resize, everything else seems to be working with guest additions, but the screen resize.

[Perryg]

Describe what happens when you press host+F toggle for full screen.
Also post /etc/X11/xorg.conf

[Mike Hogan]

when I press Host+F the ubuntu desktop stays the same size as what the window was at when I started up ubuntu, but with a black border around it. It used to go full screen properly, but I updated to the current virtualbox and updated the ubuntu system, reinstalled virtualbox tools ( mouse works fine, copy paste and network shares work fine ) and now resolution doesn't update on resize. Here's my /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Code: Select all

# Default xorg.conf for Xorg 1.5+ without PCI_TXT_IDS_PATH enabled.
#
# This file was created by VirtualBox Additions installer as it
# was unable to find any existing configuration file for X.

Section "Device"
        Identifier      "VirtualBox Video Card"
        Driver          "vboxvideo"
EndSection

[Perryg]

Here's a copy of my working Ubuntu 9.10 xorg.conf. Try it and see if it works for you. It may also be that Ubuntu 9.10 new updates do not require the xorg.conf. 10.04 does not and in fact will not work properly if it has one that specifies the video device. You will need to restart the desktop for this to take effect. Be sure to make a backup of your original file.

Code: Select all

Section "Device"
        Identifier      "Configured Video Device"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
        Identifier      "Configured Monitor"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
        Identifier      "Default Screen"
        Monitor         "Configured Monitor"
        Device          "Configured Video Device"
EndSection

[whit]

10.04 does not and in fact will not work properly if it has one that specifies the video device.

In my case, this xorg.conf was required to get 10.04 working. Note it specifies a video device.

Code: Select all

Section "Device"
	Identifier	"Configured Video Device"
	Driver		"vboxvideo"
	BusID		"PCI:0:2:0"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
	Identifier	"Configured Monitor"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
	Identifier	"VBoxMouse"
	Driver		"vboxmouse"
	Option		"CorePointer"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
	Identifier	"Default Screen"
	Monitor		"Configured Monitor"
	Device		"Configured Video Device"
	DefaultDepth	24
	SubSection	"Display"
		Depth	24
		Modes	"1024x600"
	EndSubSection
EndSection

Of course, the appropriate mode(s) to set will vary by monitor.

[Perryg]

Well whit I have 10.04 working just fine in seamless mode and do not have an xorg.conf file. The addition of the modes in the file will make the VBox auto-resize stop working and use set fixed screen resolution.

Ubuntu 10.04 does not use the xorg.conf file nor does it use hal by default and xorg.conf is not there until you create it unless you updated 9.10 to 10.04. Rename the file to xorg.conf.bak and run /ect/init.d/vboxadd setup then restart the guest and see if you don't get the auto-resize working.

[Mike Hogan]

No luck, I've tried both your xorg.conf and without any xorg.conf, and did complete restart each time, and it still wont resize the display.

[Perryg]

use the conf I sent you and then run /ect/init.d/vboxadd setup when done reboot.
Then use the host+g toggle to make sure that the auto-resize is enabled.

[Mike Hogan]

I used your xorg.conf, did vboxadd setup, and shutdown and restarted the system, press Host-G, tried resizing, pressed Host-G again tried resizing, tried Host-F, but it still wont resize the display.

[Perryg]

Very unusual. Try reinstalling the guest additions again and look for errors.
Post the following:
/var/log/vboxadd-install.log
/var/log/VBoxGuestAdditions.log
the log file for the guest (as an attachment)

[Mike Hogan]

I reinstalled guest additions, and there were no errors, I shutdown and restarted the system, and still can't resize the display.
Here's a copy of the log files.

VBoxGuestAdditions.log

(156 Bytes) Downloaded 27 times

vboxadd-install.log

(114.23 KiB) Downloaded 91 times

[Perryg]

The log does not show it completing all the way.
Did you install dkms?

[Mike Hogan]

I just ran sudo VBoxLinuxAdditions-x86.run and let it install, that's what I've always done before and it worked.
Was there something different that I needed to install dkms separately now?
There's a package in Ubuntu for dkms , not currently installed, should I install that now?
How come the guest additions installer didn't inform me of installing that if it's required?